Have you ever had that fanciful childhood friend who would throw the most bedecked parties you wish you were invited to? If you have never had a chance to put in your princess-themed tea party hours, here's a good chance to attend to your childhood dreams that didn't get its share of flowers, fairy-tale creatures and glitter.
The deservingly-hyped Sretsis Parlour, which celebrated its grand opening last December, is now serving their tea sets with a touch of wonder. For a brand that has been able to conjure up a whimsical world by the way of clothes, it is no surprise that every single inch of the parlour is heavily adorned and takes you to the whimsical world of Sretsis. Their food however, also takes you on a fantastical journey -- filled with gorgeous blooms, sweet aromas, stunning handiwork and sparkle.
All customers must order a set, but no worries about it being a triple decker extravaganza. Consisting of one drink and delicacy, Tea Time With The Unicorn (650 baht) lets you choose between one sandwich cake or Sretsis Signature cake. Their cakes are just like their clothes: detailed and difficult to make. Boasting nostalgic ingredients like marzipan and piped with intricate floral decorations, their cakes are not only a delight for cameras, but also give a taste of multilayered sophistication. Their sandwich cakes are on the photogenic side as well and have origins in Sweden. With Autumn, there are roasted vegetables, chicken confit and caramelised onions, all deliciously encased with a feather-light cream cheese that gives a mind-boggling sight of savouries looking like a dessert. It's a novelty not to be missed at the parlour.
Their other standout is the Forest Faeries set (550 baht), which offers a raw cake with a beverage. Handcrafted with no flour, sugar or heat, we tried the Lemon Bells cake, which sees a honey-sweetened body of cream sitting on a base of cashew nuts decorated with blue bells. There's usually the feeling that something's missing when it comes to gluten-free and "healthy" cakes, but this one still hits the spot for not being dry and managing to bring out nature's flavours in a delightfully rich way.
Their more Thai offerings in the Siamese set (490 baht) brings a gemlike twist to Thai local desserts. We're big fans of their heart puffs (they're the usual curry puffs, but come in the shape of a heart) but for a bigger spectacle, choose Pineapple Princess. A glittering crown of pineapples sit on a banana cake frosted with cream cheese. It sounds basic, but a splendid presentation elevates such normal fare into a twinkling occasion.
Don't think twice whether you should go for that extra option of adding another 100 baht to upgrade your drink into the Surprise Coffee or Ma Petit Papillon Sretsis Signature Flower Tea, where your tea is topped with the petals of dried rose and gold glitter. It doesn't feel gimmicky, because they've used food-grade glitter of the finest quality and the blend of apricot, grape, red berry and mango is also astoundingly aromatic. It's like sipping on pure unicorn fuel, although other teas without these add-ons are already divine on their own merit alone. Their fine tea flavours, which include dreamy mixtures of orange and spearmint, do not fail to impress, but their coffee and beautiful latte art does not disappoint either.
It all seems intimidatingly saccharine on the surface, but once one steps into this intimate enclave of fantasy, it's a wholesome mix of 15th-century unicorns, Wonderland-esque surroundings and even more impressive confectioneries, making for a full-blown tea party you'll want to be trapped in forever.
Visit Sretsis Parlour at Central Embassy. Open daily 10am-8pm. For reservations call 02-160-5875.
