We indulge. It is simple as that. This isn’t lunch, or dinner. It is decadence at its finest. White tablecloths, choice of 12 different types of tea.
Savouries that include Pancetta & Porcini Eclairs, sweets that include Mango and Sweet Saffron. Scones with Orange Blossom and Bee Pollen.
My initial concern is how can we go from a 3.30pm Afternoon Tea on the Ventura to dinner a mere 4 hours later.
We enter the Ventura’s Epicurean restaurant. Unlike all the other bars and restaurants we had visited on our trip so far, this was different.
Afternoon Tea on the Ventura
Greeted immediately with a quiet, calm atmosphere, we can tell something civilised was going on.
With an abundance of food available on this cruise, it seems silly to have paid £15 each. Will the £15 to experience Eric Lanlard’s Afternoon Tea on the Ventura be worth it?
Shown to our table, we settle down. The views outside to the front of the ship the perfect accompaniment to the trays of goodies inside.
A waiter is by our side almost immediately. Barely giving us the time to asses the 12 different types of tea on offer.
Our Afternoon Tea on the Ventura starts with a decision to make.
Suzanne chooses Chocolate Flake Tea. The description starts “Assam Tea with real flakes of chocolate”. That is all that she needs to read.
Me, being my adventurous self, take no time at all in choosing the Everyday Brew.
Afternoon Tea on the Ventura – We Tuck In
We set about the 3 tiered podium that dominates the table. The top tray a selection of savoury eats. Below that, the sweet treat level with enough sugar and calories to last a week. The lower level houses oversized scones.
Within minutes, we polish off the top tray. The Pancetta and Porcini Eclairs our favourites. Although the Curried Crab and Yoghurt Tartlet are a close second for Suzanne.
Now for the Sweet Treat level. Pistachio and Forest Berry Petit Choux Pastry comes out on top. The only thing grander than the name is the size of the Pastry itself.
The rest of the tray follow with little to no delay.
Afternoon Tea on the Ventura – Fight to the finish
We lean back and for the first time take a deep breath. Both full to bursting with the scones still to come. We spend the next 15 minutes trying to figure out how we can polish off the rest.
Begrudgingly, we realise that we can’t. Our Afternoon Tea on the Ventura has beaten us. But we are not going to go without a fight.
We have two different types of scones. A Traditional Scone, and an Orange Blossom and Bee Pollen Scone. Suzanne has squeezed in the Traditional one. I go for a bit of both.
Defeat admitted, and in effort to negate some of the calories we have consumed, we head off for a walk around the ship with a nagging question in my head.
How am I now going to be able to fit into my Tuxedo for Black Tie night?
The photographs on this page were taken with the Sony A6300 and the standard kit lens. A great little travel camera if you are in the market for one that isn’t too conspicuous.
