One of my favourite spots in the world is the Chatsworth Estate, and I am a bit of a book-worm, so imagine how thrilled I was to be asked along to sample the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Afternoon Tea at their iconic Cavendish Hotel in Baslow. Literary fans will no doubt be aware that Miss Jane Austen was staying in the nearby town of Bakewell when she was writing Pride and Prejudice, and it is widely believed that Chatsworth House itself was the inspiration for Pemberley, Mr Darcy’s estate. Not to brag, but heck, why not; when you’ve visited such a magnificent pile as Chatsworth, why on earth would you not ‘grab a vibe’ and envision it as a pivotal piece of your novel?! Well played, Jane; brava!
On a gorgeous summer’s afternoon, we pulled the jalopy into the Cavendish Hotel’s car park – which was absolutely chokka! Clearly, the lure of the stunning views over the fields to Chatsworth, the award-winning food, drink, and venue itself, and quality service was too great to resist as the Garden Room was pulsing with folks, too. As well as Afternoon Teas, you can enjoy Coffee and Cake, or a scrummy luncheon in the delightful surroundings of the glasshouse-inspired Garden Room. There were groups of ladies celebrating up-coming nuptials, families marking milestone birthdays and (like ourselves), couples savouring each other’s company over fine food and drinks.
Our table in the corner afforded us the premium spot from which to indulge in some people-watching, as well as looking out over the aforementioned fields and hills. The comparative coolness of the Garden Room was very much appreciated, and the subtle décor added to the airy feel of the space. Herringbone-laid floor tiles were a rich Terracotta shade, providing a pop of warmth that balanced the cool tones of the cane chairs and bamboo blinds at each window. Pots of fresh Geraniums along a central banquette and pots of tall foliage seamlessly blended the transition from the hotel’s interior, through the Garden Room, and beyond to The Terrace. Even though the extreme temperatures have meant that the tweed [uniform] jackets don’t have to be worn by the staff team, shoes, trousers/skirts and shirts were all still immaculate, and the professionalism of their manners shone. I will argue with anybody that says the service across the Chatsworth Estate venues aren’t the best in the land! Having got us comfortably seated, the team set-to, ensuring our afternoon was going to be as memorable as ones gone before with them…
To kick off our Afternoon Tea, glasses of Delamotte Brut Champagne (£13.90 per 175ml) in flutes were carefully placed before us, their tiny, delicate bubbles effervescing fervently and catching the light beautifully. Marvellously crisp and acidic in the mouth, with a delicious citrus ping, this Champagne was refined and refreshing; as the tea progressed, it proved to be a jolly capable partner to the sandwiches and savouries – it didn’t last as long as the sweets!
Accompanying the Afternoon Tea delights is a rather good selection of Teas, carefully chosen by our talented friend, Mr James Pogson of Chesterfield’s Northern Tea Merchants. Keen to really explore the era of Jane Austin’s Regency societal world, James blended a Large Leaf English Breakfast Tea that is a faithful replica of types sold in the UK and enjoyed by wealthy patrons as they breakfasted in comfort. I chose this particular blend, and The Man fancied the Lady Grey which blends large Black Tea leaves with Blue Cornflowers to produce a clear, lemony bounce in the mouth. Each loose-leaf Tea came in silver pots, partnered with strainers and served in Wedgewood China cups and saucers.
With beverages insitu, our platters of finger Sandwiches, Garden Quiche and Moss Valley Pork Sausage Roll were placed before us and brief descriptions of each given. Crusts removed, and between slices of bouncy, fresh Grained- or White- bread, each finger sandwich was precisely lined up with its sibling like young school children on an outing. Tones and colours were carefully thought about, with each variety clearly discernible from its neighbour.
First up were the classic Ham and Mustard morsels; done well, this is the foundation stone of many Tea platters, and here at The Cavendish Hotel it was sublimely good. The Ham itself was thickly sliced and had that deep ‘meatiness’ to its taste that you can’t help but smile over, accompanied by the perfect slick of Mustard that released its heat right at the end of the bite. In stark contrast, the ribboned Cucumber and Herb Cream Cheese sandwich was elegant and mellow, though no less memorable! I loved the crunch from the Cucumber – in a sea of softness, this was most welcome to bite into.
His Nibs is finally coming around to the silky-textured charm of Salmon, savouring it here in the Garden Room with its Lemon Cream companion. If luxury came in finger sandwich form, this would most definitely wear the crown; both elements twirled like prima ballerinas over the tongue, leaving the palate longing for more. Just as robust, though in an entirely different way, was the sunny-hued Coronation Chicken sandwich. Many folks don’t like the cold, cooked Chicken and creamy, Curry-spiced Mayonnaise (especially if Sultanas are visible in the mix), but we thoroughly love it. Chef and the kitchen team at The Cavendish Hotel have produced such an exquisite, multi-layered treat here, proving that humble sandwiches can be transformed into so much more.
