Going underground
16th November 2009
The food fad of 2009 has undoubtedly been the underground supper club - and you can even indulge in illicit afternoon tea!
A rash of hidden restaurants, set up in people's living rooms, have spread across the UK while TV programmes such as Virgin 1's 'Restaurant in Your Living Room' chart the opening and running of a one-night-only venue by enthusiastic amateur chefs. Opening their own restaurant gives aspirant cooks the chance to fulfill a fantasy while for guests the experience is illicit and exciting. But, apart from blog reviews and internet advice, you won't know what you're in for until you arrive at the venue - the address of which is often kept secret until the last minute. You'll be dining alongside strangers in the host's front room and payment is always made upfront.
As well as dozens of venues offering three course dinners, one London venue, The Hidden Tea Room, is dedicated to serving afternoon tea. The anonymous American owner, known by the pseudonym 'Lady Gray', started The Hidden Tea Room as she "loves to feed people." Her husband and dog couldn't cope with all the baked goods emanating from her kitchen so she decided to open her house to strangers too!
A huge range of teas are served during this underground afternoon tea including exotic Rum-flavoured black tea and Strawberry-flavoured green tea alongside more familiar favourites such as Darjeeling and Assam. In the tradition of the best tea rooms there is a separate tea menu with all the blends described in detail. The food on offer includes sandwiches, scones, cupcakes, brownies and Lady Grey-flavoured truffles but, unlike visiting a member of The Tea Guild, the venue is un-regulated so quality could vary - although reports are favourable.
If you want to try your hand at opening an underground restaurant and are charging strangers for the privilege of taking tea in your front room you must make sure that every element of the tea service is immaculately done! Finger sandwiches should be well-filled - but never to the point of sogginess - and cut perfectly straight. Scones must be light and fluffy while jam and clotted cream should have separate serving spoons. Most of The Tea Guild's members use small knives, forks and spoons specifically for the afternoon tea service and crockery and cutlery should be changed between the savoury sandwich course and the sweet courses that follow. Of course the tea must be perfectly brewed too! Visiting any of The Tea Guild's members will demonstrate exactly what an excellent afternoon tea should comprise and give you an idea of whether you're able to turn your hand to opening an underground tea room.
For adrenalin junkies and risk-takers, visiting underground restaurants could be an exciting encounter but if the service doesn't come up to scratch the gimmick will soon wear off. Far better, we think, to head straight for one of the Award of Excellence-winning members of The Tea Guild where you can experience the ultimate in Award-winning afternoon tea!
Pictures: Hiddentearoom.com and http://bellaphon.blogspot.com/