A Heart in Heaven

Ooh, I am full. Today I have been out to high tea with my mother, her best friend and her daughters. They went to this place for high tea last year and had a swan-shaped éclair; this year swans were not on the menu. That hardship aside, it was delightful.

It started with a Pimms cocktail on arrival (or in my case, a glass of orange juice). First course was sandwiches: roasted eggplant and feta on toast; curried egg and cucumber; creamy chicken; roast beef and mustard. Next came the savouries: mini lamb kofta sliders in brioche; arancini with mushrooms; prawns in pastry. I think this was my favourite course. Once upon a time it would have been the cakes. Sometimes I don't know myself any more.

Then came the sweets: chocolate strawberries; peppermint macarons; salted caramel and almond slice; walnut brownie; teeny-tiny lemon meringue tarts; even teeny-tinier blueberry muffins. Finally, a hot beverage (hot chocolate for me) and champagne scones* with raspberry jam and cream. The scones were warm and they were amazing.

I do not want dinner.

* It occurs to me the scone (rhymes with gone) is one of those foods that might mean different things in different countries. I mean these things: