Autumn-inspired afternoon tea at the Met

Autumn produces a rich and varied bounty of delicious produce and this is the basis for a new menu at a Cork city hotel.

Seasonal and locally grown produce has also influenced the new autumn-themed afternoon tea at the Metropole Hotel.

The team at the hotel is committed to supporting local suppliers and using seasonality when designing the menus. Trigon Hotels, which includes the Metropole and the Cork International Hotel, works with more than 20 local growers and producers and is always looking for new partners.

Head Chef at the Metropole Hotel Mark Cronin and the team of chefs have transformed blackcurrants, chestnuts and pumpkins into delicate pastries and cakes to encapsulate the flavours of autumn for the latest afternoon tea menu.

The sweet and savoury selection includes blackcurrant and ginger delice on crushed hazelnuts, freshly baked chai spiced scones served with Folláin blackcurrant jam and poached prawn in a lemon mayonnaise on Edward Buckley soda bread.

The Autumn Afternoon Tea costs €40 per person and will be served in the Met Tea Room. It is available daily from 12pm to 4pm throughout the autumn months.Pierce Lowney, Director of Food and Beverage at Trigon Hotels said: “Autumn foods are rich in colour and flavour and our team of chefs have designed an afternoon tea menu that brings the best of autumn flavours to every bite. People can escape the cold and wet weather by relaxing in the Met Tea Room with some delicious treats washed down with a cup of chai tea.”

The menu also includes: Patisserie: Revisited famous Met trifle,

Chocolate marquise with fig jam & candied chestnuts

Pear & salted carmel choux bun

Bakery: White chocolate & chai blondie, toasted pecan

Iced pumpkin bundt cake

Savoury: Smoked chicken, fennel & grape crostini

Pastrami, Dijon mayonnaise, emmental & baby lettuce leaves on white bread cucumber, mint and crème fraiche on granary bread.

Pre-booking is essential and reservations can be made online https://www.themetropolehotel.ie/dining/the-met-cork/afternoon-tea/.