Grand Cayman: Afternoon Tea at The Ritz

Hello and hope everyone had a good holiday weekend! We are back from the Cayman Islands (and in complete denial about being back home ;). It was non-stop eating and drinking during the entire trip, with one very sweet and memorable afternoon tea.

We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman where they serve afternoon daily in the Silver Palm Lounge. Just an elevator ride away!

May I pour you a cup? A pot each of Imperial Oolong and Earl Grey feels so right today. Here's a look at the tea selection.

Browsing the menu - both teas sets are the same, one with champagne, one without.

And the moment we've been waiting for! Classic three tiers: scones on top, sweets in the middle, and savories at the bottom. Just seeing this makes me smile. Though the basics and bones of every afternoon tea is the same, I love seeing how each restaurant turns it into something unique. Here the best part of tea were the savory bites...

...exquisite little tea sandwiches (that I'm now itching to re-create at home).

- Mango and Caribbean Lobster Salad on Sourdough. Mango sliced paper-thin, layered atop a rectangular cut of sourdough and topped with mound of fresh lobster.
- Smoked Salmon, Dill Cream Cheese on Pumpernickel. Smoked salmon is rolled into a little tube with fresh chives poking out one end.
- Egg Salad and Baby Watercress Sandwich with Bow Fin Caviar. The circular sandwich at center. An egg salad pinwheel with caviar. Perfection!
- English Cucumber, Hummus on Rye Bread. Cucumbers are sliced thin and halved, hummus spread across the bread.
- Prosciutto and Parmesan Mille Feuille, Fig Compote on Mango Brioche. Sweet and savory, the prosciutto and parmesan mille-feuille (6 layers) atop chunky fig compote, airy light brioche, the mango element subtle.

Next we move onto the scones, warm rounds in plain and raisin-studded...

...lemon curd, raspberry jam, devonshire cream. Scones aren't complete without the trio! Though if I had to pick only one accompaniment, it would be devonshire cream ;)

Facing the balcony and blue skies. Relax and pour another cup of tea...

...and let's move onto dessert. A full plate! That's Chocolate Éclair facing you, Strawberry Tartlettes to the left. Crisp, sugar-dusted Palmiers in the center and Lemon Meringue Tarts at right. Finish with Coffee-Teacake and crushed hazelnuts.

Cheers to a sweet afternoon!