Review: Afternoon Tea in Lough Erne Resort, Belleek Road, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh

Once you drive through the entrance gates of Lough Erne Resort, you know that you have arrived somewhere really special. Opened in 2007, the luxury 5-star resort played host to a G8 Summit of world leaders in 2013, seen as one of the most successful events of its kind, and in 2017 the Irish Open will be played on the Resort’s Championship Golf Course.

Lough Erne

The Resort is located just outside Enniskillen in County Fermanagh overlooking Castle Hume Lough, one of two connected lakes that makes up Lough Erne which is one of the largest lake-systems in Northern Ireland. I have been keen to visit for quite a while, so decided to make a slight detour on my recent trip to Derry and to stop by for a spot of afternoon tea. What better way could there be to while away a couple of hours on a beautifully sunny and unseasonably warm spring day?

For me, a truly great afternoon tea starts and ends with the tea itself. In Lough Erne, teas are supplied by master tea-makers Ronnefeldt, so I knew I was in for a treat. There is something so magical about a really good cup of tea and I was spoilt for choice here. We often forget that tea is the world’s most popular drink; that it is a beverage that spans the boundaries of history, nation, culture and class. We Irish are one of the highest per capita consumers of tea in the world and it is a drink that that we regularly rely on in times of celebration and also in times of stress because let’s be honest everything feels better with a good cup of hot tea!

Cosy Peatfire Tea

From my seat on a large, comfortable couch in the Garden Hall, I had a perfect view of the lake and the surrounding landscape and I sat back and relaxed while I looked through the afternoon tea menu and decided on what to order. A range of afternoon teas is available including Traditional Afternoon Tea (£19.50 per person) which is offered throughout the week and a Chocolate Afternoon Tea (£23 per person) which is available at the weekends. Vegetarian and Coeliac options are also available on request and children can indulge in some specially tailored treats from the Cygnet’s Afternoon Tea (£12 per child aged 3-11) menu. There is definitely something to suit all tastes.

Cake Stand

I quickly decided on the Champagne Afternoon Tea (£25 per person) which  includes a glass of Billecart-Salmon - the resort’s preferred Champagne - which quickly arrived along with a little platter of strawberries.

From the large selection of speciality teas on offer which includes old favourites like Irish Breakfast and Irish Afternoon Gold Blend but also includes the rather evocatively entitled Irish Whiskey Cream, Royal Gunpowder and Morgentau, I chose the Cosy Peatfire Mulled Wine Spice tea. This arrived with its own special timer which indicated when the tea was ready for optimum enjoyment. This lively fruit infusion with its gentle spicing and a hint of smoke on the palate managed to be both refreshing and comforting to drink. I was delighted with my choice.

Cucumber and Coronation Chicken Sandwiches

The tiered cake-stand containing three plates laden with goodies then arrived. This is my favourite moment during any afternoon tea and I was mesmerised by the selection of assorted finger sandwiches, scones and pastries that were presented.

The sandwiches were made with a range of different breads and generously filled with a variety of fillings including an excellent Coronation Chicken. This with its gentle fruity spiciness and tender chunks of chicken was delicious to eat whilst an equally well made Cucumber & Cream Cheese sandwich was refreshing and full of crisp cucumber and creamy cheese.

Egg & Onion Brioche Roll

I also loved the Open Smoked Salmon Sandwich served on a rather good brown soda bread using superior smoked salmon. This was simply presented to showcase the quality of the ingredients used and I savoured every mouthful.  However, my favourite sandwich of the day was a flavoursome Egg & Onion offering served in a well made sweet and buttery brioche roll which was incredibly satisfying to eat.

Pausing to drink more of the wonderful tea, I then moved on to the next tier of the cake-stand which held an array of delicate looking Pastries and Sweet Fancies. Unable to restrain myself I immediately popped the White Chocolate Dipped Strawberry into my mouth and let out a contented sigh as the fruity juices were released into my mouth. Feeling like a child let loose in a sweetshop, I then made light work of the bite-sized Homemade Custard Cream and Chocolate Profiterole which were also fantastic.

