Tea buds do Ladurée ...

In part 3 of our continuing 'Tea Buds' series, the fanteastic foursome, Valelee, Saggs, Cheeks & Woof (better known as Luke, but he likes to pretend to be a dog sometimes so let's call him 'Woof' today, shall we?), found themselves in the more upmarket part of London - Knightsbridge, home to the world-famous Harrods department store.

Knightsbridge is the epicentre of the rich and richer, and trawling haunt for fashionistas with a penchant for expensive, high fashion.

As Cheeks and I ambled along Brompton Road, gazing into shopwindows, I chanced on a pretty, pink display at Harrods that featured a joint promotion between Moët et Chandon and Ladurée, the renowned french patisserie. The display made mention that a Ladurée tearoom was located on the ground level at Harrods. I'd never tried Ladurée's famed macarons, much less experience a quintessential french salon de thé, so the idea was extremely appealing. I wasn't sure if Woof and Val'lee would be ok with my suggestion but they were very sweet and obliged, despite having visited Ladurée while on holiday to Paris.

The Ladurée tearoom is situated at the far end of Harrods, through the foodhalls, past the Krispy Kreme counter. It doesn't have a lot of seating and is split to 2 areas - dining in the brasserie, and a 'tea only' section. We were offered a table by the windows by the friendly waitstaff. I was very taken with the pastel-hued surroundings and wall display neatly stacked with giftboxes, tea cannisters and the prettiest satin ribbons you ever did see! A pity photography was not permitted in the tearoom, but under the guise of taking shots of the kids, I surreptitiously snuck in a snap or two, like this one of Woof:

how's THIS for sneaky? heh.

After surveying both menu and the irresistable panoply of pastries at the counter, I laid my bets on Macaron Pommes Caramel, while Val'lee opted for her favourite, Ispahan, which she adores because it contains lychee. We each ordered a pot of tea - Val had Thé Royal aux fruits, a blend of China and Ceylon tea with cornflower and scented with black wildfruits, red berries and flowers, whilst I had Thé Mélange Spécial Ladurée, a delicious blend of orange, rose, vanilla and cinammon. Comforting!

I now understand why Ladurée is a much-lauded patisserie. Unfortunately, I'm an amateur when it comes to writing up a proper food assessment. I have but a tacky hyperbole to describe the moment I bit into my crisp-shelled, apple and caramel filled macaron - I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

It was gorgeous. Fragrant roasted apples paired with thick, gooey caramel cream. Together, they were a match made in dessert heaven. I was sweetly sated.

Whilst their mums basked in sweet, heavenly decadence, the children entertained themselves by being 'LOUD & LOUDER'; they pretended to call their dads on their mummies' mobile phones, played nicely, then bickered with each other. It was clear they cared nothing for the propriety of the tearoom!

Woof wolfing down his pistachio macaroon

the customary 'after tea' shot

So after taking a last, lingering swig of my tea, we reluctantly left Ladurée and adjourned round the bend to Hyde Park.

Once at the park, the children took off like a bunch of feral monkeys on the loose. They scurried hither and thither, refusing to heed our frenzied hollers directing them to go 'this way!' and 'that'! They made their poor ol' mums run races with them. They pretended to be firefighters, taking turns to use Cheeks' yellow umbrella as a waterhose to put out fires which were 'torching': 1) their mums (!!!), 2) trees, 3) dustbins, 4) postboxes. For the rest of the time, they happily picked up twigs, walked hand in hand, sang silly songs, held private conversations with each other.

They had a GRAND time.

And what of Val'lee and me? We became human icicles.

Damsel in distress, Cheeks, calmly calls Firefighter Woof on
her mobile, then patiently waits to be rescued

not quite lapdancing but there were
pretty nifty lap-patting moves goin' on there!