Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC Brings Back Afternoon Tea in a Whole New Way with a Nod to the Regency Era

Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC brings back afternoon tea in a whole new way with bubbles, bite-sized baubles that taste as good as they look, and delicate petit-fours, fit for a Duke or Duchess.

Fascinators, plumes and pearls are encouraged in this fabulous interpretation of an afternoon tea. Join the ton - a Regency term for "high society" - every Saturday for a culinary event not to be missed.

Executive Pastry Chef AJ Thalakkat is no stranger to a royal tea. As former executive pastry chef of Victoria, British Columbia’s iconic Empress Hotel, he understands the subtleties involved to create a fine afternoon tea. Dainty pastries, inspired by the British Royal Family’s preferences, are served on a traditional three-tiered tea stand with porcelain tea pots.

“I am so excited to bring a royal twist to the classic afternoon tea at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC,” says Chef Thalakkat. “My favourite cake is the Battenberg. Airy layers of sponge cake, held together with jam and topped with marzipan. The cake is as beautiful as it is delicious.”

Afternoon tea menu includes:

• Royal tea scones – Classic scones with raisins served with clotted cream and strawberry lavender preserves as served at Buckingham Palace.
• Caramel banana cake - This was a popular recipe at Kensington Palace for Princes William and Harry as young children. They both loved any recipe with bananas in it and this was one of their favourites.
• Chocolate biscuit cake - This chocolate cake was Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite afternoon tea cake.
• Raspberry lemon tart - A royal favourite when raspberries were freshly picked from the palace gardens, served in a gluten-free tart shell with lemon curd.
• Battenberg - This cake was created honouring the marriage of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter Victoria to Prince Louis of Battenberg in the 1880s.
• Earl Grey fruit cake - A favourite of Prince Philip, he enjoyed this cake with soft salted butter.
• Shortbread cookies - Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones, Princess Margaret's daughter, loved these cookies. She would take a dozen cookies back to college with her when she visited The Queen. Chef AJ added his seasonal twist to this recipe with spiced apples.

Savoury dishes include a house smoked Scottish salmon topped with ossetra caviar, a specialty of Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC. The salmon is cured overnight with touch of cloves, fennel, star anise and a special chef’s secret seasoning before being smoked to achieve the velvety, smoky, and slightly salty taste that the dish is known for.

Come and enjoy afternoon tea every Saturday at Seasons Restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC. Reservations from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Full afternoon tea with a glass of bubbles is USD 95; children’s tea is USD 55 under 12 years of age. Parking is complimentary. Reservations required. Call +1 202 342 0444 or book on Open Table.