You can taste a little bit of perfection in every Belle Epoque High Tea at Emporium Hotel, South Bank, and it’s delicious. Filled with flavour twists and must-try tastes, I’m calling Belle Epoque’s new High Tea Brisbane’s first gastronomic high tea! New Pastry Chef Charith Ponnamperuma Arachchige has created something really special.

Belle Époque is piece of France on Brisbane’s South Bank. It is a world where chandeliers are shaped like palm trees, ferns fall from the ceiling, and antique mirrors make everyone look like a princess. It’s all part of the fabulous décor of Brisbane’s eclectic Emporium Hotel. Located on the ground floor, Belle Époque is Emporium Hotel South Bank’s opulent French-style bistro that is open from 6.30 am to 5 pm every day.  Expect black and white mosaic floor tiles, Parisian-styled furniture, a French antique stained-glass ceiling and a bespoke, handmade bronze Champagne Bar.

Emporium High Tea at Belle Epoque

New Pastry Chef Charith Ponnamperuma Arachchige boasts an impressive resume that includes positions at the seven-star Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the Michelin Star restaurant Alain Ducasse in Doha, and the six-star luxury cruise liner Regent Seven Seas Voyager. Chef Charith has created an impressive high tea menu that pushes boundaries mixing sweet and savoury with texture contrasts.  It’s inventive and full of engaging flavours.

It’s also refreshing to know that if you have a dietary preference, and these days that includes at least one of your friends, they will not be shortchanged with high tea options that are anything less than delectable at Belle Epoque.

 

New Pastry Chef, Charith Ponnamperuma Arachchige, Belle Epoque High Tea

What’s on the plate?

The Emporium High Tea is a three-tied tower of delight filled with intriguing flavour contrasts setting a new standard for high tea in Brisbane. Savouries include chicken and pesto, and cucumber finger sandwiches, marinated prawns on toasted rye, a salmon and dill quiche and delicious bright red beetroot macarons. The scones come with a delicious raspberry and rose jam or a thick passionfruit curd.  Sweet tastes range from a showstopper thyme creme brulee with salted caramel, hazelnut choux, raspberry pistachio mousse and a mango lemon cake.  The gold madeleine is a triumph.

Champane at Belle Epoch High Tea

How to tackle High Tea

If anyone knows how to tackle a high tea tower, it is Jodie Bache-McLean, Managing Director of Chic Management Brisbane and June Dally-Watkins (JDW) Education & Training. Schooled by the doyen of etiquette, the amazing June Dally-Watkins, Jodie spends her days helping people gain confidence in social situations.  When it comes to scones, there’s long been a debate over whether it’s cream or jam that goes on first. Jodie says both are right, depending on whether you come from Devonshire (cream first) or Cornwall (jam first). Of course, the Emporium blend scones at Belle Epoque came with clotted cream, not whipped!

Stylist Di Cant, a frequent traveller, has enjoyed high teas around the world, including the sumptuous spread put on at The Pierre, one of the best in New York. She rates Belle Epoque’s High Tea as fabulous. “This high tea is every bit as good as The Ritz in London!” Follow Di as Suitcase Savy on Instagram for great tips on how to pack light and right along with the right wardrobe for your itinerary

Belle Epoque High Tea tower

Belle Epoque High Tea at Emporium Hotel

The Emporium High Tea at Belle Epoque Pattisserie is available every day between 11.30 am and 3 pm.  Have it with tea or coffee for $60 per person.  If you want to throw in a glass of sparkling, it’s $70 a person and $80 if you prefer champagne. There’s also a children’s high tea for $30.  You can also order a takeaway high tea for $120 and enjoy it in South Bank Parklands or wherever you like. Find Emporium Hotel at 267 Grey Street, South Bank.

More about Emporium Hotel

Disclaimer: Ed+bK was a guest of Emporium Hotel for High Tea.