Afternoon Tea Review - Hotel Bel-Air

Afternoon tea, as my regular readers know, is a way of life for me. Whether hosting afternoon tea parties in my home or garden or going out for afternoon tea, it does something for me that no other dining experience can.

Spending time with a friend in the Los Angeles area (a friend I introduced to tea more than twenty years ago) happened to coincide with an invitation to try the afternoon tea at the legendary Hotel Bel-Air. My first visit to the Bel-Air was for a friend's wedding 24 years ago. Now, as then, I was surprised and delighted by the illusion of being miles from the city.

Hotel Bel-Air is not so much a hotel landscaped with gardens as it is lush gardens that include a hotel. Part of the Dorchester Collection, it is a luxury hotel but somehow manages to evoke laid-back-California-casual in a way you wouldn't expect from a big-city hotel.

On this comfortably warm early autumn day, tea was served on the open-air, but sheltered, "alfresco" terrace. We enjoyed a glass of mineral water (still or sparkling) while our chosen loose leaf black teas, Darjeeling and Assam, were brewed and decanted, eliminating that problem of the last cups from the pot being "stewed."

First up was a delightful assortment of sandwiches: a crab roll on a brioche bun, cucumber and herbed cream cheese on toasted pain de mie, organic chicken salad on walnut bread, wild mushroom duxelle and goat cheese en croute and two fabulous Gruyere and caramelized onion "grilled cheese" on sourdough.

I'm sure the house cured smoked salmon with dill cream and micro arugula on brioche sandwich is superb, but neither of us really like smoked salmon and so, on our server's recommendation, replaced it with the grilled cheese. In a word, fabulous!

Then the warm sour cherry, blueberry and buttermilk almond scones were served with quite an assortment of accompaniments: housemade raspberry jam, strawberry jam and apple butter; Echire butter and Devonshire cream. If you're a stickler for traditional scones, brace yourself; these "scones" are more like a puff pastry, perhaps not a "true" scone but delicious nevertheless.

More pots of tea got us through the final dessert course: chocolate dipped cream puff, coconut macaroon, French macaron, pistachio financier and huckleberry cheesecake. I'm not really one for sweets but must say I especially enjoyed the pistachio financier and gorgeous little cheesecake. I always save a sandwich, in this case my "extra" grilled cheese, to have at the end; I like to think it balances out the sugar. 

Good news for those with special dietary requirements: you can order their recently launched "healthy" afternoon tea with gluten-free and sugar-free options.

For reservations, call Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air at 310-909-1644. For tea at home, see: How to Make a Proper Cup of Tea and Tea and Scones. Look under Teatime on my Recipes index page for other teatime recipes.

Disclosure: Though I attended the afternoon tea as a guest of Hotel Bel-Air, I assure you that does not alter my opinions or affect my review.

Sticky Toffee Pudding - A British Classic

Sticky Toffee Pudding seems just the sort of thing to have been around for centuries, right? It is a British classic all right, but a modern British classic. There are those who will tell you it originated in Cumbria, others Lancashire, and still others Scotland or Canada. 

Despite some talk of it having been brought to Britain by a Canadian soldier during World War Two, the earliest publication date of a recipe seems to be 1971 in Britain. Since I have grandparents from both Cumbria and Lancashire, I'd be tempted to claim that connection, but they emigrated to Canada long before then and likely never had sticky toffee pudding. 

It can be baked in a cake tin and cut into squares or wedges for serving, but I prefer to make individual puddings. Since it is a very rich and sweet dessert (though my version might be less sweet than most), the standard-muffin-tin-size pudding makes a very satisfying portion.

 
I love that it is something you can make a day or two ahead (probably even longer). Just place as many warm puddings as you will be serving in a baking dish; you can fit as many as 15 in a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Spoon a tablespoon or two (depending on how thick you make it) of warm toffee sauce over each warm pudding. Cover the dish with foil. 

If you've just made them a few hours ahead, you can leave the dish on the counter. Otherwise, refrigerate until you're ready to reheat the puddings. Reheat for about 20 minutes in oven preheated to 350F/180C/Gas4. I rarely serve dessert to 18 people, so it's a good thing the puddings freeze well. 

What is your favorite classic comfort food dessert? 

Sticky Toffee Pudding 

The Puddings 

(Makes 18) 

1 8-ounce (227 grams) package pitted dates
1 1/3 cups (10.67 fluid ounces/315 ml) water
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 dip-and-sweep cups (8.75 ounces/248 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons (2 ounces/57 grams) unsalted butter
3/4 cup (5.25 ounces/149 grams) firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

The Sauce 

(Makes 2 cups) 

1 cup (7 ounces/198 grams) firmly packed dark brown sugar
8 tablespoons (4 ounces/113 grams) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 fluid ounces/296 ml) heavy cream
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses (black treacle in the UK)
1 tablespoon (0.5 fluid ounce/15 ml) brandy, optional
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 In 1-quart saucepan, bring dates and water to a boil. Boil gently for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in baking soda and set aside. 

