My Current Go-To Afternoon Tea

As I age, I realised I don't fancy eating sweets anymore. Not like I was a big fan of sweets when younger, though. Three-tier afternoon tea sets have at least one tier that consists of sweets which is a total waste. I would often pack them back just to throw them away or leave them untouched. I find that savouries on these tiered sets are not enough for me.

So Goodwood Park Afternoon Tea buffet (3pm to 5pm on weekends) is the natural choice for me.

The facade which is under renovation

The hotel seems to be under renovation quite frequently.

 

I don't go there every week but I vaguely remember the side of the hotel was also being renovated on one of my trips here some months ago.

The buffet is a spread of English and European tea items, consisting of mainly savouries. 

Most of the time, I walk in and ask for a one-seater. Today, I was informed that it was fully booked at 2.45pm. I was given the choice of waiting at the hotel lobby which is next to La Expresso till 3.15pm or first take up the outdoor seat overlooking the swimming pool and be transferred to the indoor seating area if a table is available. I took up the latter and was moved to the indoor seat about 10 minutes later.

My first time at Goodwood Park was at the pool area and didn't feel that the table and chairs were too high for an afternoon tea. Now that I am relatively seasoned at afternoon teas, I find the height quite uncomfortable. It feels more like a lunch or dinner table.

I was quite relieved that an indoor seat was quickly available. Never mind that it was at the farthest corner from the buffet table.

I was glad that I missed my breakfast in the morning. I was famished and went straight for my scones and clotted cream. I enjoyed the staff-recommended coffee flavoured scones apart from my safe original scones. While others eat their scones with clotted cream, I eat clotted cream, with scones to go with it.

I was delighted to see cream of mushroom offered as the soup of the day. I always wondered why they couldn't have something common and nice for the soup although pumpkin soup was fine.

My second course: the sandwiches. 

My favourite has to be the lobster croissant. 

I usually have at least two helpings.

Had some fried finger food: 

some cheese-stuffed bite, fish goujon, mexican drumlet and plant-based lasagne

roast beef, meat-lover pizza and lobster croissant again

Last course: (anti-clockwise) apple strudel, cheese croissant, white chocolate eclair and ... get this, 

stone crab salad with avocado & pineapple

Chef's Specials appear in the middle of the afternoon tea and it's not unlimited: Apple Strudel, Wagyu Beef Slider with Foie Gras and Caramelized Onion and Baked Chicken & Pumpkin Filo Pie

You will be informed by the ringing of a bell which some girls seated beside me mistook for an ice-cream bell.

Baked Chicken & Pumpkin Filo Pie

Tried previously. Just a chicken pie lah.

Wagyu Beef Slider with Foie Gras and Caramelized Onion

Tried previously too. A meaty beef burger lor. Didn't taste the foie gras.

The roast beef which I had enjoyed for the previous few times I went. Nowadays I just have a token piece.

The scones rack

I am not a nut person so I have never tried the nut scones. Scones are filling eats so I usually eat two in the spirit of an afternoon tea. The bread pudding at the bottom of the rack was good too.

The bill was $81.55 for one pax. I sat there from 3pm to 5pm, taking my time to eat.

Now I enjoy going to afternoon teas alone. I like eating alone and quietly. Perhaps this is what age does to you. I don't feel self-conscious or uneasy that I am alone at places where people gather for a meet-up anymore. I don't care if people think I am weird or a poor-thing to be at a hotel's afternoon tea alone. I pick up whatever food I like with my fingers and stuff it into my mouth instead of trying to cut the finger food up into even smaller pieces to fit my mouth. I don't feel like engaging in chit-chats nowadays. I think it's noisy if the people at the next table gossip or talk shop and wish I could eat in peace. I am not the most social person and am often awkward with conversations so I usually prefer being alone. In fact, I cannot think of a time I prefer to have company nowadays.

After my divorce, I find that I especially cherish and enjoy me time, alone. I guess it's a luxury I never had for 18 years. I was forced to fight all the time. Had to be ready to fight any time, any day. 

Domestic violence does not need to be proven with bruises.