Morning Tea and then Lunch at Fortnum and Mason.

[achookwoman]

On our last day in London,  we returned to Fortnum and Mason for Morning tea. This is a most beautiful shop with several floors.  I only managed to visit 3 as I spent most of my time looking at the crockery and kitchen ware on the 1st. floor.  Dh said that he would take me there for Morning Tea.  This is an EVENT,  not just drinks and an nibble on the side.  The menu lists several special blends of their own brand of tea.  We each chose a different blend.  I chose Royal Blend and DH chose Assam Superb.  Each arrived in silver tea pots,  with silver strainer and silver holder for strainer.  I drank 4 cups of tea and there was still plenty left.  I could smell the musky aroma of DH tea which he thoroughly enjoyed.  We had ordered short breads to go with the tea. These were perfect buttery fingers. There were 3 on the plate and I blush as I admit that I ate 2.  On a previous visit I had scones and jam and cream.  One was a fruit scone and the other plain.  Not too large ,  but large enough for morning tea.  They were cooked to perfection and were just warm. They were served with clotted cream and strawberry jam. DH had a slice of Demel Torte.  I had a taste, of course, and didn't like it much. Bit stodgy without any particular character.  As a promotion of their ice cream,  they presented us with 2 tiny cones of ice cream.  One was coffee and was delicious.
Then to shop.  I still had some English Pounds left!!!!. Fortnum and Masons have a special service whereby you can purchase goods and they will pack then for you and  'ship'  them home.  The VAT tax is subtracted,  and this partly goes towards the cost of shipping. I tried to select items that I couldn't buy in Australia.  Because of the strict importing laws in Australia regarding food and organic products ,  such as leather and wood,  I had to be very careful what I chose.  Some of what I selected was, 8 5 inch squares of black slate on which to serve small hot dishes.  Small round dishes to sit on the slate for a small seafood starter.  Several tea towels with Fortunm and Mason
 name on them. 2 very British mugs with English birds on the.  (Cornish Cream had introduced me to them).  A jug and egg cups and some metal spikes that you put into a large hen or turkey and they pop up when cooked.  These can be used up to 500 times.  That is a lot of turkey.  I might have to leave these in my will to daughter.!!.  I also bought a shower cap covered in lady birds.  This is for the guest bathroom.
When I had finished it was lunch time.  So down to the dining room.  I ordered risotto with stinging nettles and DH ordered steak.  There was a problem in the dining room kitchen and with the apologies came extra bread.  They offered both rye and white sour dough and it was delicious.  By the time the Risotto came, with a poached egg on top, I was no longer hungry . I ate a little of the Risotto and it was as good as any that I have had,  but the bread had taken the edge off my appetite.  Dh,  who hadn't eaten as much bread,  enjoyed his steak.
We walked back to our Hotel,  to wait for the taxi to the airport and our 21 hour flight home.  The package should arrive any day now.

[CreamPuff63]

reads like an leaf out of your diary, and I can just imagine it. what a great experience you had chookie

[cookie1]

Chookie what a lovely experience. I could almost imagine myself there while I was reading it. Thank you.

[Yvette]

Sounds lovely please post some pics.

[achookwoman]

Trying to post pics.  but got into an awful mess.  Maybe Judy can help.?

[judydawn]

In flies JD - here it is.   Lovely story Chookie, bet you can't wait for your parcel.

[achookwoman]

Judy,  thanks sooooo much.  You are a real marvel.   What would we do without you.

[judydawn]

No worries Chookie, glad to help.  Pictures always add something to a story.

[Zan]

My dh just loves Fortnum's he would be so jealous.

Love the idea of those slate 'dishes', think I need some!

[Cornish Cream]

Which bird mugs did you get Chookie?
Years ago DH did some unpaid work for a friend and at Christmas we received a F&M Christmas Hamper as a thank you.It was wonderful  delving into the wicker basket to see what goodies were in there.I still have the basket.

[Bedlam]

Thanks for the info on Fortnum and Mason posting home. We are visiting UK in Sep, makes it very tempting.

[achookwoman]

Bedlam,  you must go, also to the Wallace Collection.   It is free,  they have a nice Cafe and we attended a lecture about the Collection.  The history of how it came about it like something from Dickens.
CC,  I chose the mug with ducks and DH chose the one with lots of British birds. 

[maddy]

Could you please post photo's of your goodies Chookie   
Your black slate sounds interesting.  I have in one of my magazines, a lovely french cafe serving croissants, scones and jams on those slate tiles.  A beautiful way to serve them.
Loved your story, you had a wonderful adventure 

[achookwoman]

Thanks Maddy.  I have lots of beautiful photos but am having trouble posting them.  I took lots with the Forum people in mind as there were lots of good ideas on presentation.  I am working on it and when I get really desperate I ask Judy to help.  She is so efficient and willing.

[cookie1]

Chookie I love hearing about this.

I don't know what we would do without Judy, probably do as most of the rest of the world have to do...............battle on.