High fashion meets high tea at London’s Berkeley hotel. The American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property just unveiled its autumn/winter 2020 Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea that takes looks from top designers and transforms them into desserts.
The catwalks turned cakewalks feature cakes inspired by Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Prada, Marc Jacobs, and more. For example, Marc Jacobs’ 60s-style fuzzy coat and hat became a joconde sponge and lemon confit, with citrus fromage blanc and meringue whip on top. A pair of Prada shoes spotted on the runway is represented in a heel-shaped chocolate biscuit with royal icing piping that looks like ribbed socks. And Dolce & Gabbana’s monochrome designs with roses turned into a toasted coconut whipped ganache perched on layers of Jivara chocolate and coconut sponge and sugar red roses on top.
Related: Where to Find the Best Afternoon Tea in London
There’s also a mini pearl evening bag made with Ivoire Valrhona chocolate from Simone Rocha’s design and Riccardo Tisci’s emerald green Burberry trench-turned-cake features matcha and black sesame mousse. But the highlight of the season has to be Moschino’s Marie Antoinette-style gown Bella Hadid wore on the runway. The cake version features a pink lady apple bavarois and Bramley apple compote and a cinnamon financier that looks like the billowing skirt. Meanwhile, the torso was created using a spiced biscuit with royal icing to make the evening gloves and larger-than-life wig.
To top off the unique offering, The Berkeley invited Alice Naylor Leyland to co-create a final cake with head of pastry Mourad Khia. The result was a mi-cuit almond cake with orange pieces sandwiched with marbled Opalys chocolate to replicate the tastemakers Edie Parker shimmering clutch. A handwritten “Alice” in edible gold glitter is the final delectable touch.
Related: 12 Luxury Hotels Where Afternoon Tea Is a Lavish Affair
And the Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea isn’t the only unique offering from The Berkley this season. The property also debuted a culinary terrace dubbed Winter at The Garden. The space will feature fir trees and fairy lights and five festive cabins that can seat six, complete with blankets, heaters, and private music.
