The art-inspired afternoon tea of Rosewood London has a special place in the list with the most famous ones served in London
Inspired by art exhibitions taking place every season in London, Rosewood’s afternoon tea is one of the most outstanding experiences in the city. This year Chef Mark Perkins draws inspiration from the new exhibition “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms”, which can be seen from this month at the Tate Gallery of Modern Art in London and creates a spectacular new Art Afternoon Tea which combines unique Japanese flavors with traditional French pastries and patisserie art to express Yayoi Kusama’s contemporary works in a unique way.
Yayoi Kusama is known for her visual and conceptual sculptures and installations, which are permeated with autobiographical and psychological content. Her dramatic art, in which she processes various life experiences, makes her one of the most important living artists in Japan.
The Yayoi Kusama Art Afternoon Tea at Rosewood London consists of three courses: traditional sandwiches, followed by classic pastries, and finally, as a highlight, tartlets inspired by Kusama’s art. The classic pastries, which celebrate Japanese flavors and are served as a trio, are also a visual delight for the guests. The Tonka Caramel is a rectangular chocolate mug filled with fine tonka cream, salted caramel and a caramel chocolate crust, topped with a colorful pattern of dots. The second pastry – a peach and jasmine macaron – consists of a beautiful pink sugar flower perched on an almond macaroon and filled with peach jelly and jasmine tea ganache. Finally, a cheesecake inspired by Japan’s famous cherry blossoms was created with cherry blossom gel, a vanilla cheesecake dome and red and white chocolate decoration. The design of the cherry blossom cheesecake is influenced by Kusama’s famous red and white dotted pattern.
Kusama tartlets
Flowers That Bloom at Midnight
Inspired by Kusama’s “Flowers That Bloom at Midnight” (2010), these pastries evoke images of a midnight sci-fi garden. The cake consists of tropical coconut mousse, strawberry yuzu jelly for a touch of acidity, matcha green tea biscuit, strawberry crisps for extra texture and a biscuit base made from sablé biscuit.
All my love for tulips
Inspired by Kusama’s “With all my love for the Tulips, I pray forever” (2011). The shape of the dotted petals represents the artist’s endeavor to create visceral art in order to cast a spell on the viewer and create depth. This pastry consists of a citrus yuzu mousse, raspberry yuzu jelly, almond pan de gene, a green tea sablé, raspberry cremeux and chocolate leaves.
Dots Obsession – Soul of Pumpkin
This pumpkin-inspired cake was inspired by Kusama’s traveling work “Dots Obsession – Soul of Pumpkin” (2003). In her childhood, Kusama imagined a pumpkin talking to her during the harvest on her family’s farm. Perkins’ tart consists of a dark chocolate sablé, strong passion fruit cremeux, rich Jivara chocolate mousse, flour-free chocolate cake, praline feuilletine, passion fruit ganache and chocolate decorations.