Food is the subject of Marianne’s CBBH Photo Challenge this month. When I look back at my blog and Facebook posts, I’m amazed to realise just how often, food features in my photos. I remember saying long ago, that life would be much simpler if we could rather take nutritional pills every day, instead of having to think of what we were going to cook, and then having to clean up the kitchen afterwards. Over the years, my attitude to food and cooking has changed drastically, and I now really enjoy dreaming up tasty meals and baking scrumptious desserts. Eating well, is one of the great pleasures of life; don’t you agree?
Hubby’s early Father’s Day present from our daughter, required absolutely no effort on my part. It was a gift voucher for ‘High Tea’ at our favourite 5 star hotel just up the beach. He did wonder why I had laid his clothes out on the bed, and told him to get out of his shorts and T-shirt, and to be dressed by 2pm, but I managed to keep the venue a secret until I chauffeured him through the gate, and then presented him with the magic red envelope.
High Tea at The Oyster Box Hotel is renowned for its sumptuous treats, from freshly baked scones, pastries, quiches, cakes, finger sandwiches, spicy savouries and extensive cheese platter. It’s not an occasion to be hurried, so a leisurely afternoon of sheer indulgence was on the cards for the two of us. (Click on any photo to see the drool-worthy images.)
- A glass of champagne is a good way to start the proceedings.
- Then it was time to sample the savoury kebabs.
- Delicious vol au vents.
- So many different finger sandwiches to choose from.
- I was only too happy to help hubby celebrate Father’s Day.
- After the savoury, came the sweet stuff.
- Butterfly cup cakes and Macarons. Yummy!
- The ceilings of the Palm Court are resplendent with chandeliers purchased from The Savoy Hotel in London.
- The gorgeous white orchids also looked good enough to eat.
- We managed to save a space for some of this decadent chocolate gateau.
- An altogether enjoyable way to spend a Friday afternoon.
Duke Orsino said in Shakespeare’s ‘Twelfth Night, “ If music be the food of love, play on; give me excess of it, that surfeiting, the appetite may sicken and so die. That strain again! It had a dying fall. Oh it came upon my ear like the sweet sound that breathes upon a bank of violets; stealing and giving odour. Enough, no more! ‘Tis not so sweet now as it was before.”
I was reminded of this quote, as I listened to the piano player who ‘tickled the ivories’ that afternoon. He wasn’t the usual pianist, and I suspect, may have been one of the waiters who had been roped in to help out. Being a pianist myself, I do hear every note that is played, and I’m sorry to say that he sounded to me like a beginner, practising playing by ear. He started off with a few bars of ‘I’m In The Mood For Love’, which then progressed into a very abbreviated version of Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’, which inexplicably morphed into ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’. We had lots more bits and bobs of various songs, as well as some very obvious wrong notes. It was so awful, but very entertaining too, and gave me a few chuckles. He looked so intense and really was trying his best, so I decided not to shoot him, even with my camera. LOL!
For my Blog Hop this month, I would like to recommend that you visit, Tina at http://travelsandtrifles.wordpress.com/. Her photos are out of this world, and I know you’ll really enjoy her ‘Extra Special Destinations’ post.
My second recommendation, is LuAnn at ‘Paintyourlandscape’. She and her husband Terry are full-time RVers from the Midwest, and I just know that you’ll love tagging along with them on their fascinating adventures to really interesting and beautiful places.
To take part in Marianne’s CBBH Challenge, and to see other entries, just click on the badge below.
What a beautiful post! It’s midnight here and now I want to cook something beautiful and serve it on good china!
Thanks so much, Linda. Food always tastes better on good china. 🙂 Great to meet you.
Ah, what a feast for the eyes, and ears, and palette. My favorite-est part of all is the tea set. Isn’t that gorgeous? 🙂
Belated Happy Father’s Day to your husband. 🙂
Thanks so much, Imelda. Yes, we really did have a feast, and in grand style. 🙂
such a feast, superb thanks AD, and I have noticed how often beautiful celebratory food appears on your blog!
Thanks, Christine. one of the South African bloggers complained that my pics made her put on weight. 😀
Sylvia is a Foodie. Sylvia is a Foodie. 😀 I forget about anything – calories, norms and manners, the napkins, when there’s a food set up like that. Looks very inviting. I really love that reminder of not shooting the piano player. Makes me 🙂 every time.
