The time-honoured tradition of High Tea is a touchy subject. What comes first, the cream or the jam? How many sweets should you serve with your scones? Do the waiters wear white gloves? How far do you raise your pinky finger?
Bursaria’s take on High Tea, “A Touch of…”, throws tradition out the window and runs off into the wild. You won’t find a white glove in sight, unless it’s on the hand of one of the guests, and they’ve pre-spread the scones for you (a slather of raspberry jam topped with a dollop of clotted cream).
Housed in the maze of reinvigorated church buildings at Abbotsford Convent, Bursaria’s monthly high teas take over the Rosina Function Rooms with a DJ, sky-high hair and bottles of bubbly.
Arrive pre-tea and wait in the courtyard, where a roaming mademoiselle from Bravo Darling in a gold flapper dress and a huge sequined head dress is pouring sparkling wine.
Once you’re inside, she parades around the ballroom with a Perspex skirt strapped to her shoulders. Like a popcorn boy at the theatre, she comes around to top up your savouries. You’ll pluck crispy noodle wrapped-prawns, chorizo sausage rolls and chicken and walnut sandwiches from her skirt.
While tea makes the rounds, sip on the traditional lemonade, given a twist with a mix of rosewater and vanilla sugar syrup. It’s liquid musk stick and gets your taste buds prepped for sweets.
Try shots of pomegranate and vanilla panacotta, the cream cut by a crop of fairy floss drizzled on top, a salted caramel and organic chocolate pot with just enough crunch, baby crème bruelees, lemon meringue pie and bite sized boysenberry meringues.
Sweet!
Bursaria’s “A Touch of…”
$55pp
2-4pm, every 3rd Sunday of the month
Upcoming dates: 16th June, 21st July, 18th August, 15th September, 20th October, 17th November, 15th December 2013
T: (03) 9417 7771
bookings@bursaria.com.au
