POETRY AND PLACES INFLUENCES AFTERNOON TEA AT ANANTARA THE MARKER DUBLIN HOTEL
The Five-Star Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel will launch its brand new Afternoon Tea offering on ‘Mother’s Day’, the 10th of March. The ‘Poetry and Places Afternoon Tea’ has been inspired by some of Ireland’s most famous poets and scribes and features the tastes and flavours of the country’s most iconic destinations. The rugged cliffs of the west of Ireland and the wild and native flavours of the hedgerows are evocative in every sweet and savoury bite. Ingredients such as wild Atlantic Sea salt from the west of Ireland and sweet and tangy berry flavours from the wild hedgerows are just some of the indigenous flavours and ingredients the pastry chefs have used to create unique delicacies that will provide you with a true sense and taste of Ireland.
This creative and truly unique culinary journey transports the guest through a literary journey via the lines of some of Ireland’s most famous poems while also paying homage to the most dramatic landscapes in the country. Guests will enjoy three pastries from ten themed delights. Flavours have been inspired by The Ring of Kerry, Achill Island, Valentia Island, The Wild Atlantic Way, Kilkenny Castle and Newgrange.
The menu also features a choice of delicate sandwiches, pastries, tea breads and homemade preserves. Sandwiches include choices such as Burren Organic Irish Oak Smoked Salmon with dill crème fraiche, served on a traditional soda bread. There’s also a roast beef, horseradish and Achill Island Sea Salt sandwich which presents robust and memorable flavours. Delicate cucumber and chive cream cheese sandwiches are light and refreshing while the corn-fed chicken, tarragon mayonnaise and brioche bun is smooth and deeply satisfying.
Gareth Mullins, Executive Head Chef at Anantara the Marker said, “We wanted to pay tribute to the many great local and indigenous flavours that are found in every corner of this country. Artisan producers all around the country are making great products in small batches and often by hand. We searched high and low for the very best artisans whose products now sing from our plates. For example, we created a gorgeous verrine with a bavarois of sheep’s milk yoghurt from Mayo, it features heather honey, oat crumble and is finished with a smoked Achill Island Sea Salt. Our Opera Cake was inspired by the steep cliffs that are found along much of the west coast and is flavoured with chocolate, rye and dillisk.”
On the literary side of the Afternoon Tea story, the poem, ‘Blackberry Picking’ by poet Seamus Heaney inspired the blackberry tart, which is seasoned with Wicklow blackberry wine, and topped with a clove meringue. Meanwhile, the poem, ‘Lilac’ by the contemporary poet, Martina Dalton provided the inspiration for the violet macaroon, with Berriolette curd and dried flowers. Martina is in fact, the mother-in-law of the head pastry chef, Sebastian Ritzen, whose words, and evocative images have resulted in the creation of this tasty treat.
“One of Europe’s most popular attractions and historic cultural symbols of Dublin is of course, The Guinness Storehouse, home to the world’s most iconic beer,” said Gareth Mullins. “As a tribute to this icon and a ‘thank you’ to Arthur Guinness, we have created a chocolate and Guinness cake to look like a perfect pint of the ‘black stuff’’. He went on to say, “When you visit the Storehouse, and you absolutely should, they’ll show you how to pour a perfect pint yourself and now you can taste a mini, sweet version of that famous stout on our Afternoon Tea plate.”
He continued, “The famous Battenberg Cake is renowned at Afternoon Tea’s around the world, and we’ve put a unique twist on this iconic bake. It’s inspired by our own hotel’s geometric façade which we have replicated in the cake. The traditional pink and yellow sponge has been reimagined in white and chocolate and is enveloped in vanilla caramel”.
The menu also features a comprehensive range of botanic and fragrant teas and fruit infusions, in fact there are 16 varieties of Ronnefeldt Tea to choose from, all served in traditional Wedgewood China teacups. Some unique flavours such as Cherry Cheesecake and Irish Chocolate Cream are on offer as well as an Irish Whiskey Cream tea, while seasonal flavours will be added throughout the year. Guests can choose to add Bollinger bubbles to their afternoon if they so wish with a choice of Bollinger Champagnes on offer.
Michael Davern, The General Manager of Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel said, “The theme of ‘journeys’ is central to the Anantara brand itself and so the idea of experiencing Ireland through taste is really interesting and appealing. We hope people will join us on a culinary and poetic journey around the country and we look forward to welcoming old friends and new for Afternoon Tea. We are so proud of our pastry team lead by Sebastian Ritzen whose creativity and attention to detail really comes through in our new Afternoon Tea offering.”
Afternoon Tea at Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel will launch on ‘Mother’s Day’, the 10th of March with complimentary live music in the Marker Bar & Lounge. The menu price starts from €65 per person for the ‘Poetry and Places’ option to €100 for the Bollinger Rose Champagne Afternoon Tea. Afternoon Tea will be served daily from 1pm to 4pm every day in the Marker Bar & Lounge and on the Terrace, weather permitting, To book call (01) 687 5104 | E: bookyourtable.themarker@anantara-hotels.com
