Q&A With David Kennett, Head Pastry Chef at Art’otel Battersea

Celebrate the season with a Winter Afternoon Tea at JOIA at art'otel London Battersea Power Station. Read our Q&A With David Kennett, Head Pastry Chef at Art’otel Battersea for all the details on the menu...

Please walk us through the creative process and inspiration for creating this menu?
My creative process for writing this menu began with thinking about seasonal ingredients, from that point it was really a case of matching them with traditional and nostalgic flavours that many people would associate with Christmas and the festive season.

Biggest challenge creating the menu?
The biggest challenge I faced as I was creating this menu was wanting to have that whimsical Christmas feeling from each item whilst simultaneously keeping a feeling of elegance associated with Afternoon Tea.

What is your favourite part of this menu?
My favourite part of the Christmas Afternoon Tea is the sherry trifle tart. I’m a sucker for a traditional English dessert and trifle is up there as a top contender for me.

What tea would you recommend to pair with this Afternoon Tea?
If I had to recommend a tea to go with this menu then I’d choose my own personal preference. As previously mentioned, I love tradition so believe you can never go wrong with a good English Breakfast tea - well brewed! I would also never turn down a cheeky glass of Champagne to any occasion, afternoon tea included.

Age old question – jam or cream first on your scone?
Cream first on a scone, always.

Afternoon Tea at JOIA at Art'otel is served Saturday - Sunday from 12pm - 4pm. Click here for more details and to book.