If you’re a fan of pastry or priceless art, you’re going to love this exciting new launch at Rosewood London
The prestigious Rosewood London is launching a sculpture-inspired art afternoon tea in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts this September. Paying homage to the Academy’s latest fascinating exhibition, it’s a feast for every sense.
The new exhibition celebrates the life and work of internationally acclaimed British sculptor, Antony Gormley. The most significant display of Gormley’s works for over a decade, the exhibition* will bring together both existing works and pieces created especially for the show.
Rosewood London’s Executive Pastry Chef Mark Perkins has thus incorporated inspirations from Gormley’s iconic designs into the artistic collection of pastries.
A menu filled with creativity, as well as traditional sandwiches and scones, the expressive confections are as follows:
1 Body and Fruit (1991-93)
This impressive piece will be displayed at the centre of the exhibition, hanging mere centimetres from the floor and weighing several tonnes. In contrast, Perkins’ incarnation of Body and Fruit will take the form of a light and airy chocolate mousse.
Inspired by the time Gormley spent in Sri Lanka studying Buddhism, Perkins has infused flavourful notes of Ceylon tea into the mousse, and paired it with mandarin jelly, praline cremeux and hazelnut financier, with a chocolate coating.
2 Full Bowl (1977-78)
Gormley’s mother, who was originally from Germany, is the inspiration behind this pastry, which celebrates the famous Black Forest Gateau.
The cake comprises a chocolate sponge, cherry compote, whipped white chocolate and vanilla cream. It’s decorated with a swirled chocolate decoration brushed in blue to represent the layered pattern made from the 40 stacked ‘bowls’ in the original artwork.
3 Antony Gormley, Matrix II (2014)
This monumental installation is made of intersecting rectangular dark steel mesh grids and will be suspended above head height.
The structural element of this artwork has been encompassed in the corresponding pastry, which is influenced by English orchards. A latticed chocolate decoration will sit on top of ginger jaconde sponge, filled with pear jelly, caramel cremeux, vanilla glaze, and pear bavarois.
4 Antony Gormley, One Apple (1982)
In addition, Perkins has created a series of four different apple pastries, in homage to Gormley’s 1982 work One Apple. These will include an apple mousse, blackberry cheesecake, praline choux, and apple compote at the end.
Presented on a marble tray and sprayed with silver to retain a sculptural feel, these will represent different stages of transformation.
Make it happen
When: The Art Afternoon Tea is available weekdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and Saturday & Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Where: Mirror Room, Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
Wallet: Priced from £60 per person.
*Antony Gormley at the Royal Academy of Arts opens on 21st September and is on until 3rd December 2019.