2 Preheat oven to 350F/180C/Gas4. Grease a 12-cup standard muffin tin and a 6-cup standard muffin tin. Place them on a half-sheet pan. 

3 In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, by hand or with electric mixer, cream together butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until well combined. 

4 In food processor fitted with chopping blade, process dates in their liquid to a smooth puree. Add date mixture to batter and stir until combined. 

5 Using a 1/4-cup measuring cup, divide batter evenly between the 18 muffin cups. Bake for about 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Turn out onto wire racks, top sides down. 

6 While puddings are baking, make the sauce. (Or make it ahead and leave it at room temperature for a few hours before gently rewarming it at serving time.) In 2-quart saucepan, combine dark brown sugar, butter, cream, salt and molasses. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the consistency* you prefer. Remove from heat and stir in brandy, if using, and vanilla extract. 

* I like to stop at 5 minutes and spoon a little of the thinner sauce over the warm-from-the-oven puddings, then continue cooking the remaining sauce until it is thicker, about 5 minutes longer. Not necessary, but I like the way the thinner sauce kind of soaks into the puddings a bit. 

7 Place puddings on individual serving plates. Spoon sauce over the puddings. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or barely sweetened whipped cream on the side. And, of course, Custard Sauce - Creme Anglaise takes this dessert completely over the top!

Jean

Slow Cooker Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

As I said two weeks ago, Slow Cooker Cheesecake is the only way to go! Not only is it so very easy, it doesn't heat up the kitchen while it slowly bakes and, most important of all, it comes out with a superb texture and no cracking.

This week I thought I'd do a version for chocolate lovers. Since I'm not one, I didn't want to make it completely chocolate. So I decided on a Slow Cooker Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake with a chocolate crust. Not wanting to run out to the store to buy chocolate wafers, I developed my own version of chocolate crumb crust using regular graham crackers and a little cocoa.

Of course, you don't have to use organic ingredients, but I always do. I figure it's one way I can take care of our health and do my bit for the planet. Just 5 simple ingredients for the crust and 6 for the filling. I have a 6-quart oval slow cooker with a wire rack. If yours is round, that's okay, too. If yours doesn't have a wire rack, make a ring of aluminum foil to set the pan on. There's always a way!

What kind of cheesecake do you like, and is there a kind you would like a recipe for? I take requests!

Slow Cooker Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake

(Makes one 7-inch cheesecake, 8 servings) 

The Crust

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature (for pan)
1 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs (6 whole crackers, 3.2 ounces)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon natural unsweetened cocoa powder
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

The Filling

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, each cut into 8 squares, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature
2 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted and cooled

1 Butter bottom and sides of a 7-inch springform pan with the softened butter. Cut a circle of parchment paper to fit the pan, press it in the buttered pan, then turn it over and press it into place. Combine crumbs, sugar, cocoa and melted butter until the mixture comes together. If you used a food processor to make the crumbs, you can mix the crust in it as well. If you used your fingers or the rolling pin/plastic bag method to make the crumbs, you can mix the crust with a fork in a small bowl. Press the crumb mixture evenly and firmly over the bottom of the pan.

2 With electric mixer on medium speed, mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until perfectly smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl and beaters/paddle. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. On low speed, mix in sour cream just until well combined. Remove 3/4 cup of the cheesecake batter; set aside. Pour half the remaining batter into the prepared pan.

3 Stir together the reserved 3/4 cup of cheesecake batter and the melted and cooled chocolate until thoroughly combined. Place spoonfuls of the chocolate batter on top of the filling in the pan; pour the remaining half of the batter into the pan. Place spoonfuls of the remaining chocolate batter on top of the filling in the pan; cut through batter several times with a knife to make swirls (being careful not to disturb the crust). 

4 Place rack in bottom of cooker and add water to just below the rack (that's about 2 1/2 cups in the Cuisinart MSC-600 Multicooker). Set the cheesecake on the rack. Cover the slow cooker with a triple layer of paper towels and the lid. (The paper towels will prevent condensation falling from the lid onto your cheesecake.) Set to Slow Cook on High for 2 hours; do not lift lid. Turn off the heat and let stand for 1 hour; do not lift lid until the hour is up.

5 Remove the lid and paper towels and remove cheesecake to wire rack. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake; cool for 1 hour. Run the knife around the edge again and remove the sides of the pan. Cover and chill for at least 6 hours (or up to 3 days) before serving.

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon .com and affiliated sites. We are a ThermoWorks affiliate, earning a small commission at no cost to you on purchases made through our links. This helps cover some of the costs of running the blog. Thank you for your support. 

Jean

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Overnight Breakfast Casserole - Savoury Bread and Butter Pudding

Overnight Breakfast Casserole makes a nice change from the usual breakfast fare, and it can be assembled the evening before. Making an Overnight Breakfast Casserole means you can be a guest at your own breakfast!

I love getting all the mess out of the way the night before. Just take the casserole out of the refrigerator an hour before baking, preheat the oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes. To make 8 servings, just double all ingredients and use a 13x9x2-inch baking dish.