Sweet Treats

A luscious Fruit Tart was next up containing a crème pâtissière filling topped with soft fruit. This was daintily presented and packed full of flavour. A Raspberry & Almond Fancy was another fruity offering but here glazed raspberries sat atop a moist but incredibly light base of almond cake. A flawlessly made Lemon Macaron filled with a suitably tart lemon curd completed this part of my leisurely afternoon tea.

The afternoon tea finished with a Homemade Currant Scone which I split and filled with butter, Raspberry Jam AND whipped cream! The scone was served warm and had a light and airy texture. This was the perfect way to end a notable afternoon tea in a stunning location.

Profiterole

Service was warm and welcoming throughout my visit to Lough Erne Resort. Special mention must go to Anna my wonderful waitress, whose knowledge of the teas on offer was second-to-none. Lough Erne’s Traditional Afternoon Tea has all the important ingredients from finger sandwiches, light scones with a selection of jams and preserves to delicate bite-sized cakes and pastries and everything is carried out extremely well. This was an afternoon tea to linger over and I enjoyed every single moment and was sorry to leave.

 

Lough Erne Resort

Beleek Road

Enniskillen

BT93 7ED

Northern Ireland

Telephone: 0044 28 8663 2320

Website: www.lougherneresort.com

This article first appeared in TheTaste.ie
 

Currant Scone, Raspberry Jam, Butter & Cream

Review: Afternoon Tea in Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare

I love nothing more than sitting down to afternoon tea. It is, without doubt, one of the most pleasant ways of whiling away a couple of hours. Every-now-and-again I like to find the time to relax in elegant surroundings and enjoy a leisurely cup of tea along with a variety of sweet and savoury treats. My daughter Emma shares this enthusiasm, so when I recently suggested visiting Dromoland Castle in County Clare to have afternoon tea there, she jumped at the opportunity to join me.

 

Tiered Stand

Dromoland Castle is an imposing Gothic building set in beautifully maintained estate grounds. Dating from 1651, the turreted castle was the ancestral home of the O’Briens of Thomond who were descendents of Brian Ború one of the High Kings of Ireland. These days the property is one of Ireland’s premier five-star hotels and over the years has played host to many famous guests including President Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela.

 

Named after a kitchen maid who worked at the castle for many years, Mrs. White’s Afternoon Tea is served in both the Gallery Lounge and the Cocktail Bar. It is extremely popular so booking in advance is advised. Access to the both the lounge and bar is down a network of meandering corridors but our destination was well sign-posted so we easily found it. Blinking in wonder at the magnificent crystal chandeliers, we were led to our table in the Cocktail Bar. Outside the window we could see some visitors enjoying a ride around the spectacular grounds in a old-style pony and trap.

 

Tarry Lapsang

The afternoon tea consists of a selection of freshly made sandwiches, cream cakes, fruit tart and fresh pastries. Guests are also treated to a slice of the Dromoland fruit cake and warm fruit scones with clotted cream and preserves. Served on the prettiest of fine china plates, everything about the Dromoland afternoon tea screams luxurious elegance.

 

To kick off proceedings I decided to have a glass of Champagne while I considered my choice of tea. A good selection of loose leaf teas is available including the eponymous Dromoland House Blend. Although tempted by the exotic-sounding Wild Cherry Ceylon, I eventually settled on the Tarry Lapsang from the Fujian province of China. Famous for its smoky aroma Lapsang Souchong has a lovely deep golden colour. This was a very good example and with its almost cool smoky flavour was wonderfully refreshing. I was delighted with my choice. Whilst I sipped on my tea, Emma lost herself in a decadent cup of Hot Chocolate which she proceeded to pile high with the mini-marshmallows served alongside it.

 

Sandwich Selection

I love the moment during an afternoon tea when the cake-stand arrives packed full of delicious goodies and we were not disappointed with what we were served in Dromoland which was packed full an astonishing array of sandwiches, cakes, pastries and scones.

 

The sandwiches were amongst the finest I’ve ever had and were visually very appealing. Too often sandwiches can be hit-and-miss with far more effort and attention given to the cakes and pastries that are served as part of an afternoon tea. These showed creative flair and included a number of interesting fillings served on a good range of breads. Classics such as an Egg Mayonnaise on White Bread, and an open Cucumber & Cream Cheese sandwich were there but the selection also included one topped with Hummus and Black Olive Tapenade which was delicious. I particularly liked the Smoked Salmon sandwich which was served with generous chunks of the fish on a disc of brown soda bread. A Ham & Cheese sandwich was also delicious with its filling of baked ham, brie and chutney but my favourite was probably the Mixed Salad Sandwich Roll which had been well-seasoned and was incredibly flavoursome.

