The Leela Palace Chennai's new mango high tea promises three tiers of fruity goodness!

Chasing the mango season to the last lap, we suggest you don't miss this one!
The Leela Palace Chennai's new mango high tea promises three tiers of fruity goodness!

With about a month to go, Chef Binayak Tamang is determined to make the most of this summer produce. While the Executive Sous Chef, Leela Palace Chennai, agrees that the imam pasand might be difficult to come by, he avers that they have used the best of banganapalli and alphonso from the market for their all new high tea. On a receding afternoon, we settle ourselves at a table bathed in natural light, facing the ocean view at the Lobby Lounge.

<em>From L: Mango tart, Tomato cheddar sandwich, Mango eclair, Bagel with crab tartar mango salsa, Bagel with bocconcini & honey caviar</em>
From L: Mango tart, Tomato cheddar sandwich, Mango eclair, Bagel with crab tartar mango salsa, Bagel with bocconcini & honey caviar



A-choux!
With the emphasis on indigenous and seasonal — one can expect fresh and natural pulp in the dozen odd creations put together for this festival. The thee-tiered trays of ‘tea’ arrive at our table, bright as sunshine, resplendent in shades of yellow. We start with a typical English tea staple, freshly baked scones. Accompanied with lemon curd, mango compote (fresh alphonso pulp) and whipped cream, the scones have bits of candied mango in them and are perfect with the quintessential filter coffee. The Mango Creameaux Éclair is a visually gorgeous pastry and delicious, while the in-a-single-bite choux bun is more mango than pastry, and of course we are not complaining! Cucumber sandwiches and the tomato and cheddar sandwiches work as refreshing amuse-bouche between the sweet offerings. The mango tarts are filled with sweet gooey mango pulp, while the beautiful macarons are golden yellow, with mango ganache and sweet to a fault.

<em>Chef Binayak Tamang</em>
Chef Binayak Tamang

Honey caviar?
The open bagel topped with (Alaskan) Bay Crab Tartar and mango salsa, is the perfect balance between fruit and savoury. Vegetarians can try the one topped with fresh mango, bocconcinni and honey caviar, which is easy on the palate as well as on our eyes! Though a high tea definitely suggests beverages like tea and coffee, we were delighted to find Mango Pina Coladas and Mango Mojitos on the menu, besides the milkshake.

 The former turns out to be a delicious concoction of mango and coconut milk and makes for the perfect drink to accompany the dainty wrap of sous-vide chicken, mango and avocado curd. And those who want their high tea to be a precursor to their evening plans — the Champagne High Tea is the way to go with bubbly on the menu and the aforementioned mocktails now added with some spirits. Before leaving, we suggest you take a peek at the offerings at their Cake Shop — especially their new line up of fresh mango cakes!

Mango high tea at INR 1,500++ and at INR 2,500++ (with alcohol), 3 pm onwards.
 

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