Like a traditional high tea, the tier boasts three layers comprising scones with clotted cream and jam, a variety of sandwiches as well as pastries such as strawberry tart, vanilla cake with icing, chocolate cake, eclairs and cookies.
High teas have come a long way from when, before the British bourgeoisie adopted them, working class people would have their afternoon tea while standing or on tall stools.
Today, more and more Kenyan restaurateurs are venturing into this old English tradition.
A tier of tempting bitings dwarfs a tall bottle of Vincente Gandia on one of many tables at Urban Eatery’s high tea.
Like a traditional high tea, the tier boasts three layers comprising scones with clotted cream and jam, a variety of sandwiches as well as pastries such as strawberry tart, vanilla cake with icing, chocolate cake, eclairs and cookies.
However, to give their own touch, Urban Eatery also snuck in some pan-Asian delights such as sushi.
High teas have come a long way from when, before the British bourgeoisie adopted them, working class people would have their afternoon tea while standing or on tall stools.
Today, more and more Kenyan restaurateurs are venturing into this old English tradition.
For Mira Agarwal, the co-owner of Westlands’ Urban Eatery, her inspiration for the high tea was fuelled by her desire to join a global trend.
“Luckily enough, we are able to travel throughout the world. And the thought of Urban Eatery’s high tea was literally because as you travel you think why not us in Kenya? It is such an old concept in England, so why not bring something different?” says Agarwal.
More and more Kenyan restaurateurs are venturing into this old English tradition. PHOTO | COURTESY
Urban Eatery joins Villa Rosa Kempinski, Sankara, Sarova Hotel and other plush restaurants in bringing Kenya to trend with other countries around the globe.
To give their own high tea an edge locally, Urban Eatery promises to get creative with the offerings available. It is going to be a great concept especially where everybody can bring in their mom on a Saturday afternoon or a girls’ group or a little family or children.
“We are hoping to tweak it. We want to introduce it as a traditional English high tea but at Indian events we would like to do an Indian tea and when it’s pink month we’d like to do a pink high tea,” says Aarti Devani, the co-owner and Agarwal’s sister.
Additionally, Urban Eatery prides itself in catering to a larger demographic than most places that have started offering high teas. They serve from lobsters and champagne or just a snack.
“Well, if you see the kind of people that walk in here I would like to say we’d like to be trendsetting not only in the food but the fashion industry. Everybody really makes an effort and it is lovely to see,” says Devani against the buzz of Instagramming guests.
