The Mad Hatter’s Afternoon Tea at the Sanderson sure looks pretty. Surveying the table, there’s an array of treats that pay homage to Lewis Carroll’s classic novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland laid out before us; marshmallow toadstools, little chocolate cups filled with green tea infused mousse, crystal bottles containing novelty teas (apple pie, rhubarb & custard and mint chocolate chip), and a music box complete with turning ballerina that acts as a sugar receptacle. The final flourish is a glass bottle filled labelled ‘drink me’.
Did it taste as good as it looked? In short: no. The sandwiches were hit and miss and the rest of the offerings a little too sugary for our taste (bar the cheesecake, which was perfection). While the savoury scones with herbal butter did something to move the affair away from sickly, a little more emphasis on flavour and less on flair would have been appreciated by my party.
But, then, afternoon teas are sugary affairs and the enormous effort to keep the theme running through all the elements (napkins were wrapped in riddles, crowns printed on teapots, menus hidden inside books) was admirable. If you’re a fan of sugary treats with a side dish of whimsy, you’ll love this. If you’re after a proper feed, head inside to Suka instead where you’ll find some excellent Malay cuisine.