THE ROYAL CHAMPAGNE AFTERNOON TEA AT FAIRMONT PALLISER

If you’ve been following the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to Canada, you’ll be excited to hear about the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts special launch of A Royal Champagne Afternoon Tea series for the months of October and November. In collaboration with Chef Darren McGrady of Eating Royally, visitors to select Canadian Fairmont locations, including the Fairmont Palliser located right in downtown Calgary,  will have the opportunity to experience a menu fit for a Queen, including delicious favourites of Prince William and the reigning monarch.

For some context, Chef Darren McGrady was the personal chef to Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Princes’ William and Harry for 15 years, and has cooked for many visiting dignitaries and royalty at Buckingham Palace. Before his time in the Royal Kitchens, Chef McGrady trained at London’s The Savoy, a Fairmont Managed five-star hotel, where he achieved the position of Chef-de-Partie Saucier.

According to Chef McGrady, the Palace always uses fresh ingredients off the estate when possible, a tradition that is in keeping with Fairmont’s approach to using locally available food, onsite herb gardens and apiaries for honey. With a nod to traditional British and French cuisine, the Royal Champagne Afternoon Tea will feature some of Her Majesty’s favourites, many of which remain on the afternoon tea menu at Buckingham Palace today. Jam Pennies were loved by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret as young children; Chocolate Birthday Cake dates back to Queen Victoria’s chef; and one of Her Majesty’s favourites, the Chocolate Biscuit Cake, which was chosen by Prince William for his Groom’s cake.

Other stand out classics include potted shrimp, a chilled and delicately spiced seafood dish on Melba toast; a rich caramel banana cake; Coronation chicken mayonnaise bridge rolls; and a classic scone recipe served with clotted cream and strawberry preserve. Hello! I think it is quite possible to want to stay all day and indulge in this incredible menu! Why not book a room at the same time and treat yourself to a little Royal staycation?

The full Royal Champagne Afternoon Tea menu will feature:

• Smoked Scottish salmon gravedlax with suèdoise sauce
• Sage Derby and tomato
• Coronation chicken mayonnaise bridge rolls
• Roast beef with golden beetroot and horseradish crème fraîche
• Potted shrimp with warm Melba toast
• Jam pennies
• Warm scones with clotted cream and fraise des bois compote
• Chocolate biscuit cake
• Vanilla bean shortbread
• Raspberry tartlets with lemon cheese
• Earl Grey fruitcake
• Caramel banana cake
• Battenberg cake
• Chocolate birthday cake

The Royal Champagne Afternoon Tea be available for the months of October and November 2016 at  Fairmont Palliser (Calgary) with pricing starting at $45. Use the hashtag #FairmontRoyalTea to share your delectable photos.

 Photo Credit: Stephanie Arsenault 

Tagged as: afternoon tea, chef mcgrady, eating royally, Fairmont Palliser, the royal family, the royal treatment