Well, thanks for that, Rommel. I’m afraid that I did eat quite a bit more than would be considered lady-like, but what the heck. 😀
That looks like foodie heaven!! Beautiful photos of the food and of the two of you Sylvia 🙂
Thanks, Madhu. 🙂
A great way to celebrate. Everything looks deliciously
decadent. Yum …
Yes, it definitely was a great way to celebrate, Issy. 🙂
Beautiful, Sylvia! And now….you made me hungry 🙂
Thanks, Ese. Looking at the pics again has made me hungry too. 🙂
What a nice gift from your daughter. And – such a beautiful date your hubby had. 😉
Yes, it was a brilliant idea, RoSy. Thanks so much for the compliment. He agrees with you. 🙂
What a beautiful (and tempting) post, Sylvia 😀
Glad you enjoyed the feast, Dianne. 🙂
Desserts are my best AD 😀
I would never have guessed. 😀
When I read about your adventures and your time with family, I can’t help but think that yours is a true love story. Beautiful photo of the two of you. No need to wonder if hubby had a great Fathers’ Day. You seem to have outdone yourself Sylvia. Thank you so much for the mention. Have a lovely week!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, LuAnn. Yes, we are extremely happy together. 🙂
It shows. 🙂
What a wonderful way to celebrate ‘father’s day’, and I loved the picture of the two of you.
Thank you, Shimon. Yes it was, absolutely delightful. 🙂
What a lot of delicious tempations there! 🙂
Mmmm…yes there were. 🙂
You know when you’re like a headless chicken and want to run in 6 directions at once? That’s me! 🙂 I haven’t seen Marianne’s post yet or Tina 😦
I would say I’m going in the opposite direction and I get less interested in food, Ad, and certainly in its preparation, but you’ve done us proud here (and your husband!) The photos are superb and what a swanky venue. I might just have a small piece of that chocolate cake after all 🙂
I know the feeling, Jo. Keeping my head above water at the moment, but next month might be quite different. Glad you enjoyed the pics. The chocolate cake was to die for. 😀
I so want to experience a high tea like this!
Tandy, I’m sure there must be a swish hotel in Cape Town, that would be only too happy for you to do a favourable review on their afternoon tea buffet. 🙂
All those food photos has made me hungry. I’m sure you enjoyed 🙂
We absolutely did enjoy, Ingrid. 🙂
What a wonderful Father’s Day present from your daughter Sylvia, I can see that you both had a fairly okay time, haha 😉 Glad you didn’t ‘shoot’ the piano player…and as for food, this all looked very sumptuous. I get so fed up having to cook and think up things to make. Maybe one day I’ll get back to enjoying it again like you… 🙂 xx
Yes, the experience was not too shabby at all. 😆 Have a lovely day. xx
Thanks, you too Sylvia 🙂 xx
I think I added some pounds just looking at your pictures. Lucky you to get to enjoy the tea along with hubby!
Sorry about that, Gunta. Hubby wouldn’t be allowed out for such deliciousnesses, unless he took me with. 🙂
Lucky Dad!
Thanks, Ron. That’s exactly what he thought. 🙂
I had to laugh when I got to the part about the pianist playing… I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause. That had to be a memorable moment for sure. 🙂
It absolutely was, Phil. He really cracked me up, especially as he looked to be concentrating so hard. 🙂
Food is such a nurturer in SOO many ways in our life.
Yes it is, Laurie. Gotta love it. 🙂
I had to zoom in and view the desserts more closely!! How heavenly!
Hehehe. Yes, they were. 🙂
Quite a food fest, Sylvia.What a thoughtful gift for hubby from your daughter. I love the description of the poor piano player. The sign was most appropriate. 🙂
Yes it was very much appreciated, Lynne. Glad I gave you a smile at the poor piano player’s expense. 🙂 I took that pic in a piano showroom in Florida.
Beautiful celebration and of course delicious. Fantastic photos collection Sylvia.
Thanks so much, DellaAnna. 🙂
Gosh, I am so envious of you two….what a wonderful spread and a super treat for your hubby for Father’s Day…..I chuckled over your comment about the piano player…
Thanks, Annie. Yes, it was a delicious afternoon. 🙂
wonderful father’s day celebration! glad there’s a sign not to shoot the piano player! 🙂
Thanks, Lola. Glad you enjoyed my pics. 🙂
Now that’s my sort of afternoon — in my dreams. Calling out to Hubbie now, “Dearest, I wouldn’t mind going out for tea sometime soon. I might even change out of my jeans to do so!” (The main reason for changing out of my jeans, being to make sure my waistline isn’t constricted by tight clothes, but I won’t tell him that bit 😉
Hahaha. You’re so funny, Sarah. I think my waistband was a bit tighter after all that indulgence. 🙂
You know when I saw your post in my reader I thought to myself, Sylvia has an awful lot of fabulous food, she must be really active to stay so slim!
