Yes, darling.. it's all about ME

ME London
336-337 The Strand, 

London WC2R 1HA

Tea for two please? 

Welcomed by the breathtaking pure cream décor and ushered into the futuristic lobby area, the careful yet effortless preparation of our table showed the standards of ME – seamless execution.  

A glass of champagne accompanied the tea menu and like the champagne, the menu was clear, crisp and delicate.  Yes we indulged in tea AND Champagne. There are some things you can't turn down in life… this was definitely one of them.

Afternoon Tea Lobby

For tea, Jamelia opted for fresh Lemon and Ginger. Candace had Chamomile and Lavender tea; a really fragrant, warm combination – perfect for the chilly nights approaching. Afternoon tea selections can change seasonally. So, as well as the summer afternoon tea selection, we were fortunate enough to sample a few sneaky sweets from the autumn menu.

Cream Choux Bun 
Almond Crumble

The autumn menu perfectly encapsulated the mood and texture of the season. A picturesque assortment of the season’s finest ingredients, swirling you gently towards memories of the fallen leaves. Candace enjoyed autumn more than Jamelia, who wasn’t ready to leave the summer behind (she is a summer baby after all!)

Conventionally, the afternoon tea comprised of three tiers. Unusually though, it started with savoury sandwiches, scones in the middle and summer strawberries and cream cakes as a crescendo. This showed us that the cakes were the stars of this culinary show. Well...we did try to act civilised and begin with the sandwiches, as one should in such a marvellous restaurant! However, the appeal of the scones and cakes fed right into our sugar cravings so we got the party started...turn down for what?

Lemon Curd and 
Wild Strawberry Tart

The scones melted in our mouths, forming a smooth buttery texture yet still maintained the crumbly touch we all love. Served warm, Candace took the first dig and found no real reason to add any enhancers such as Jam or butter. Once we did begin to layer on the toppings it took the scones to a new high. Unlike some scones we have tasted before, which left us gagging for water, these were extremely moist and moreish.

Sarah Barber (Head pastry chef at ME London) kindly advised that we eat the delicacies in a particular order; following her instruction we tucked in…

The strawberries and cream theme went down better than expected. We were impressed by the way in which so many different types and textures of cakes were all able to harmoniously maintain the same summer theme! From crumbles to macaroons, the taste was faultlessly carried through each miniature dessert.

Cream Choux Bun Almond Crumble
The crunch of the crumble enveloped the surprise of this treat – a well balanced strawberry and cream filling. It had a subtle red velvet flavour and was incredibly light which contrasted its crunchy exterior.

Lemon Yoghurt

Lemon Curd and Wild Strawberry Tart
Similar to a cheesecake, this sweet treat came on a shortbread like base. This dessert definitely looked too good to eat. Though we appreciated the delicate yet intricate finishes, this treat didn't stay on the plate long!

Lemon Yoghurt
This layered treat took our pallets from strawberries to cream to lemon sauce. The only downside with this type of dessert is that is that logistically it’s difficult to get all of the flavours in one mouthful. But hold on, on this occasion, this is where are strawberry pipette injector came in. Being able to squeeze extra strawberry sauce into this dessert re invited the strawberry back to the party once the top layer was finished. Absolute genius!

Strawberries and Cream Macaroon

The macaroon was sweet and packed full of strawberry bursts. 

The edible butterfly on top was a cute addition to a very classic treat.

Strawberries and Cream 
Macaroon

Finally, as backwards as we are, we finished off with the Sandwiches served on a variety of brown, white, sourdough bread, which gave the perfect balance of savoury and sweet. In all honesty, afternoon tea has never really appealed to us but after experiencing afternoon tea at ME London would we do it again? Absolutely! The atmosphere just screams class and high fashion, demanding you to look the part.

Overall Experience

We are already planning our next visit and with Fashion Week round the corner (literally and metaphorically) I'm sure Sarah has some tricks up her apron! Follow Sarah to keep up with everything she's up to - @SBarber.

We couldn't finish this post without mentioning the other grandeurs at ME London. If afternoon tea isn't your thing, ME London hosts the infamous STK, Cucina Asellina or Radio Bar. Good news is Sarah heads up dessert for all of these restaurants so you're guaranteed quality! 

Price: £25/£35 pp
Tastecard: Denied

WOM Spits and Chews:

Spits

• *watches tumbleweed roll past*  Nothing!

Chews

• The scones
• The strawberry pipette
• Presentation
• Serving staff
• ME London hotel

Overall WOM Rating: 5 kisses out of 5 

Verdict? CHEWS :)