Pudding wall
Harbour & Jones Events held a showcase dinner last month, at their in-house venue 41 Portland Place to unveil a new event food concept - a 2 by 2.5 metre edible pudding wall. The colourful structure with integrated perspex shelves adorned with scores of rainbow-coloured cakes and puddings which guests could dress with fruit coulis and butterscotch sauce dispensed from taps. Treats included blueberry cheesecake slices, raspberry macarons, lemon posset, iced pistachio sponge and lemon drizzle squares.
Afternoon Tea Week
Afternoon Tea Week is being celebrated this year from the 10-16 August, with venues including summer pop-up The Little Yellow Door offering an adult-take on a kids' tea, with alcohol infused pots of tea, finger sandwiches and a variety of traditionally British board games on offer. Mayfair bar Mr Fogg's meanwhile, will be offering a Victorian-themed afternoon Tipsy Tea, with sandwiches, cakes, pastries and petiits-fours.
Soft drinks at Hoppers
Sri Lankan restaurant Hoppers last month launched a selection of inventive non-alcoholic cocktails, or ‘softs’, taking inspiration from the drinks typically found across Sri Lanka. Highlights from the menu include the Durian Cream Soda’, Hoppers Cream Soda and Pineapple Float, the ‘P + Tea smash' with flat peach, rose, Ceylon tea, basil seeds and sweet basil smash, and the ‘Strawberry Sharbat’, made with coriander seed, strawberry crush and 'old school' limeade.
Snacks at BAO
A new branch of BAO, a restaurant specialising in Taiwanese steamed buns, opened in Fitzrovia earlier this month, with a space available for private hire for up to 19 people. Diners can feast on small bites such as beef cheek and tendon nuggets. There will also be a new addition to the signature BAO list, as the Fitzrovia branch has introduced the 'cod black' BAO; a homemade pillowy soft bun filled with lightly fried fish.