So, with the finger sandwiches expertly dispatched, we turned our gazes to the Garden Quiche (served warm) and the hefty slabs of Moss Valley Pork Sausage Roll. As you know, The Man is a fully paid-up member of the Sausage Roll Appreciation Society, so he quickly popped that morsel onto our respective plates, and we tucked in with gusto. Fans of chunky, satiate-you-when-you’re-out-on-a-yomp Sausage Roll will totally get the picture I’ve just painted; for the rest of you, this would fill you up at lunch all on its little lonesome, i.e. it’s a beast. The puff pastry was perfect, the layers being easily seen, and the dense, Pork-meat filling was seasoned marvellously well. Those of you who read the blog regularly will know that any kind of pork product has me approaching with trepidation, but there was no hint whatsoever of any ‘repeat factor’…just oodles of deliciousness. This was a Sausage Roll beyond compare.
Having seen this extremely meaty morsel off, it was time to focus on the individual Garden Quiches. Oh, my days, the pastry on the quiche was nothing short of other-worldly! Rich and buttery, this melted on the tongue in a flash and, paired with the velvety texture of the filling, had me swooning in ecstasy. Lifting things a smidge in the flavour profile were sweet, grassy Garden Peas that are totally main character right now, and don’t they know it, bouncing glibly on my taste buds. The savoury custard filling was indulgently silky, laden with the richness of cream and egg; who said Quiche is boring?!
The conclusion of the savoury element of the Pride and Prejudice-inspired Afternoon Tea provided the perfect interval at which to order more hot refreshments: Cuban Peppermint Tea for me, and a cafetiere of Coffee for His Nibs. Fresh crockery and accoutrements were soon laid for us, and whilst we gave them both time to brew, began to choose our first sweet treat. The Chefs had excelled themselves here, with flavours including both fruit and flower. We began with the daintiest Strawberry Tart you could imagine, prettily garnished with micro-Lemon Balm and filled with a pillowy, Vanilla Crème Pâtissiere; the herb, crème and fruit danced in harmony, enthralling the palate.
Continuing our fruit foray, we clutched the Lemon Cheesecake greedily and placed it on our plates before cutting through its sunshine-hued shell. Perched on top was a glass-smooth dome of a Lemon Curd, (garnished with a gilded ‘feather’ - how very Regency!) that proved to be scrunchingly robust, and gloriously tonal with the Cheesecake ‘body’. Possibly the thinnest biscuit base was a precise sphere and, although whisper-thin, was certainly mighty in the mouth. More of the sumptuous curd lay snuggled at the centre of the body, as if hibernating lazily until the warmth of our mouths awoke it.
Before we tackled the tantalising-sounding Lavender Choux Bun, we needed to dance with the poise-perfect Marmalade Financier. Fashioned as an on-the-go indulgent nibble for gents in the world of finance (hence the name), they were originally made by a savvy baker (Monsieur Lasne) whose premises were in close proximity to La Bourse, Paris’ Stock Exchange. Made with Beurre Noisette for a distinctly nutty taste, and egg white and Almond flour for a texture that wouldn’t crumble and ruin the expensive suits worn by the gentlemen, these cakes were shaped into rectangles as a nod to gold bars that were regularly traded on the exchange floor. The morsel we were treated to had a centre of tangy Marmalade and a fancily piped topping of buttercream that was again decorated with dots of Marmalade and a verdant strip of fondant icing. Personally, I loved having Marmalade within a cake.
I will happily admit to having a smidgen of doubt when it came to the Lavender Choux Bun; not because I had reservations as to its quality, but because I have been burned by clumsy, heavy-handed use of the flower and /or its oil before. Needless to say, the level of skill was tremendous and no rookie errors were made with the intensity of the floral notes. It wasn’t just the tastes and textures of the crackle-outered Choux Buns that captivated the senses; the undoubted star of the experience was the miniature silhouette of Miss Jane Austen herself that topped it. There are only two, precious, accredited paintings/portraits of this world-acclaimed author, both attributed to her older sister, Cassandra, with whom she lived for many years. For me, as a literary lover, this alone was worth the £45pp that the Pride and Prejudice Afternoon Tea costs (Champagne and other alcoholic drinks extra)!
From start to finish, this had been an extraordinary experience, though I’m sure The Man was getting a little exasperated at my geekiness as I rattled off facts such as Chatsworth being used as a filming location for the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and how, in the book, it is mentioned that Elizabeth Bennet visits the house prior to arriving at Mr Darcy’s home. Possibly the most notable fact was that, since her death in 1817, the OG texts are in the public domain; ergo, anyone can freely publish, adapt or distribute the original stories without paying royalties to her estate or surviving relatives and descendants. Mind-blowing, no?!
You may be wondering about those irresistible Buttermilk Scones that The Cavendish Hotel is renowned for? Unbelievably, The Man and I had to request that they be boxed up to bring home; it isn’t often that we are defeated, but ‘twas so on this afternoon! Rest assured, their light texture and rich taste made for a delicious suppertime treat, slathered with thick Clotted Cream and ridiculously fruity jam made on the Chatsworth Estate. What a jolly fine way to eke out the pleasure of a splendid day!
Without doubt, the Chatsworth Estate and the team at The Cavendish Hotel have knocked the culinary ball out of the park with this tremendous offering. Hot Wings unreservedly given here! To book your Pride and Prejudice Afternoon Tea, call 01246 582311 or visit www.cavendishhotelbaslow.co.uk and hit the book now button, click ‘restaurant’, then choose a time and specify that you want Afternoon Tea. Afternoon Tea is served Monday-Saturday from Noon-4.45pm.
You might also enjoy:
