Andrew Fairlie opens the doors to his secret garden for afternoon teas
The Michelin-starred chef will be offering a series of collaborative afternoon teas, finds Rosalind Erskine
Michelin-starred chef Andrew Fairlie has opened the door to his secret garden for the first time in a series of collaborative afternoon teas taking place at Perthshire’s Gleneagles Hotel from August to November. As part of the exclusive series acclaimed Scottish chefs and Michelin star holders Tom Kitchin and Lady Claire Macdonald have also created unique afternoon teas, drawing on their Scottish roots and championing of local produce.
Head grower Jo Campbell and her team tend to rare and heritage vegetables, fruits, herbs and edible flowers within the garden, which has supplied Andrew’s kitchen at Gleneagles for a number of years.
The Flavours of the Secret Garden Afternoon Tea has been created as a celebration of summer – the garden reaches its peak in August – and will showcase the abundance of beautiful produce, bursting with seasonal flavours. This is reflected in the fresh summer flavours used throughout the menu such as cucumber, strawberry, geranium and raspberry.
Commenting on the treat, which will be created by Gleneagles’ team of expert pastry chefs from 20 August, Fairlie said: “It is the product of a close collaboration between Head Chef Stevie Mclaughlin and Jo Campbell, and is the result of years of meticulous planning and relentless backbreaking work.
“Jo’s vision and dedication – supported by a very talented and hard-working all-female team – has added a completely new dimension to our kitchen, and taken the restaurant to a whole new level. The remarkable ingredients she produces continue to surprise us all, and now guides our cooking season by season.” The tea will be served in the newly refurbished Glendevon room, an elegant space celebrating the natural hues of Scotland’s flora and fauna.
Edinburgh-based Tom Kitchin will bring his “nature to plate” philosophy to life with his take on the traditional afternoon tea in September, while Lady Claire Macdonald will take inspiration from her ancestral home on the Isle of Skye, bringing the best of Scottish home cooking to Gleneagles’ celebration of afternoon teas in November. l Andrew Fairlie’s Secret Garden Afternoon Tea is available 20-26 August, £40 per person.