 



Vanilla Cheesecake

We then moved on to the Fruit Scones. I have eaten many scones during my lifetime and these were amongst the best that I have had. Served warm, they were light and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness. Topped with a generous amount of Clotted Cream and Raspberry Jam, I savoured every single mouthful. My Granny was evangelical when it came to scones and would refuse to eat any that did not reach her exacting standards. She would have loved the scones in Dromoland for they were truly outstanding.

 

After a short break, during which time my tea was refreshed, we moved on to the final tier of the cake-stand. Playfully presented, the cakes and pastries were beautiful to look at and we couldn't wait to try them. A bite-sized Fresh Fruit Tart with its crème pâtissière filling and topping of fresh berries was excellent and I thought that the Vanilla Cheesecake was wonderfully light and creamy. However, for me, the Lemon Tart was the stuff that dreams are made of. Lemon tarts are technically quite tricky to perfect but this one with its crisp shortcrust pastry base and lovely tangy lemon custard/curd filling was magnificent.





Macaron

I was also impressed by the Dromoland Fruit Cake which was moist and packed full of dried fruit and had a tender crumb. We finished with a skillfully made Macaron with Chocolate Ganache.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon tea in Dromoland Castle and both of us agreed that it had been a wonderful and relaxing experience. Service was friendly and extremely attentive throughout. I found the staff to be knowledgeable about the food and, in particular, the teas on offer.

 

Mrs White’s Afternoon Tea costs €24 per person while the Champagne Afternoon Tea costs €36 per person. A smaller Light Afternoon Tea is also available at €18 per person.

 

Dromoland Castle

Newmarket-on-Fergus

County Clare

 

Telephone: 061368144

Website: www.dromoland.ie

 

This article first appeared in TheTaste.ie

 

Lemon Tart

Review: Afternoon Tea in Carton House, Maynooth, County Kildare

Carton House takes pride of place at the centre of 1,100 acre fully-walled country parkland estate in Maynooth, County Kildare which also tips over the county border into Meath. Conveniently located within easy reach of the capital city, Carton was originally owned by the FitzGerald family who were part of Strongbow’s invasion into Ireland. The estate has a fascinating history and has seen many changes during its 800 years.

In 1739, Earl FitzGerald commissioned Richard Castles - one of the pre-eminent architects of the day to design and build Carton House. Castles was also responsible for building many of the great Irish houses including Westport House, Powerscourt House and Leinster House which is now home to the Dáil (Irish Parliament).

Carton House

Over the years Carton has welcomed many famous guests including Queen Victoria and Prince Rainier & Princess Grace. Early in the 21st century, the house and estate were re-developed into a modern hotel complex with grounds containing two golf courses. Guests now have the opportunity to experience the unrivalled opulence and luxury of Carton House for themselves.

I have wanted to try the afternoon tea in Carton House for quite a while and was delighted to get the opportunity recently. As I drove through the grounds along the driveway in the approach up to Carton House, I stopped a couple of times to take in the estate’s beautifully maintained grounds. The house itself is stunning and literally takes your breath away when it comes into view. Having built up an appetite, I was really looking forward to my afternoon tea and having the chance to sit down and relax in the hotel’s elegant surroundings.

Tiered Stand

Afternoon tea is served daily from 12.30pm to 5.00pm in the original kitchen and Steward’s Room of the house. This magnificent high ceilinged kitchen retains many of its original features and is a lovely spot from where to enjoy afternoon tea. Old cast-iron teapots sit happily on the large stove and the overall feeling is evocative of a bygone era. Expansive couches provide comfortable seating and the afternoon tea is served on tiered stands at the low but nicely positioned tables.

The afternoon tea menu includes a good selection of loose leaf teas which are supplied by Suki Teas, a boutique master tea blender from Belfast who only use ethically-sourced, Fairtrade teas. The teas are flavoursome with bold, assertive notes and there is something to suit most tastes. If you like you can also order a glass of Champagne or a cocktail to enjoy with your afternoon tea. As I was driving this was a pleasure I had to forego but on this occasion I was more than happy with just my tea.

