Just happened upon HIGH TEA by chance & I had to buy it as it had so many yummy recipes. Other cookbooks I ‘ve had from the Australian Women’s Weekly have become institutions in our kitchen. Dymocks online has the paperback version for $32.95 but I preferred the hardback edition for the same price which I bought from their city store. Booktopia had it in hardcover and $5 cheaper but it didn’t make much difference after adding postage.

The chapter on scones includes basic scones with buttermilk, vanilla bean scones, date scones with whipped caramel butter, gingerbread scones with lemon glace icing and pumpkin parmesan scones which all look great! The photos are great motivation and the recipes don’t seem too daunting. There’s also chapters on sandwiches, pastries, morsels, little cakes and big cakes. Socialisation is an important component of our well being so High Tea must be good for us and a great excuse to get together. Even better, clubs such as Zonta have used them for fundraising.

A friend told me about a wedding they attend at the Gunner Barracks at Chowder Bay on Sydney Harbour. This looks exquisite. During the week the Traditional Afternoon Tea, which includes scones, costs $40.

While investigating High Teas I came across a couple of articles that might help with the decision making. In 2007, Australian Traveller reviewed seven places offering High tea, although they weren’t happy with them all..

HIGH TEAS TESTED 
Wentworth Sofitel // www.sofitelsydney.com.au
Victoria Room // www.thevictoriaroom.com
Gunners’ Barracks & QVB // www.thetearoom.com.au
Guillaume at Sydney Opera House // www.sydneyoperahouse.com
Max Brenner // www.maxbrenner.com.au
The Stamford // www.stamford.com.au
The Observatory // www.observatoryhotel.com

Another article mentioned the High Tea at the Restaurant at the Art Gallery of NSW, daily from 2-4pm for $28.

For me, the Tea Room at the QVB would have to be the place to start as I nearly always start my excursions in Sydney from Town Hall. At the QVB, there’s also The Old Vienna Coffee House which is supposed to have the largest selection of cakes, strudels & Devonshire teas in the city. Such choices! I’ll keep you posted. In the time being here’s a great old picture of the QVB from the City of Sydney Archives.