Our favourite season, one of the city's best views of Joburg's tree-filled suburbs, a uniquely crafted blend of loose leaf teas specially designed for the occasion, and the hand of one of Joburg's top pastry chefs – it's the perfect combination.
Each year, Flames at Four Seasons The Westcliff, with its breathtaking views of Joburg's jacaranda blooming season (from mid-October to early November) offers up a special menu to celebrate this time in the city. This year, the hotel has Pâtissier Jared Melamed (of La Tarte) in the kitchen, and he has spent the past few months bringing his signature flair to the pastry kitchen and team. Alongside him, Chef Katlego Mlambo, who has become the face of the most recent series of MasterChef, has turned his hand to the savoury offerings.
The results are extraordinary. A light-as-a-feather Blueberry Choux melts as you take a bite, oozing blueberry whipped ganache with a zing of confit blueberry. Of course, this blueberry treat picks up the colour of season, and is perfectly paired with one of the two signature gin cocktails on the menu. The Violet Daze is the colour of the blooms, accented by a lavender sprig as garnish, while Amber Hues resembles a glorious Joburg golden sunset. A standout on the savoury menu is the curried egg sandwich with crustless bread and a large dollop of caviar, which makes for an excellent flavour contrast. A delicate caprese brioche is a bite of creamy burrata with a crispy basil leaf and smoked tomato relish. We also loved the snoek pâté, its salty taste undercut by apricot gel on a sesame seed cracker.
You'll start with the savouries and then move on to a sweet selection. The portions are well put together, and we managed to taste everything presented.
We generally use the scones as our barometer measuring whether a tea hits the high notes, and the buttermilk scones here are superb. Perfect in shape, the scones are light and fluffy with the right amount of crust. We dressed them up with vanilla bean Chantilly cream, cherries, and rhubarb. The Bubbles & Treats menu is beautifully thought-out and balanced, never veering into the sweetness that sometimes stands in for flavour, and often ensures that you barely remember the difference between pastries, save for the names.
Each pastry is a small and finely crafted artwork, with so much care taken to present something that looks as good as it tastes. We loved the raspberry tartlet, with its fresh raspberries and hints of mint embedded in a honeyed pastry case atop a bed of crème. For chocolate fans, the hazelnut and chocolate finger will leave you entirely satisfied with its mix of praline, ganache, and dark chocolate sponge.
The hotel has also enlisted the skills of a tea master who has created a signature blend – the Four Seasons Exclusive Black Tea – which is a fragrant black tea best left to steep at an optimal temperature. Brought to the table on a tray with accessories and overseen by a member of staff to ensure the perfect brew, tea here is offered in the form of a ceremony. There is a delightful array that includes Marula Strawberry Rooibos and Zesty Chai Honeybush Rooibos, and a blue tea called Blue Dragon Phoenix Pearls. Of course, you can opt for a glass of MCC or Champagne if that's more to your liking.
Set against the sweeping city views at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, we think that this is one of the finest ways to spend an afternoon in Joburg.
Experience Bubbles & Treats at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff every Wed – Sun, with seatings at 12:00 and 15:00. The cost is R600 p.p. and the offer runs until Sun, Nov 17.
Booking is essential.
RSVP via Dineplan, email reservations.johannesburg@fourseasons.com, or call the hotel on +27 11 481 6000.
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