FOOD + DRINK
Lunch( and lots of cake) at the
HILTON LONDON GATWICK
NOTHING QUITE BEATS AN AFTERNOON OF SHARING PLATTERS, TEA AND CAKE DOES IT? That quintessentially British pastime of drinking good tea, and eating tempting bite-size snacks is one thing, but throw in a delicious selection of Mediterranean and Mexican platters and you have a winning combination. Delivered in a sleek, sophisticated setting with faultless service, lunch at the Hilton London Gatwick is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. BY SAMANTHA READY
While synonymous for its convenient and well executed airport stays, not to mention its excellent reputation for à la carte dining, the Hilton London Gatwick also has another classy string to its bow- a more casual style of shared eating that can be enjoyed leisurely.
And in my opinion, the best way to check just how good any lunch offering is, is to make a reservation for more than a dozen people with a variety of dietary requests – gluten free? Check. Vegetarian? Check. Allergies? Check. Fussy child? Check once more. Oh, and could we get some balloons please; we’ re celebrating – no pressure! But boy did the team deliver.
Arrival at the hotel is easy; straight off the M23 and into the adjacent car park, it was an easy jaunt through the bright contemporary lobby and into the stylish, but very welcoming Amy’ s bar, where we had a lovely long table, tastefully bedecked with those all important balloons.
Afternoon tea itself can be booked for two people up to larger groups( subject to availability) and the team are on hand to cater for every whim. Served in Amy’ s, it affords a luxurious setting with dark wood tables and comfy leather chairs, while also allowing for a more informal and relaxed feel, which encourages guests to sit back, relax and while away the afternoon.
For our party, each and every guest, regardless of when they arrived, was warmly greeted, escorted to the table and swiftly brought their desired drink, which extended from a range of signature teas and coffees through to bellinis and champagne for when you really want to push the boat out.
Sleek chrome and glass stands arrived laden with a range of freshly made traditional finger sandwiches including egg mayonnaise, roast chicken, ham, tuna, and cucumber. Others were heaving with freshly baked plain and fruit scones, clotted cream and individual pots of strawberry preserve, and last but by no means least, a huge cake platter of fruit cakes, miniature eclairs, lemon drizzle cake, red velvet cupcakes and chocolate brownies. Those with dietary requirements were presented with individual plates without fuss, and the coeliac amongst us declared it the best gluten-free afternoon tea she’ d ever experienced! Praise indeed.
Of course we couldn’ t resist adding some sharing platters to our order. With a choice of‘ Italian’, consisting of delicious Italian cold meats, ciabatta, plump olives and sunblush tomatoes;‘ Spanish’, heaving with serrano ham, chorizo, manchego cheese and bocata bread; or‘ Mexican’ – a generous serving of sweet potato and chorizo quesadillas, chicken flautas, tortilla, guacamole and pickled chillies, there’ s something for each and every taste bud on these delicious platters. They’ re perfect for passing between friends and piled high with tasty ingredients that stay true to the country they represent; unsurprisingly, they were gone in a flash.
Throughout the entirety of our afternoon, we benefitted from equally efficient and unobtrusive service from Gokhan and the team, from the plates that were swiftly cleared and the drinks that were always replenished, to the requests for group photos met with a smile. After a lovely few hours of sociable shared eating, our group departed, all wonderfully sated and well looked after with a collective vow to return.
Hilton London Gatwick South Terminal Gatwick Airport Gatwick RH6 0LL
01293 518 080 www. gatwick. hilton. com
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