Picture perfect scenery. A cold glass of champagne. Cute
finger sandwiches. Delicious homemade cakes and scones.
That was what Tom and I were treated to when we spent a
romantic afternoon at the Linthwaite House Hotel on Valentine’s Day.
We arrived at the hotel early, so we were able to choose where we wanted
to sit. There was plenty of space in the bright and airy conservatory, the peaceful veranda, or the
cosy lounge, complete with comfy sofas and roaring fires. We decided to sit in
the small veranda, with its large windows offering unspoilt views of the surrounding
landscape – a picture perfect backdrop of Lake Windermere. Our table was right
next to a heater, so it was nice and toasty and we felt as though we were sat
outside on a hot summer’s day instead of a chilly February afternoon.
A friendly waitress took our booking reference and Tom reminded
her about his egg allergy. We were initially a little concerned about going for
afternoon tea – cakes and sweet treats aren't usually the most ideal options for
somebody who can’t eat their core ingredient! However, our waitress reassured
us that their chef had prepared some delicious alternatives for him.
Soon afterwards, we were served a chilled glass of Baron de
Beaupré Champagne. After a toast, we sat back and admired the magnificent scenery.
We had the veranda to ourselves, as the other guests had opted to sit in either the conservatory or the lounge. It was quiet and relaxing, an ideal atmosphere for a romantic afternoon.
A selection of finger sandwiches – smoked salmon, ham, egg mayonnaise
(cheese & chutney for Tom) and cucumber – were brought to our table. They
were tasty and light, exactly what you’d expect from a traditional afternoon
tea.
When we finished our sandwiches and bubbles, we ordered a
pot of Earl Grey for me and a coffee for Tom. They were well-timed with our
sweet treats – which were perfectly presented on a silver three-tier cake
stand. My homemade selection included sultana and plain scones with damson jam and clotted cream, cinnamon yoghurt with apple compote, chocolate &
pistachio brownie, lemon meringue tart, blackberry mousse and a carrot, walnut
& raisin cake. They were all really yummy, but my favourite was probably
the homemade sultana scone, closely followed by the chocolate & pistachio
brownie.
The chef did a fantastic job of replacing the desserts for Tom. Quite a few places we’ve been to have just written it off and
given him an unimaginative alternative. Not in this case. Tom had a beautifully
presented plate with a chocolate cheesecake, raspberry & Chantilly cream
biscuit, strawberries & cream shortbread and a burnt sugar-topped lemon panna
cotta. Tom was really pleased with the effort that the chef had clearly gone to
and said his favourite was definitely the lemon panna cotta – a special treat
for him, as panna cotta often has egg in.
Both Tom and I were pleasantly surprised by the homemade
yoghurt. My first reaction was to shun it. I wanted naughty calorific treats
that I could devour then feel bad about for hours afterwards, not yoghurt! But
it was seriously delicious – spiced with cinnamon and complemented beautifully
with tangy apple. I could’ve eaten two helpings!
After two leisurely hours and a doggy bag filled with the
treats we couldn’t quite manage, we wandered around the grounds of the hotel
and admired the spectacular scenery. When it started to get dark, we headed
back to the car but made a promise that we’d definitely be back again soon!
Afternoon tea at Linthwaite House Hotel costs £18.95 (or £26 with a
glass of champagne) and is available from 2:30pm to 5:30pm www.linthwaite.com
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