Where high tea is haute cuisine
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The scones alone are worth a visit to Central Embassy's Water Library
ANY DREAD of margarine-soaked scones, cold cucumber sandwiches and sardines on crackers that afternoon tea might bring to mind vanishes over the wonderful repast at Central Embassy’s Water Library. Pastry chef Pakapat Sakyaso’s homemade nibbles are mind-blowing.
This is the sort of spot where you can leisurely while away the midday hours, Parisian-style. Pakapat’s creative afternoon-tea nibbles are paired with fresh-brewed Segafredo coffee or Mariage Freres teas in three sets, for one or two diners, ranging in price from Bt690 to Bt1,290.
The set is served on a three-tier cake stand, each level loaded with tantalising savouries and sweets.
You have an addictive truffle-chicken spring roll, a creamy leek-and-bacon quiche, an open sandwich of Perigord foie gras and crabmeat, and a croquette of Atlantic cod with bell-pepper marmalade. On the side is a scrambled egg with bacon cream and caviar.
Cleanse your palate with sweet-and-sour fruit sorbet and your ready for the sweets.
Pakapat’s scones are pleasantly moist, buttery and airy, a far cry from the thick and grainy renditions too often encountered elsewhere. And he pops an organic berry on top and complements them with hand-churned butter and homemade cherry and lemon jams.
There’s a fun and colourful peanut-butter-and-jelly choux puff, a bittersweet, creamy and warm Manjari chocolate mousse with white chocolate panna cotta, and a luxurious Valrhona chocolate financier.
You still need room for the lemon-curd cheesecake, which is refreshingly tangy, fragrant and quite fulfilling in itself.
The hot tea options from Mariage Freres include black French breakfast, Darjeeling, Marco Polo black tea, red rooibos and greens like jasmine Mandarin, sur le nil and des offrandes.
If you prefer your tea cold, choose among Rouge (red tea, raspberry puree, grenadine and lime), Elderflower (peach fruit tea, elderflower syrup and sugar cane) or Passion (strawberry tea, fresh orange and lime). French sparkling wine is also available for Bt150 per glass.
MIDDAY MARVELS
The Water Library at Central Embassy serves afternoon tea from 2 to 5pm Monday through Friday.
Reservations are recommended at (02) 160 5893 or www.WaterLibrary.com.
