The Lindt high tea at Michelangelo’s Piccolo Mondo in Sandton was a lavish event.
I was lucky enough recently to partake of the Lindt high tea at Michelangelo’s Piccolo Mondo in Sandton. The luxurious Piccolo Mondo makes for a suitably lavish high tea setting. Think columns, richly decorated fabrics, marble floors, bronze and gold finishes, ornate mirrors, heavy drapes, thick carpets, crisp white table cloths and elegant statues. Even the ceiling timbers bear a decorative motif.
Piano music greeted me and my partner as we made our way towards the reception area where we were ushered to our perfectly prepared tables by attentive staff. But not before we walked past the high tea. And oh what a tea! Long tables draped in white tablecloths had been set up along a marble corridor on top of which tall, fluted silver vases filled with pink hydrangeas, roses and chrysanthemums had been placed. Arranged around the vases were a vast array of platters and servers brimming with sweet and savoury nibbles.
One section was dedicated to green salads, various salad toppings and dressings. Another section comprised hot savoury food such as fried chicken and fish bites and chicken and beef kebabs smothered in a delicious sauce. Other platters overflowed with (crust-less of course) white and whole-wheat sandwiches filled with cucumber and cream cheese, chicken mayonnaise and cheese and tomato. There were savoury croissants, twisted bread sticks, little bamboo cups filled with butternut cubes, mini chicken wraps, mini vegetable quiches, bamboo cups filled with a flavourful seafood medley, mozzarella, tomato and pesto sticks, salmon bites and a variety of cheeses. Another table was dedicated entirely to a delectable array of fresh sushi. And that was just the savouries.
Sweet treats on offer included large slices of cheesecake topped with strawberries and cream, a rich chocolate ganache cake decorated with white chocolate petals, bite size lemon meringues, mini cheesecakes, chocolate sponges, tiny apple crumbles, fruit salad sticks, decadent chocolate bites, colourful macaroons, iced cupcakes, jam and cream scones, mini crème brulees, mini glazed fruit flans, hot malva pudding and custard, carrot cake slices, koeksisters and a beautiful, large chocolate dipped croque en bouche encased in a delicate spun sugar cage. Another table held a decadent Lindt chocolate fountain in which marshmallows, strawberries and fruit sticks could be dipped.
Clearly many hours of work and preparation had gone into the tea and indeed a small army of chefs and attendants hovered around the tables, putting the finishing touches on the display. It seemed a pity to disturb such a lovely arrangement but it wasn’t long before the packed restaurant’s patrons started tucking in. We followed suit.
Of course we piled our plates high and tried just about everything. We shamelessly went back for seconds and thirds and washed down all the deliciousness with a good selection of teas and coffee. My personal favourites? The savoury butternut cups, crust-less sandwiches and croque en bouche which were filled with a delicate lemon cream. The Lindt chocolate fountain was also very moreish, if a tad messy which was fine as it gave us an excuse to lick our fingers.
Overall the tea was fantastic. Although not a traditional high tea in the true sense in that it wasn’t served on individual tiered serving trays, the sheer variety, quality and magnificent presentation more than made up for that. What’s more is that at only R255pp, the tea represents excellent value for money. And the cherry on top? Once you’ve eaten your fill, you can go shopping at Sandton City afterwards.
Take a journey through Sandton here:
