A very merry 80th Anniversary to Fairmont Hotel Vancouver!
Officially inaugurated by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on May 29, 1939, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is celebrating its 80th birthday with a history-soaked afternoon tea.
Served in Notch8, the 80th Anniversary Afternoon Tea invites guests to settle in among storied décor retrieved from the hotel’s archives. Visitors begin by selecting one of Fairmont’s LOT 35 Tea flavours to sip; or, they can opt for an afternoon tipple by ordering the majestic Crown Jewel, an 80th anniversary signature cocktail crafted with gin, Dubonnet, Lillet and lemon meringue foam.
Next, it’s time for savouries. Finger sandwiches include dill fromage frais and tomato madrilène, beef with horseradish and bleu cheese, and shrimp and lobster enhanced by Northern Divine Caviar – but the real star is Coronation chicken salad with mango chutney, introduced in 1953 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s ascent to the throne.
The feast ends on a decadent note with sweets such as treacle tart, a British favourite; Battenberg cake with marzipan, named in honour of Princess Victoria’s marriage to Prince Louis of Battenberg in 1884; and raspberry trifle served with Chantilly and vanilla sponge. Of course, it wouldn’t be tea without house-baked scones, and Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s are a classic can’t-miss, particularly when smothered in clotted cream, strawberry preserves and orange marmalade.
Smaller guests need not fear missing the fun: the hotel’s scrumptious Children’s Tea dishes up kid-friendly sandwiches, scones and sweets. Similarly, guests with dietary restrictions can rest easy with the kitchen accommodating gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan requests (notify staff of dietary requests when booking).
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s 80th Anniversary Afternoon Tea will be served daily, May 2 to September 1, at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. The experience costs $59 per adult, and $29.50 per child (aged 12 years and younger). To reserve, call 604.662.1900, or visit www.notch8-dining.com/afternoon-tea.
