Nothing signifies the start of the British summer more so than Wimbledon. Yes, it’s that time of year again and tennis fever is about take over the capital for a whole two weeks. If you're not fortunate enough to have nabbed a ticket for the main event, fear not - restaurants across London are getting into the sporting spirit with some tennis themed sweet treats, guaranteed to get you in the mood to cheer on Murray to the final! (we can hope!).
A tennis ball bombe from 34
Pastry Chef, Alice Hall at Mayfair grill restaurant, 34 has paid special tribute to the forthcoming tournament by creating the aptly named desert ‘Advantage 34’. This green-sprayed white chocolate bombe is filled with Pimm’s ice cream, fresh strawberries and strawberry sauce and rests on a bed of chocolate soil served with a cucumber jelly and fresh flowers. Oh, and did we mention it looks exactly like a tennis ball? Cameras at the ready – this dish certainly has the wow factor!
‘Advantage 34’ is available from the desert menu now, priced £10.50.
Booking info and critic reviews of 34
Gelato at Daphne's
Italian restaurant Daphne’s have created a very special selection of gelatos in celebration of the tennis season. Six unique and pun-tastic titled flavours are on offer, including ‘Strawberry and Shortbread Smash’, ‘Peach and Prosecco Ace’ and ‘Lob? Was It On the Lime.’
The ice cream will be available from the a la carte menu or to take away from the bespoke cart parked outside the restaurant at the weekends.
Booking info and critic reviews of Daphne's
Pastries and more from the Bulgari
Pastry Chef Mickael Bauer has designed two Wimbledon-inspired luxury deserts for this Knightsbridge hotel. The ‘Pimm’s Tennis Ball’ combines a Pimm’s infused mousse and fresh mint with a Granny Smith apple and strawberry coulis and will be served in The Lounge, and the exclusive ‘Strawberry and Vanilla Cream Cake’ will be available in the hotel’s Il Restorante. However if you wish to get a dessert to go, the Pastry Counter will be serving both for takeaway throughout the duration of the tournament.
The deserts will be available from 23rd June – 7th July and take away prices start from £9.
Eclairs from Yauatcha
If you find yourself in the West End why not pop into Michelin star dim- sum and tea house Yautcha for one of their new ‘Strawberries and Cream Éclairs’. Their take on the classic desert is filled with strawberry cremeux, vanilla cremeaux laced with strawberry pieces and finished with even more strawberries, cream and micro mint. The berry-bursting feast launched last week and can either be eaten in, accompanied with a dollop of fresh strawberry sorbet or boxed up to take out from the front-of-house patisserie.
The éclairs are priced at £8.50 a la carte/ £5.90 to take away Mon-Thurs 12-6pm.
Afternoon tea from the Ampersand
In quintessential British style, boutique hotel The Ampersand is serving a Wimbledon-themed afternoon tea. Head chef, Chris Golding and pastry chef Ji Sun Shin have devised a special menu set to feature creative twists on classic sandwiches such as Severn & Wye smoked salmon with dill cream cheese and coronation chicken and cheese with fruit chutney. Old favourites such as strawberry tarts, scones, Chelsea buns and a playful shortbread tennis racket will perfectly satisfy your sweet tooth.
Afternoon Tea is priced at £27.50 per person, or £39.50 with a glass of champagne and is available between 2.30pm and 5.30pm from 22nd June to 7th July.
Booking info for the Ampersand
Shopping and strawberries at Bond & Brook
Fenwick's second floor restaurant Bond & Brook has a special three course menu running over Wimbledon. Start with hand 'court' scallop - served with pickled cauliflower, courgette puree and black olive crumb, follow that with herb-crusted 'racket' of lamb, served with slow cooked shoulder, mushrooms and summer truffles and finish off with their taste on strawberries and cream - compressed strawberries, macaroon, jelly and chantilly cream.
The Wimbledon menu runs from 24 June to 6 July 2013 and costs £30.
Booking info and critic reviews of Bond & Brook
For more summer treats, check out the Hot Dinners guide to Summer
