The tea room gunners’ barracks – georges heights, Sydney
Whenever you have the words ‘high’ and ‘tea’ in the same sentence you are bound to get squeals of joy and delight from some people and I shamefully admit that I am one of those people. The whole idea of enjoying a relaxing afternoon with delicate little morsels of sweet pastries and cakes, a couple of fresh and tasty sandwiches and the epitome of high tea – the scone while sipping away fragrant teas is a world that we daydream about during the weekdays. One weekend I joined up with the lovely ladies Leona, Betty, Steph, Lisa, Jacq, Karen and Markisha to venture North to The Tea Room Gunners Barracks for a spot of tea.
The atmosphere was warm and cozy… inside the building but outside, on the veranda, the chill factor was a bit. However our high tea spirit within kept us warm and we were able to enjoy the spectacular view until the whole party arrived. Once everyone was gathered we quickly ordered the Traditional Afternoon Tea and decided our tea of choice. Here Comes the Food
Sugar cubes! Haven’t seen these in a long time! Love the cute mini tongs
Classic Chai (India) – This exotic, spicy milk tea from India is both mysterious and delicious. Ingredients: black tea, cinnamon, fennel, ginger, clove, black pepper, anise
I still love my chai and so I couldn’t resist trying their classic to see how they compare with others. The spices and aromatics in this tea were really good though it does lack that slight creaminess I have had in other chais. Probably because I was supposed to add the milk myself but I didn’t want to dilute the spices. Overall this was still a very well presented chai and I was content sipping this in the cool wind.
Sandwich Platter
A selection of roast beef & horseradish cream, smoked salmon and egg salad matched with soft white or wholemeal bread. These bite-sized portions of savoury goodness were a great way to start off the afternoon. These sandwiches tasted fresh and although their combinations were fairly simple they were very tasty.
Another plate of goodies as presented and we all oohed and ahhed at the scones! They were huggee (twss)! Compared to all the other scones I have had, these were indeed impressive but to the scone-praise later. First there were some asparagus quiches which with a flakey pastry and soft and warm filling.
Samosas with yogurt sauce
Crispy pastry encased a mild curry filling. The yogurt (sadly was not enjoyed by all) but added another dimension to these pastries.
Scones
Finally to the sconnnnneess. Beautifully soft and fluffy scones, how I crave thee. Sadly the chill had cooled them so they were not as warm as I would had liked but they are easily the best scones I have had at a high tea. Smothered in jam and cream these were the highlight of the afternoon tea for me. It was a pity that there was only one per person. I am still in search of a all-you-can-eat sconery, so if anyone knows/finds one please let me know kthx!
Jam and Cream – multiple refills may had been ordered
We then tackled the 3-tiers of sweet treats.
Cheesecake and glazed Peach cake
The cakes were quite decent with the cheesecake being very light and fluffy but could had done with a more crumbly and buttery base. The peach cake was also very tasty being soft and moist and very flavoursome.
Chocolate and orange macarons & Tiramisu
These macarons were surprisingly good with a good hint of orange in the shell and a chocolate ganache, it crumbled nicely with each bite. The small tiramisu cakes were soft and spongey with good combination of coffe and chocolate.
Mango Sago Pudding
Finishing off the afternoon tea were these puddings of mango and sago. A strong hit of mango in the pudding with the delightful addition of sago which adds to it texturally. The pudding could had been a bit more wobbly and slightly more liquid than it was but it was still very tasty.
Although it was not the best of weathers, the delightful food and company made into an awesome and pleasant outing. Also at $40 (10% surcharge on weekends) it is a decent high tea. Go for the view, stay for the scones!
The Tea Room Gunners’ Barracks
End of Suakin Drive
Georges Heights, 2088
Ph: (02) 8962 5900
FFichiban
June 11th, 2010 at 5:01 am
Oh my gosh I love high tea, too! It makes me feel elegant to sit there and drink tea and talk pretentiously while enjoying little morsels of crazily expensive but delicious food.
I think the sugar cubes are cute! And the scones. Ohhhhh, I love scones/biscuits. My sister has a recipe (I think it involves mainly butter and flour) that she is able to whip up in no time… I wish I had that ability.
Oh, and I see MACARONS! I love love love macarons. Always. 
Wei-Wei
June 11th, 2010 at 9:08 am
I want yum cha thanks to the mango sago pudding or as karen described it as “Mango Sex” LOL!!!! how good were the sconsssss I wish the wind hadn’t made them cold so quickly >_< Had an awesome timeeeeeeee even though we froze our butts off. It was totally worth it ^_^
June 11th, 2010 at 9:29 am
I was wondering who is this lady blogger by the name of Markisha….. Until I click on HER link!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 11th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Lovely dining with all you ladies (Ricky & Markisha included) as always
I really feel like some scones now! Oh so nice and fluffy….
June 11th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
So few buns…also not enough scones. Hohohohoho
Lovely girls’ day out =D thanks for keeping me warm Ricky deah
June 11th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
would also be interested in an all-you-can-eat scone place !
June 12th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I was intrigued by the same thing as Ellie – who is Markisha? Then, I remembered her legs… =p Beautiful ladies, beautiful view and elegant finger food – lucky you!
June 13th, 2010 at 10:17 pm
the tea room’s scones are to die for. years ago similar scones were offered on cathay pacific flights, that was the closest to all you can eat scones i’ve ever come.
there is always the alternative of baking your own…
June 13th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Everything looks so lovely and sweet. I love your photos they are so precise and inviting. Nice One!
June 14th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
LOL at Markisha! If you ever find all you can eat sconery I’m so there! Those scones were so good
June 15th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
wow the tea room offers a nice selection! the glazed peach cake looks perfect and macarons looks wonderful!
June 27th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I <3 high tea and adore the tea room @ gunners barracks =) it's definitely one of my favourites.