www.womanthismonth.com February 2016 61 LIFESTYLE | food review On a High Note A leisurely (couple of hours long) tea break after lunch sounds a bit dreamlike, right? Ankita Mamgain is happy to find out that this could indeed be her (pardon the pun) cup of tea. Any caffeine addict (myself included) will vouch for the critical importance of a timely cup of tea or coffee. However the quintessential high tea takes your humble fix and elevates it to aristocratic levels. Personally, for me, a typical rat-racing millennial, the concept is a bit alien; something that I associate with Jane Austenesque literature or movies based on it. I recently went to try the newly launched high tea at Bay View Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. Any trip to the landmark property is reason enough to get excited. The hotel undoubtedly has some of the most stunning outlets in the Kingdom but the grandeur of the massive lobby, that infuses Arabian flamboyance with charming Mediterranean countryside via tall olive trees, is inimitable. And it was here that my friend and I settled down to enjoy a hot cuppa. The origin of this ritual goes back to the early 1800s when the seventh Duchess of Bedford felt weak during the two meals that were eaten in those days – breakfast and late dinner. She scheduled a tea and snack break each afternoon, inviting her well-heeled acquaintances, and the practice soon became a high-society norm. Afternoon tea at Bay View Lounge is a fantastic experience not just because of the beverages and delicacies or the croissants with gravlax and honey mustard, a pulled beef pretzel with red onion jam, and mushroom brioche with Boston lobster for the savoury selection. The sweets comprised of Madagascar vanilla brûlée, lemon meringue tart, hazelnut éclair, raspberry tart, macaroons and chocolate truffle. We weren’t done yet though. Chocolate chip, apple and cinnamon and plain raisin scones were served with raspberry jam, clotted cream and lemon curd. The lounge recently launched raw vegan cooking classes and features a few of these on the menu, we tried the raw vegan pizza with basil, tomato and macadamia mozzarella. There’s also an extensive menu of fresh juices, iced teas and more delicious food. The cherry on top was live musical duo Alex and Sandra. To be honest, I’ve always treated this idea with a bit of scorn thinking, “It looks unnecessarily fancy and who’s got the time for it?” But to my surprise, I did find it absolutely wonderful. Maybe it’s the combination of outstanding gourmet delicacies, superb service and the magical views that did it for me. This was a true indulgence for all senses, making you stop for a moment and savour it completely. I could totally get used to spending afternoons like this. setting in which they are served, but also because of the remarkable views. Sitting entranced, admiring the azure calmness around us and myriad colours of a sunset sky, we were presented with our beverages, a generous selection of savoury and sweet indulgences and those high-tea musts – scones. I immediately started sipping on my coffee, since this was past my usual coffee break time and the withdrawal had begun. The two multitiered trays in front of us had impeccably arranged preparations which looked so delicious that we dug right in. A far cry from the usual deal, our menu included cream cheese cucumber sandwiches, mini pita breads with sumac chicken and tahina mayo, sesame
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