Love chocolate? Love afternoon tea? We've discovered your perfect meal...!
Where? Confessions of a Chocoholic afternoon tea, Podium Restaurant, The London Hilton, 22 Park Lane, London W1K 1BE (020 7208 4022, www.podiumrestaurant.co.uk)
Let me guess, one for chocoholics only? Afraid so, but given we've yet to meet a woman who doesn't like chocolate, we can't think of a single member of the female species who wouldn't enjoy this luxury afternoon tea.
So Twix sandwiches followed by Mars cocktails and Flake-covered scones? Not quite, you are on Park Lane, after all. Instead, deliberate over chocolate parfait and gold leaf, or passion fruit and white chocolate fancies, madeleines on chocolate tulle, and freshly baked chocolate cup cakes. You can even choose to have your scones studded with chocolate chips rather than raisins if you want, and to slather them with chocolate praline spread rather than jam and cream (or as well, if you're feeling really greedy).
Is anything savoury included? Don't panic, when your sweet tooth is well and truly sated, you can tuck into perfectly petite Forman's smoked salmon, prawn mayonnaise and baby gem lettuce or cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches.
Dare I ask what's to drink? We washed all that chocolate down with a glass of Champagne and lots of water. However, to truly immerse oneself in the chocolate experience requires at least one Toblerone Martini, made with Kahlua, cream, honey, white and dark chocolate liquor and espresso. Wow!
I'd need at least two hours to sleep all that off. Someone's already thought of that! Reserve 'The Sweetest Stay' in advance (£154.50 per person) and you can enjoy afternoon tea, a 'Choco Minceur' spa treatment, an overnight stay at the Hilton and breakfast the morning after.
