Afternoon Tea at Grosvenor House

Yesterday my friend Michelle and I decided to spend our day off doing something a little different (and very British!) by going for afternoon tea. After a bit of research online I chose Rhodes in Residence at Grosvenor House in the marina. Created by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes, it’s the first Michelin starred afternoon tea in Dubai!

We chose the “Classic Afternoon Tea” which included a free flow of soft drinks, fresh juices, and of course multiple pots of tea. We started off with some fresh orange juice and I went for some classic English Breakfast tea. Our first course was a beautiful array of finger sandwiches. Our waitress actually presented each course to us, and we had smoked salmon, roast beef, cream cheese and cucumber, lemon chicken, and quail’s egg and cress. As well as that we were served some melt-in-your-mouth mini cream cheese and herb croque monsieurs, and a duck pastry. 

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Just as we thought the savoury part was finished, we were given the special of the day, some delicious hot salmon and potato balls!

After that came the part I had most been looking forward to…scones! We were a little bit disappointed when they arrived as neither of us had expected them to be quite so small, but in hindsight this was probably a good thing! Onto our second pot of tea by now, we devoured them with jam and cream.

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Next came the cakes. Chocolate muffins, honey dundee cake, lemon and blueberry cake, victoria sponge, buttered raspberry crumpets, and Eton mess. All served warm and deliciously fresh. 

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We were both struggling by this point and didn’t manage to finish all the cakes, so they very kindly boxed them up for us….and we forgot to take them with us! 

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I just had to put a coupe of pictures of the bathroom on here as it was so pretty, even with a special seating/mirror area to re-do your make-up! šŸ˜‰

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Full to the brim, we popped over to the Observatory bar at the Marriot (52nd floor!) for a cocktail, only to discover it was happy hour! Success!

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I had a lovely girly day catching up with Michelle and eating lots of sandwiches and cakes, and we shall definitely be doing it again!

P.s. sorry for the awful quality of the pictures, I only took my iPhone with me as my bag was too small to fit my camera in as well, ha ha!

 

P.p.s. If you want more regular day to day updates of what is happening in my life, follow me on Twitter and Instagram @rachelwwilson!

 

13 Comments

  1. Natalie
    April 3, 2014 / 9:41 pm

    Hello, I just want to say that I ADORE your blog, almost as much as those public restrooms.. I stalk quite a few Emirates girls and they’re all so negative, about everything. I can see how the jetlag could get old, being homesick, and negative customers.. But COME’ON, it’s a dream job! You’re going to have a bad day, or week at any customer service job. So why not travel while having it. Also, your shoes are to die for. Die. For.

    But I was wondering if you’ve ever come across a girl, or boy, who applied when they were 20 years old. Y’all are coming to Texas late this month and I’d LOVE to apply. Flying has been a dream of mine since I was 17, but God knows I don’t want to work for one of the cheap bargain national airlines that only has up to three-four hour flights (we can apply for those at 18 here). So I’ve since done all of my homework and Emirates definitely seems like the airline for me. But here’s the thing, I turn 21 in 5 months..

    The website tells you a requirement of 21 years old at time of joining, but then when you go to the application portal, it says mandatory you be 21 at time of application. There is no email or phone number for me to call the HQ and ask, and quite frankly I don’t think I would in fear they’d find it annoying.

    Meh, I don’t know. I just want to be the flight attendant with the Texas accent in Shanghai.

    Hope to one day fly with you! -Natalie

    • April 5, 2014 / 3:09 am

      Hi, thanks for reading, and also for your massively long comment! Love reading long comments.
      In answer to your question, yes, me. I applied (and got the job offer) when I was still 20. I joined maybe 2 months after my 21st birthday, so I would say absolutely, definitely go for it while they are in your city.
      Also, I totally agree about all the negativity. SO many of the girls I fly with complain about everything, and I just think…you’re getting paid to travel the world!! Stop complaining! Anyway, good luck and let me know how the interview goes šŸ™‚
      Rachel xx

  2. A fellow woman
    March 30, 2014 / 9:48 am

    Please start wearing some rings on your hands, you will look much more beautiful! šŸ™‚

    • __
      March 31, 2014 / 2:03 pm

      hahaha, I have noticed the same in her pictures… I thought that it is only me who notice such things šŸ™‚

      anyways, yes- please start wearing rings, they will make your hands look more beautiful šŸ˜‰

      • April 5, 2014 / 2:43 am

        Thanks ladies, I guess I’ll take it into consideration šŸ™‚

  3. March 26, 2014 / 2:37 pm

    Hi!
    Your blog is wonderful!I am from Australia & I applied to work at Emirates tonight and was googling ‘ the life of a air hostess’ and this little gem popped up! All the best with your travels!
    Danni

    • April 5, 2014 / 2:25 am

      Hey! Thanks for reading šŸ™‚ Good luck with your application šŸ™‚

  4. D.H.
    March 23, 2014 / 6:12 pm

    Hi!

    I just started reading your blog about a month ago. And I love it šŸ™‚ nice to get some ideas.. šŸ˜€ I’m from Slovenia, and I’m joining Emirates April 10th… who know’s maybe we’ll meet at some point… I wonder where I’ll live, don’t have the address yet… but I’m starting with all the shopping… too much stuff!! lot’s of stress šŸ™‚ I’m also a little scared now that the day is approaching… did you feel any fear at all?

    • April 5, 2014 / 2:24 am

      Hey! šŸ™‚ Congrats on getting the job šŸ™‚ Did you find out your accommodation yet? Yeah of course I was a little nervous, I think anybody who moves to a new country not knowing anybody is….but you’ll be fine, good luck! šŸ™‚

  5. Ana
    March 22, 2014 / 12:03 pm

    Hi Rachel!
    Love reading your blog as always. And also love the area to re-do your make-up! ahah very considerate. It seems like you had a wonderful time. Also I forgot to comment on that post at the time, but I can’t believe that you met Pele!!!How lucky!!
    I’ve finally went to an open day and had my FI back in February. But after 6 weeks I haven’t received any news šŸ™ Is this normal? All of the other girls that were with me have all received rejection emails or the golden cal. I am the only one who doesn’t had any news yet and I don’t know what to do ;((

    Can’t wait for your next post!

    • March 23, 2014 / 12:56 pm

      Hi! Thanks for reading, happy that you like my blog šŸ™‚ Congrats on getting to the FI, and I’m sure that you’ll get the job. A guy who had his FI at the same time as me had to wait around 2 months to even hear back and then was put on hold for 6 months before he even joined, so I’m sure you have nothing to worry about. They are actually closing one of the runways in Dubai from May-June so that may be why it’s taking them a little longer to get back to you as they don’t need as many crew right now – who know though. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you šŸ™‚ xx

  6. March 18, 2014 / 11:29 am

    Hi! You have a very nice blog! šŸ™‚ I am from Sweden, living in Cyprus but will travel and hopefully move to Dubai very soon! šŸ™‚ It looks like you have a wonderful life and job! šŸ™‚ Take care! /Marie

    • March 23, 2014 / 12:52 pm

      Hey, thank you for reading! I do love my job, how else could I travel the world and get paid for it?! šŸ˜€ x

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