Green Tea Luponde

Although usually of fan of assam teas, I decided to ring the changes and go for the Green Tea Luponde which is sourced from the Livingstone Mountains in Tanzania. A single estate, hand-picked tea, this was fresh on the palate with a lovely crisp finish. It was a particularly successful pairing with the savoury elements of the afternoon tea.

By way of contrast, Finbarr, my guest for the day decided to go for the Earl Grey Blue Flower tea which, with its floral notes had a delicate and sophisticated flavour. The defining characteristic of Earl Grey teas is provided by the addition of bergamot, usually by the use of essential oils which can sometimes overpower the gentle flavour of the leaf but I thought this was a wonderfully balanced offering. Both teas were served in individual teapots with strainers provided on the side.

Selection of sandwiches

I love the moment during an afternoon tea when the tiered cake-stand is delivered to the table and how, in the moments immediately after you try to visually absorb all the treats that are being served. It is this moment which brings out a certain child-like glee from deep within me and is why I don’t think I could ever tire of taking afternoon tea.

Here the cake stand had three layers; one for the sandwiches, one for the scones and preserves and one for the cakes and pastries. Everything looked mouth-wateringly good and we couldn’t wait to tuck in.

The tempting selection of sandwiches included an Open Prawn Cocktail on Rye Bread and a Smoked Salmon & Chive Cream Cheese Roulade which were both generously filled and delicious to eat. Similarly, the Turkey, Cranberry & Stuffing had been well-made and included a crowd-pleasing filling of succulent turkey and a flavoursome herb stuffing served between thin slices of white bread.

Tomato, Basil & Cherry Tomato Brioche

Next up was a sandwich containing Honey Baked Irish Ham on Wholegrain Bread. I have eaten many disappointing ham sandwiches in my life but this one was truly great, packed full of delicious, tender meat. I loved the flavour of the ham and could detect the subtle hint of the cloves which had obviously been used to prepare it.

All the sandwiches were fabulous but my favourite was definitely the Tomato, Basil and Cherry Tomato Brioche. Although it looked like a simple bread roll filled with cheese and tomato, every element was outstanding. The mini-brioche roll was superbly made with a delicate crumb that accentuated the flavour of the ingredients that were used to fill it.

Macarons

We then moved on to the cakes and pastries which were beautiful to look at. At their simplest, macarons contain only three ingredients but they can be tricky to get right. Both the Lemon and Raspberry Macarons were flawless in their execution and with their intensely fruity flavours were heavenly to eat. The Sticky Ginger Cake was exactly as described… sticky and full of complex spicing which included cinnamon, a hint of nutmeg and the aforementioned ginger.

Santiago Cake is an almond confection which originally hails from Spain. Here hazelnuts had been included along with the almonds and in my opinion, the cake was all the better for it, delivering an intriguing flavour profile. Beautifully light, the cake was topped with a with a 5 Spice Cream which made it seem even more indulgent. The Choux Pastry with Chocolate & Orange Ganache was rich with a lovely citrus kick due to the inclusion of orange-flavoured liqueur in the ganache.

Santiago Cake

After a brief hiatus during which our teas were replenished we concluded our leisurely afternoon tea with the Selection of Scones served with Raspberry Jam & Clotted Cream. The mini, bite-sized scones were full of plump dried fruit including sultanas and dried cranberries which I thought was a nice variation on a classic scone. Sweet with a lovely short texture we loaded them with the clotted cream and raspberry jam and slowly savoured every mouthful, not wanting our idyllic afternoon tea to come to an end.

At €24.50 per person (Monday to Friday) and €29.50 (on Saturdays and Sundays) I think that the afternoon tea is well-priced. I loved the relaxed ambiance in Carton House and would have no hesitation in recommending the afternoon tea as the whole experience was wonderful. The food was well-presented and delicious to eat. Service was friendly, attentive and delivered in a professional manner. This was an afternoon tea to remember.

Carton House

Maynooth

County Kildare

 

Telephone: 01-6517782

Website: www.cartonhouse.com