High teas are gaining in popularity these days as an increasing number of establishments encourage us to experience some of the social niceties of earlier times. There’s even a website to help you find your way to one of Australia’s high tea destinations.
Last weekend we joined a group of friends for a leisurely V/Line trip into the Victorian countrysideto Ballarat for high tea at Craig’s Royal Hotel.
The original hotel was opened in 1853 and over the years it has hosted a string of famous guests including Lord Kitchener, Sir Donald Bradman, Mark Twain, Queen Victoria’s second son Prince Alfred and a number of other dukes and duchesses and that grand Dame, Nellie Melba who sang from the reading room balcony.
Over the years Craig’s has been added to and renovated and last year it re-opened after owners John and Mary Finning undertook an extensive multi-million-dollar restoration that has turned it into one of the handsomest hotels around.
It’s a pleasant 1 hour 20 train journey from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne to Ballarat, with plenty of rural vistas to enjoy along the way. The hotel is then a leisurely stroll along the street from the station.
High tea is held in a magnificent dining room with high ceilings, decorated with intricate plasterwork and velvet swags and it was very pleasant sitting in balloon-backed chairs at a white-clothed table enjoying the elegant surroundings and sipplng on a glass of bubbly.
Then the pieces de resistance – triple-deck cake stands loaded with calories – were placed on our table.
Executive chef Philippe Desrettes’ menu comprised:
Sandwiches: Smoked salmon, cucumber, dill and caper; shave leg ham and cheese; curried eggs, cos lettuce and herbs,
Savouries: Asparagus and cherry tmato quiche; wild boar and vegetable pithivier.
Scones: House-made scones with cream and organic jams
Petits fours: Lemon meringue tartlets; chocolate hazelnut truffles; orange and poppyseed friends; chocolate and griottes tartlets; strawberry and pistachio tartlets; Turkish delight; chocolate and hazelnut brownies.
A variety of teas and plunger coffee were available.
Needless to say, there was no room for dinner that night.
At present there’s an opportunity to have a look around the hotel following high tea.
There has been a stunning attention to detail in the restoration including specially made wallpapers that reflect the building’s heritage, antique furniture and modern bathrooms that still manage to remain in sympathy with the overall feel of stepping back to another century. One four poster bed was acquired complete with its horsehair mattress.
I believe the hotel offers a variety of accommodation packages that include dinner.
Here’s a gallery of some of the highlights of our afternoon.
