A CHOCOLATE AFFAIR

Indulge in Park Hyatt’s afternoon tea

Afternoon tea at the Park Hyatt has always been luxurious and more so now with the Chocolate Afternoon Tea, which puts Thai chocolate from Kad KoKoa in focus.

The best thing about the afternoon tea is that it comes in a set for two (B1,600++) or a set for one (B850++) and is served with my favourite brand of tea, Mariage Freres or Illy coffee. The Chocolate Afternoon Tea comes with more sweet than savoury items, for obvious reasons and since it’s chocolate, I am not complaining. Served in rather dramatic fashion, with a cacao pod in the centre, begin with the Cherry tomato covered in dark chocolate and sesame. The Eggplant caviar with pomegranate and sumac comes in a cone making it easy eating, while the Foie gras mousse is in a black sesame choux with pickles.

The sweet side is a celebration of Chocolate macaron, a Peanut butter croquant, Chiang Mai coffee ganache éclair, a Yuzu and raspberry tart with white chocolate, Coconut mousse, mango and kaffir lime, in a chocolate coconut shell and a Banana milk chocolate tonka.

If you’re not a chocolate aficionado, the hotel also serves their Signature Afternoon Tea (B1,600++ for two, B850++ for one) with Green pea tartlet with feta, Foie gras brioche with a maple balsamic glaze and quince, Salmon gravlax with horseradish cream and lemon confit and deviled egg with Cajun spice and avruga caviar. Sweet bites are Lemon and apricot cheesecake with mint, Lychee and rose flower profiterole with raspberry, Cherry and chestnut cream meringue with chamomile, Jasmine tiramisu with strawberry and white chocolate and Coconut blanc-manger, lavender and Champagne. Since no afternoon tea is complete without scones, plain and raisin scones are served with proper clotted cream and jam.

For Mother’s Day, starting Aug 9 a jasmine-themed afternoon tea will be served until Aug 17, after which the chocolate tea comes back to the menu. There will also be a special Mother’s Day brunch on Aug 12.

Park Hyatt, Central Embassy, 88 Witthayu Road / Call 02-012-1234, visit facebook. com/ParkHyattBangkok.