Paying tribute to 2022’s Spring/Summer fashion collections, London’s Berkeley hotel is serving a catwalk-inspired afternoon tea. Rose Dykins reports
The Berkeley has unveiled its Spring/Summer 2022 Prêt-à-Portea collection – a fun afternoon tea offering with a line-up of “couture cakes” inspired by designers from Saint Laurent to Schiaparelli.
A contemporary twist on afternoon tea, the Berkeley’s seasonal Prêt-à-Portea cakes will delight fashionistas with their imaginative interpretations of catwalk moments.
This season’s collection pays homage to Oscar de la Renta – giving a nod to the designer’s striking orange gown through a cake crafted with apricot bavarois, salted Manuka honey and apricot ganache, topped with a meringue frill.
There’s also cake to honour the hero handbag from Michael Kors that was filled with flowers on the catwalk this season. It has been immortalised in a Victoria sponge cake with fresh strawberry jam, wrapped in an Opalys chocolate cylinder, with intricately piped lime butter cream flowers.
Meanwhile, Gucci’s pink silk tuxedo has been reimagined in the form of a bourbon vanilla mousse and Emmanuel sponge, layered with peach compote and glazed with shimmering pink icing. This is finished with a thin chocolate jacket and bow tie. And, Lanvin’s towering floral platform heels will stomp down the cakewalk made from chocolate biscuit, painstakingly piped with royal icing.
Schiaparelli’s couture golden mini dress combines caramel sponge, dark Valrhona chocolate and hazelnut praline, all topped with a shimmering, chocolate oversized collar. And Richard Quinn’s stand-out buttercup yellow gown lives on in ice cream form – chocolate wafer cones are filled with fresh fruit compote and pineapple and star anise sorbet, topped with bright yellow chocolate waves.
Finally, the Prêt-à-Portea pastry team have created show-stopping cake that commemorates Saint Laurent’s floral jumpsuit with a delectable oversized red rose made of lychee mousse with fresh raspberry, set on a glossy white coconut cake, and finished with a green chocolate leaf.
The Spring/Summer 2022 season of Prêt-à-Portea is served from 1pm-5.30pm every day, priced from £64 per person.
Situated between London’s Knightsbridge and Belgravia districts, the Berkeley offers a contemporary, chic luxury experience with innovative touches. It serves Michelin-starred cuisine from Marcus by Marcus Wareing, its elegant bars include Blue Bar and the Berkeley Bar and Terrace, and the hotel’s wellbeing offering is operated by The Bamford Spa.
Last year, the Prêt-à-Portea afternoon tea for the Autumn/Winter 2021 fashion season featured cakes that paid tribute to Donatella Versace, Moschino, Valentino and Anna Wintour.