I came up with this for my latest Limey Day (and before you get your knickers in a twist, I am not using the term "Limey Day" in a pejorative way--one of the husbands, a bit of an Anglophile himself, came up with it). It's the day every three months when three of us (sometimes we invite a fourth) get together for a day of British films and television. And we do make a day of it, going from 10:30 am to about 6:30 pm.

Of course, all that viewing time is broken up by lots of chinwags and food. I always try to have a British theme for the food. Like this Shepherd's Pie. Tea and scones, of course. I was in charge of breakfast this time and thought, "How can I have a British-themed breakfast without standing at the stove doing the Full English?" Answer: a savoury bread and butter pudding!

Overnight Breakfast Casserole - Savoury Bread and Butter Pudding

(Makes 4 servings)

10 to 12 ounces hearty white bread (such as Italian, a few days old is best)
2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft

8 ounces bulk sausage, browned and drained (or 8 ounces bacon, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips and cooked crisp)
2/3 cup lightly squeezed and drained diced tomatoes (or same amount of sauteed diced red bell pepper)

1/2 4-ounce can diced green chiles, drained

1 1/2 packed cups (about 6 ounces) coarsely shredded cheddar

5 large eggs

2 cups milk

2 teaspoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon marjoram

1/8 crushed red pepper flakes

Note: If making more than an hour or two ahead, it is especially important to use a sturdy bread, such as an unsliced round Italian loaf. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut 3/4-inch slices, arrange on a baking sheet and toast in oven for about 10 minutes on each side to dry it out a bit. Cool before buttering and cutting.

1 Spread the bread slices on one side with softened butter. Stack and cut into about 1-inch squares.

2 In 1-quart bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, parsley, salt, pepper, marjoram and red pepper flakes.

3 Butter an 8x8x2-inch baking dish (a 13x9x2-inch baking dish, if doubling the recipe).

4 Put a third of the buttered bread cubes in the casserole. Sprinkle with a third of the sausage or bacon, tomatoes, chiles and cheese. Pour on a third of the egg mixture. Repeat twice. Press it down evenly, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

5 Take casserole out of refrigerator 30 to 60 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake casserole at 350 degrees for about 45 to 55 minutes, or until puffed and golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Slow Cooker Cheesecake

Slow Cooker Cheesecake is the only way to go! People tend to make a production out of cheesecake, but it doesn't have to be. Just bring a few simple ingredients to room temperature, mix them up, assemble, put it in the slow cooker and forget about it.

I made a simple strawberry topping for this one, but it is perfectly fine without it. There are lots of ways to go with this basic recipe, so I expect you'll be seeing more slow cooker cheesecake recipes here at Delightful Repast in the next few months.

The 7-inch diameter makes for the perfect size servings of something so rich as cheesecake. The more typical 9- to 10-inch size pans make either huge servings or very skinny, long wedges that aren't very attractive.

We love the texture of this cheesecake. And it did not have the common cheesecake problem of cracking on top. How do you feel about cheesecake? It seems to be one of those things people either love or hate.

Slow Cooker Cheesecake

(Makes one 7-inch cheesecake, 8 servings)

The Crust

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature (for pan)

1 cup graham cracker crumbs (6 whole crackers, 3.2 ounces)

1 to 2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

The Filling

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, each cut into 8 squares, room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 large eggs, room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream, room temperature

1 Butter bottom and sides of a 7-inch springform pan* with the softened butter. Combine crumbs, sugar and melted butter until the mixture comes together. If you used a food processor to make the crumbs, you can mix the crust in it as well. If you used the rolling pin/plastic bag method to make the crumbs, you can mix the crust with a fork in a small bowl. Press the crumb mixture over the bottom and one inch up the sides of the springform pan.

* If you want to remove the cheesecake from the springform pan base to serve, cut a circle of parchment paper to fit the buttered bottom of the pan, then butter the top of the paper as well.

Note: I use the Progressive International 3-Inch-Deep 7-Inch Nonstick Springform Pan, which I didn't find on Amazon except in this Set of 3 Springform Pans.

2 With electric mixer on medium speed, mix cream cheese and sugar until perfectly smooth, about 2 minutes. Scrape the bowl and beaters/paddle. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. On low speed, mix in vanilla and sour cream just until well combined. Pour cheesecake filling into prepared pan.

3 Place rack in bottom of cooker, and add water to just below the rack (that's 3 cups in the Cuisinart MSC-600 Multicooker). Set the cheesecake on the rack. Cover the slow cooker with a triple layer of paper towels and the lid. (The paper towels will prevent condensation falling from the lid onto your cheesecake.) Set to Slow Cook on High for 2 hours; do not lift lid. Turn off the heat and let stand for 1 hour; do not lift lid until the hour is up.

4 Remove the lid and paper towels, and remove cheesecake to cool on wire rack for 1 hour. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake. Release the spring and remove the sides of the pan. Cover and chill for at least 6 hours before serving.