SIFF Outing No. 3 - High Tea @ The Ivy, Sydney

'The Den' @ The Ivy

"I'm off to have High Tea at the Ivy ", I said as I flittered off for another Sydney International Food Festival (SIFF) outing with 3 friends from work. This time it was 'High Tea with an Asian Twist' @ the Den at The Ivy on George Street in the Sydney CBD.

The Den is an intimate 'art deco' inspired cocktail lounge area located to the side of the Teppanyaki Restauarant on Level 2 of The Ivy. It's very swanky and opulent, making the hectic chaos at work become a distant memory.

But onto the food.  'High Tea with an Asian Twist' as part of the October SIFF Food costs $45 per person and comprised a savoury 'Teppan Tasting Plate for Two', 'Dessert Platter', a glass of champagne and a choice of teas.

Teppan Tasting Plate for Two

There were lots of little delectable morsels of food on the tasting plate including: crab leaves, prawn and pork gyoza, oysters, balmain bug wontons, mini wagyu burgers and chicken skewers. Every single bite was delicious and flavoursome. Unfortunately, you only got to taste one item each. It would have been great to have a bit more food on the plate. However, perhaps High Tea is more about being dainty and elegant with you food... as opposed to 'stuffing your face'.

 Chicken skewers 

Menu

I question the 'Asian -ness' of mini Wagu beef burgers but they were sure tasty. There were a bit tiny and it would have been wonderful if they could have provided two burgers each.

Cute Mini Wagyu Burgers - one bite was not enough :(

The dessert platter was well presented and had a slice of green tea cheesecake, banana tempura with chocolate sake fondue and fruit. The cheesecake was light and fluffy and I loveed the subtley of the green tea flavour. The banana fritters were lacking on good chunks of banana, but were nonetheless yummy (especially when coated in the chocolate 'fondue' sauce). The dessert was rounded off with a cleansing Green Tea served in a gorgous Asian tea set.

Dessert Platter for two

Green tea to end the High Tea experience

The verdict? The setting was decadent and the food was dainty... but perhaps too dainty such that you still sort of felt hungry after forking over $45. The experience was interesting. However, if you are after a decadent High Tea experience, it is probably best to stick with High Tea in it's true form - large scones with cream and jam, cucumber finger sandwiches, and delicate sweets (such as The Victoria Room @ Darlinghurst or The QVB Tearooms etc).

Silk ottoman couches in the Den

The Den @ The Ivy

330 George Street, Sydney

ph:92403000