This January, Rosewood London will debut a new Art Afternoon Tea in the hotel’s luxurious Mirror Room.
The Art Afternoon Tea was created by the hotel’s head pastry chef Mark Perkins, who drew inspiration from five of the world’s most famous artists: Banksy, Alexander Calder, Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, and Mark Rothko. The tea begins in traditional British fashion with delicate sandwiches and freshly baked scones, and continues with a collection of edible masterpieces based on the works of the artists.
A selection of 14 teas, of all varieties, will be available.
The Mirror Room itself has an impressive art collection with 3D works by Simon Bingle and the iconic ‘Beat of a Wing’ piece created by Bran Symondson.
The artist-themed desserts include:
- Banksy: British-born Banksy’s ‘Girl With a Balloon’ provided the inspiration for this white chocolate cube filled with a light vanilla cream choux, cherry jelly, hazelnut caramel and chocolate crème, garnished with an intricate and tiny replica of the work itself.
- Alexander Calder: The American sculptor, renowned for his ‘drawings in space’ using wire and industrial materials, is the inspiration for the tiny cherry and pistachio cake glazed with red chocolate.
- Damien Hirst: Inspired by Hirst’s series of pharmaceutical-style spot paintings is the white chocolate tart, flavored with cassis jelly and yuzu curd, and finished with Hirst-style decorative pop-art colored spots.
- Yayoi Kusama: Inspired by the Japanese sculpture and installation artist’s most recent exhibition at London’s Victoria Miro galleries is this milk chocolate mousse, passion fruit crème and chocolate feuillantine, set on a chocolate sable biscuit and encased with a vibrant yellow glaze.
- Mark Rothko: Abstract impressionist artist Mark Rothko’s bold use of color provided the inspiration for this layered coconut and raspberry sponge, filled with coconut mousse, fresh raspberries, and adorned with bright pink raspberry chocolate.