Tuesday, 4th March 2008 (3032 views)

Eclairs topped with edible gold leaf are among the sweets on offer at the newly-refurbished Plaza Hotel in New York City, according to reports.

The Mercury News says the pastries, by chef Nicole Kaplan, are part of the Plaza's new Afternoon Tea menu, which has been revamped to coincide with the completion of the hotel's $400 million (£201 million) renovation.

Other changes include more than doubling the number of teas on offer to two dozen, including peppermint, chamomile and white and green teas. Beverages from Kenya, Japan, China, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka are all now available.

The Plaza's tea consultant Ellen Easton told the newspaper that at $60 a head, the revamped afternoon tea is an "attainable luxury".

Elizabeth Knight, the head of Tea In The City, which provides guided tours to tea rooms around Manhattan, added that taking afternoon tea in a luxurious hotel allows people to reconnect with a time of "romance and grandeur".

"It's almost like you get to be an aristocrat for a day - you peek through the keyhole and enjoy yourself for two hours," she commented.

The Plaza was built in 1907. Since then, the New York landmark has featured in many films and TV shows, including Barefoot in the Park, Eloise at the Plaza and The Sopranos.

 

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