Creating our own berry special late summer tea party
IT’S late summer, and what better way to enjoy the glorious Saturday outdoors than in the garden with family and friends for afternoon tea?
And so we set up a table on the patio and set about making a tea to remember. Cheesecake was the obvious choice, paired with all the delicious fruits available before the autumn cool puts a damper on things.
And then Château Gâteaux challenged us to make it irresistible. Brand manager Anna Kelly said decorating their cheesecakes had been something of a trend and customers really went to town. Roses, sugar craft and exotic fruits all featured. Some designs were really intricate and others showed simple but dramatic flair.
“And when they’re really proud of their creations they tag us on Instagram,” she added.”
Faced with this challenge, the team at The Independent on Saturday put their heads together. We opted for seasonal berries – raspberries and blueberries – and were especially excited when we found fresh figs in store. They have a good deep purple colour and when cut, offer an array of colours and textures. Black grapes, strawberries, blackberries or pomegranate seeds would all add to the look.
Other decorating options might include layering the top with slices of preserved lemons or limes. Or giving the cheesecake a more tropical feel by topping it with passion fruit pulp and yellow nasturtiums.
Slivered almonds, good dark chocolate sliced with a vegetable peeler and preserved ginger might be another option.
Or you could go floral, with sprays of bougainvillea or hibiscus flowers, with pansies or even marigolds to add colour.
First we piped the borders with cream. We should have done this last, of course, but there was some concern the berry coulis would create a mess. We used a bought option from Woolworths which is quicker than making your own.
Then we touched up the cream and finally decorated with the fruit. The proof was in the eating. For Sacha van Niekerk it was delicious. “It was light and I really liked the berries and the colours of the fruit. They cut the richness beautifully.”
Show us your creations on Instagram @IOSnewsSA