Kingston is a city of many faces. Its rich and eclectic history has yielded everything from the raw spectacle of Coronation Market to the structural grid of New Kingston. But is it possible to escape albeit momentarily? Hmmm Traipsing across rolling lawns sounds nice. So does being ushered through classically designed foyers to settle onto breezy terraces where one can indulge in a spot of tea and a plate of scones heaped with cream and strawberry preserves. We're pouring tea this afternoon and the best part is that we didn't have to lease a quaint Georgian manor in the English countryside.
Holding Court and Cup
Chocolate rum ball. Chocolate cake ball infused with Jamaican overproof rum.
Black forest ham, spicy sausage, and pink salmon are among the variety of meats. (Photos: Karl McLarty and Bryan Cummings)
White cheddar, pepper jack, blue cheese, and cinnamon-covered cream cheese are among the variety of cheeses.
Sir Kenneth and Lady Hall sit down for high tea.
The sesame-crusted lamb balls are "to die for".
Sous-chef with responsibility for pastry, Shawn Bryan, and his latest creation, the Baileys-Inspired Lychee cheesecake
Come 3:30pm every Wednesday afternoon special drapes come out to cordon off a small area in the Knutsford Court lobby, transforming it into the quaintest of tea parlours. The white-glove service and the décor are definite throwbacks to a time when people made an event of having tea. But even though the ambiance is retro, the experience is thoroughly modern.
To begin with, high tea at Knutsford Court isn't just about having tea. There are eight varieties of teas (by Caribbean Dreams and Tetley), but other drinks are available.
"In case the men think that tea is too feminine, we also offer coffee, and a full alcohol bar with drinks available at an additional cost," says Celia Steele, sales manager at the Knutsford Court. Those alcoholic drinks include their signature martini, the "mintini", a sumptuous mix of apple vodka, amaretto, lime juice, and creme de menthe.
The old-fashioned charm at Knutsford Court Hotel's High Tea may also mislead one to believe that the menu is chock-full of those typical staples -- breads, jams, scones, etc. However, the menu is anything but ordinary.
"We have to be different," says Steele. "We have to offer something that you can't have anywhere else."
The buffet includes the usual: a variety of meats, cheeses, breads and fruit kebabs, but then things get really interesting. There's an Asian curry chicken wrap; sesame-crusted lamb balls described as "to die for", and the intriguing red herring tapas: thinly sliced bammy triangles, topped with cream cheese, red herring, and mango chutney. The flavour is sweet and savoury, with the red herring adding a pungent kick.
Off to the side, one sees chef Dwayne Lamont stir-frying up a Crunchy Chicken Stir-Fry, with fried tortilla strips providing the "crunchy". For dessert, the choice is chocolate rum balls, a chocolate cake ball infused with Jamaican overproof rum and sitting in a martini glass, flanked by a variety of fruity accompaniments. The sweet potato pudding gets an even more local twist with a tamarind sauce of syrupy consistency, this they call tamarind temptation. The Knutsford Jack Royale was the most unexpected treat -- a miniature cheesecake made with jackfruit.
The sous-chef with responsibility for pastry, Shawn Bryan, was so pleased with our delight that he invited us to the unveiling of a new dessert specifically for the Knutsford Court's Mother's Day Brunch -- the Baileys-Inspired Lychee Cheesecake. It's an exceptional mix of chocolate and Baileys suffused cheesecake with a mix of fresh and caramelised lychee. Raving about his creation, Bryan says: "I am really inspired by seasonal fruits, and ingredients that have alternative uses. I like to create the unexpected."
Such creativity surely yields Knutsford Court some impressive guests. Which was the case on this Wednesday as we witnessed former Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall and his wife being ushered in for tea. If the former Governor General and his wife attend high tea at Knutsford Court, it must be up to snuff.
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