The Afternoon Tea of Dreams
The Chefs’ Forum and The World of Wedgwood combined to create a magical afternoon tea and factory tour on Monday with top chefs on hand to create perfect savouries and delicious pastries to sit on classic Wedgwood plates and tiered bone china cake stands.
The afternoon event, supported by students from Stoke-on-Trent College, was a showcase of both chef and potter talent. Guests went on a VIP factory tour and witnessed the skill and creativity of creating the world’s finest bone china before enjoying a fabulous spread.
Cherish Finden, Tom Everard-Fairburn, Mark Walsh, Vicky Goodwin and Thomas Leatherbarrow wowed the guests with their creations in the Wedgwood Tea Room.
Lord Mayor of the City of Stoke-on-Trent, Cllr Lyne Sharp, was a VIP and revealed that she once went to Stoke College and studied Large Scale Catering and Housekeeping, so this event was right up her street having worked in the industry.
Catherine Farinha, Director of The Chefs’ Forum, said: “Wedgwood pulled out all the stops for us. This was a special afternoon and I’m so grateful to the chefs and the students for making everything so perfect. Great china makes afternoon tea what it is and it doesn’t come better than Wedgwood. It was brilliant to see how it is made and decorated.”
Chris Bend, Head of Hospitality Sales at Wedgwood said: “It was a brilliant idea to showcase our wares and our magnificent tearoom. The chefs were brilliant and the students got a lot from it and we were able to show off our best pieces with amazing food and tell the Wedgwood story.”
The chefs
- Cherish Finden – International Pastry Consultant & Bake Off: The Professionals Judge
- Tom Everard-Fairburn – Chef Patron at Two Brothers Bakery & Bake Off: The Professionals Contestant
- Mark Walsh – Freelance Chef
- Vicky Goodwin – Head Chef at World of Wedgwood
- Thomas Leatherbarrow – Chef Patron at The Leatherbarrow Corporation
The afternoon tea
Welcome Drink
Sixtowns gin & tonic
Canapés by Saucery
Panko Aussie sirloin with katsu curry sauce
Chicken with chipotle sauce
Savoury
Mark Walsh
Seared Aussie sirloin, confit onion, watercress emulsion, pickled onions and wild garlic tart
Vicky Goodwin
Scone, strawberry jam and clotted cream
Aussie braised beef sandwich
Egg and watercress sandwich
Cucumber and cream cheese sandwich
Sweet
Cherish Finden
Valrhona chocolate tart, ying and yang sesame brittle, soya sauce ganache and Dulcey caramel
Tom Everard-Fairburn
Pineapple and popcorn choux
Thomas Leatherbarrow
Passion fruit, miso and brown sugar custard tartlet
Produce kindly sponsored by Aussie Beef & Lamb, Dole Foodservice, Town & Country Fine Foods, Classic Fine Foods and Saucery.
Wine sponsored by Brown Brothers – Innocent Bystander Moscato.