Thanks, Gilly. I do try my best to burn off all the calories I take in, but that afternoon might have been a bit of a challenge. 🙂
A realy feast for the eyes
Yes, and for the tummy, 🙂
What a lovely Fathers’ Day gift, Sylvia – made all the more special because you could share it with him 🙂 I’ve always fancied one of those 5* Afternoon Teas, but somehow have never got around to it.
I always enjoy looking at Tina’s photos – she’s a great photographer, and you’ve also pointed me in the way of a new blogger to me in the form of LuAnn. Thanks for that 🙂
Yes, it was a brilliant idea of our daughter’s. It;s always difficult to know what to get for a man who says he has everything, so this was perfect. 🙂
That looks wonderful. You’ve made me hungry. I’m off to have some breakfast now!
Thanks, Carol. Hope your breakfast was a good one. 🙂
Funny, yet beautiful and resplendently magnificent. post. How do you both stay so slim! I am struggling with mere chocolate chips out of a bag added to my low fat yogurt and berries and protein powder, chicken tortilla soup with lots of cilantro, broccoli, brown rice and a touch of sharp white cheddar cheese. Whatever would I look like after sampling all the amazing things you show? You do post a lot about food, S, and yet your pictures… Let me just say, are not fair! So funny about the music man! That would be me! Long story I should tell you sometime. 🙂 Lots of love M 🙂
I think that your downfall must be the chocolate chips, Marsha. I guess it all depends on how big the bag is. Is it never-ending, like the ‘widow’s cruse of oil’? 😀
Chocolate chips in the large bag from Costco? You’re kidding, right? The diet books say you MUST eat chocolate every day to feed your brain! Funny how it’s my stomach that gets bigger! 🙂 xxx
Aha…..now I see the bigger picture. 😆
Yes, the the bigger part is me! 🙂 No chips for 2 weeks – down 0.5 pounds! 🙂
You’re killing me with the food images, you bad girl. The piano player and his amazing talents had me laughing 🙂
So sorry, Suzanne. The pianist made me laugh too. 🙂
Well I laughed out loud at this one, which was really well-written! I too have had incredible high tea at some amazing places, most recently at a 5-star restaurant in Shanghai. Who would expect such a truly-British experience there?! But the scones, finger sandwiches, sweets etc were amazing and totally decadent. For me, since I try hard to be a healthy eater, it was a bit over the top, but sometimes you just have to let go! Loved your comments on the poor piano player too :-). Thanks so much for the “hop”!
Oh yes, I so agree about letting go, on occasion. Such occasions are to be enjoyed without reserve. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed my post. You’re very welcome to the “hop”.
Now if this is tea I can only imagine what a full on meal looks like! Love your sense of humor about the piano player and his morphing melodies. Happy to her no ‘shooting’ went on. Can really change the mood of a Father’s Day celebration. 🙂
Hehehe. Yes, I could never shoot a pianist on Father’s Day. It’s just not in my nature. 🙂 This is the same hotel where we had the Curry Buffet for hubby’s 70th birthday in May. That was quite something too.
What a lovely way to celebrate Father’s Day. Sweet and savoury food, looks like there was way too much to choose from. Very generous of the venue to actually provide a few cakes. Sampling them all would be tough. Did you have a favourite? If I were there, I would be very tempted to hide a few small bits and pieces of the buffet in my purse to take home 😀
Thanks so much, Mabel. I think my favourite, was the chocolate cake, although it’s quite hard to choose, as everything is so delicious. I wished I could have taken some of the things I didn’t try, back home with me for later. 😀
wow – and mmmm – and ❤
Wow!! now this is what I definitely call father’s day celebration and what a place :O
Yes, we really did it in style, Andy. 🙂
Indeed you have! I’m in envy! 🙂
Looks like a lovely way to spend an afternoon 🙂
I did afternoon tea for my mother-in-laws birthday treat last year. We sat out in the garden and used my Granny’s old china….I loved more than she did I think!
A perfect way to spend an afternoon, Seonaid. How nice to have a summer garden party with your Gran. 🙂
What a yummy experience. Even just dressing up to go to a swanky place would be a treat – never mind nibbling on all of those delights.
Thanks, Colline. Yes, it was “swanky” but also very casual, which was really nice. 🙂
Wonderful captures – I feel hungry… 🙂 😉
Thanks so much, Drake. 🙂
That was a fantastic place. The sweets look sooo good. 🙂
It absolutely was, YC. I think we may have to go again, some time. 🙂
Love that teapot too
Yes, the rosebud china was perfect for the occasion. 🙂
Beautiful so beautiful dear AD, Thanks and Love, nia
Yes it was, Nia. Thank you. 🙂 xx