I am a fan of High Teas, and was delighted to receive an invitation from the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa communications agency FIVESTAR PR to try out their new Pink High Tea, which celebrates Women’s Month in August, and Breast Cancer Awareness month in September.
I invited my friend Whitney to join me, having recently joined me for the Alphen Hotel’s 5Rooms’ new Afternoon Tea, which we experienced as being very disappointing. The first thing that impresses at the Twelve Apostles is the friendliness of the staff, from the time one enters the front door. The High Tea was served in the Leopard Bar, and we were lucky that the sun had come out at the time we were there, giving us a lovely view of Lion’s Head. Phumlela looked after us perfectly, bringing more tea and cappuccino, and topping up our water. The second impressive aspect is the time which management and the staff
make to chat and to obtain feedback. First to greet us was Assistant Food & Beverage Manager Dominic Berenato, who has moved across from The Westin, and who was very friendly and helpful in finding us the perfect table. Next to pop by was Jill Wagner, who is in charge of Sales & Marketing for the Red Carnation hotels in our country, including The Oyster Box and Bushman’s Kloof Wilderness Reserve. Then GM Michael Nel came to greet us, clearly enjoying his new role at the hotel.
Phumlela talked us through the Pink High Tea. She told us that it costs R160 per person, and it includes two cups of coffee and two cups of Dilmah tea, as well as a glass each of Pongrácz Rosé NV. A beautiful three-tiered stand contained all the High Tea delicacies, prepared by Pastry Chef Nathan Jacobs, most of them being pink in colour:
* savoury items are smoked salmon and cream cheese, cheese and tomato, roast beef and horseradish, and egg mayonnaise sandwiches, as well as a circular avocado and chicken mayonnaise treat, coated with almond flakes.
* sweet items are strawberry mousse, forest berry cheesecake, red wine paté de fruits, ruby grapefruit cupcakes, strawberry macaroons, chocolate brownies, shortbread biscuits, cream-filled puffs coated with strawberry chocolate, and scones with cream and jam.
Whitney is big into Banting, and it was no problem to get her sandwiches made with gluten-free bread. There was far too much for us to eat, so Phumlela brought us a container each so that we could take some of the leftovers with us.
We spent about two and a half hours at the hotel, enjoying the Pink High Tea treats, the bubbly, the Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé background music, the fabulous view onto the Atlantic Ocean, and the friendly service. A lovely touch was that the communications agency sent us the media release in pink type!
Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa: Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town. Tel (021) 437-9029 www.12aposatleshotel.com Twitter:@12_Apostles R160 per person in August, R175 in September (of which R10 goes to CANSA), Monday – Sunday, 10h00 – 16h00.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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wonder if the manager of the one and only afternoon tea is reading this, may learn a lot
Perhaps you can try it, and see if you are happier at the 12 Apostles?
will do, no sarnies at one and only afternoon tea so this should be an immediate improvement