CBBH Photo Challenge: High Tea and ‘Food Glorious Food’.

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.

 

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