2 Different Charming Afternoon Tea in Lake District

It was a trip to Lake District in the north of England and yes, it is England where you can find a place for a short pause with tea and cake. We did pull over at 2 destinations: one was a small bakery in the village of Hawkshead and the other one was an afternoon tea at a cosy hotel in Ambleside.

Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria

Map: Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria

Charged Price: GBP5.60 per person for a piece of cake and tea

Visited: 25 June 2015

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 7/10

Services: 5/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

As we walked around Hawkshead village, we were attracted by large pieces of cakes on the window display of a small bakery called "Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery". We knew in our heart right there that we had to stop by. Without much hesitation, we did pop ourselves into this bakery. The Sun Cottage may be just a small bakery (near Hawkshead Grammar School) but the size of its cakes is enormous.

Walking into the place, you can feel it is a cosy little place that can somewhat make you feel like at home. The lady running the place on the day was really friendly too. If you happen to stop over during lunch, you will find that Sun Cottage also serves hot food.

Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria

cosy and friendly atmosphere

large cakes on window display

At the time of our visit, there were only 4 types of cake left: raspberry sponge cake, carrot cake, banana cake, and strawberry chocolate cake. A slice of cake is priced at GBP3.65 which is pretty reasonable in our opinion. We went for raspberry sponge cake and carrot cake. I personally enjoy carrot cake a lot. Cream cheese frosting was lovely. The cake itself was soft and rich. With a pot of earl grey, I was done for the day honestly. Believe me, a slice of cake here is big enough to make you full unless you are a big eater which is not the case for me. As for raspberry sponge cake, it was more or less similar to carrot cake in term of texture. Instead of carrot, it was vanilla based cake with whipped cream and raspberry jam filling.

I do recommend those who are visiting Hawkshead to stop by this place. It is an enjoyable place indeed. You won't find much about information of Sun Cottage on websites. It is not hard to find. If you see Hawkshead Grammar School, Sun Cottage is just a few buildings from the school.

cake (GBP3.65 per slice), tea (1.95 per pot)

raspberry sponge cake

carrot cake

banana cake

strawberry chocolate cake

Sun Cottage Cafe and Bakery @ Hawkshead, Cumbria

Main Street
Hawkshead
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0NT
United Kingdom

Open Hours: daily from morning to 04:00pm
Tel: +44 (0) 1539 436 123

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Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria

Map: Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria

Charged Price: GBP15.00 per person for afternoon tea

Visited: 23 June 2015

Food: 5/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Value for money: 6/10

Services: 7/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

As mentioned above, Sun Cottage is a lovely little place for tea. On the other hand, if you fancy something a little more cosy and comes in buffet style, an afternoon tea at Rothay Manor Hotel may be an answer for you. Rothay Manor Hotel is a nice comfy hotel by River Rothay in Ambleside and can be dated back to early 19th century. Of course, the place is decorated in something between country style and contemporary. There is a nice garden at the front of the hotel too. Afternoon tea here is served in 2 areas: dining room and living room. For us, we chose to be seated in living where it is more relax. During our visit, the weather was splendid in Ambleside and we wished we could have our tea in the garden. Did not ask for that though but it would be tremendous for any visitors if al fresco tea could be done on a fine summer day.

entrance to Rothay Manor

nice and comfortable hotel in lake district

tea is served in living room

a fine afternoon in lake district

Tea is served between 03:30pm and 05:00pm here. Things here are arranged in self-service buffet style with plenty of choices of both savoury and sweet. The overall impression was enjoyable but not great. The only thing that kind of annoyed me was there was no clotted cream to go with scones but whipped cream instead. For tea and coffee, there will be staffs taking order from you and serve at your table.

Overall, it is not the must-go place for me. But it is a lovely enough place to visit if you have time and enjoy buffet style afternoon tea.

buffet style afternoon tea

sweet range

savoury range

Rothay Manor Hotel @ Ambleside, Cumbria

Rothay Road
Ambleside
Cumbria, LA22 0EH
United Kingdom

Open Hours: daily from 03:30pm - 05:00pm

Tel: +44 (0) 1539 433 605
Web: http://www.rothaymanor.co.uk/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/RothayManorHotel

L'Enclume @ Cartmel, United Kingdom

Cuisine: British

Map: L'Enclume @ Cartmel, United Kingdom

Charged Price: GBP55 per person

Visited: 25 June 2015

Food: 9/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Value for money: 8/10

Services: 8/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

L'Enclume at Cartmel, which is in Lake District area and not far from Windermere, is definitely a place worth detour if you happen to be in the area. Cartmel is a historic small village and L'Enclume is an old house converted into restaurant headed by Chef Simon Rogan. Within the dining hall, clients can still feel the touch of original structure whilst the relaxed contemporary additional decoration provides comfortable environment. I love the fact that there is a small part which can accommodate around 5 tables in the glasshouse overlooking the garden of L'Enclume: pretty relax indeed.

What I would like to emphasise further is that L'Enclume in Cartmel is not just a destination for dining. The village itself is also beautiful. A slow walk around the village before or after a meal there is not a bad idea at all. In addition, service here is as wonderful as its environment. Staffs were friendly and attentive. As for knowledge wise, they were pretty much clear about explanation of each dish.

L'Enclume @ Cartmel, United Kingdom

the old building on Cavendish Street of L'Enclume

converted contemporary interior

seats in the glasshouse

L'Enclume may be a destination for British food. However, dishes are not quite classical, there are modern technique and twist incorporated in each dish. The restaurant also owns an organic farm within a close range which provides vegetable for the restaurant.

During the meal, in-house sourdough was the bread of the meal. It was nice as in good standard sourdough. The nice twist is that it was served along butter and pork fat. Yes, pork fat. Flavourful indeed. I have to say that this is a nice little touch. If you ever use pork fat to stir-fry vegetable, you will realise the difference in the taste. We often use pork fat in the family and I love it.

For wine list, the range is quite wide with moderate marked up. Some are priced at higher multiple whilst some are in acceptable range. During the meal, I went for wine by glass instead with one on white and one on red. The price for wine by glass is usually of course more expensive but there are interesting ones to try. For white wine, I had Domaine des Huards Cour-Cheverny Cuvee Francois 1er Vieille Vignes 2009 (90/100) at the price of GBP8.00 per glass. This is an organic and biodynamic wine produced from Romorantin grape. It showed excellent apricot, peach, and honey notes with mild peppery touch. Medium body on the structure. Lively, refreshing, and delicate. A wonderful Romorantin wine from Cour-Cheverny in Loire, it is. Pretty nice table wine that is worth stocking up if you could find in market. 

To follow the organic and biodynamic range of white wine, I chose to go for Domaine Genoux Chateau de Merande La Belle Romaine 2012 (89/100), at GBP9.00 per glass, for red wine. This is a 100% Mondeuse Noire, which is a rare ancient red grape from the region of Savoie Arbin in France. It was light ruby in colour like those of young Pinot Noir. The present of tar, spices, and ripe red fruits aroma were lovely. Medium on the body with fine tannins grain. I believe it is accessible young. Another nice table wine. 

sourdough with butter and pork fat

Domaine des Huards Cour-Cheverny Cuvee Francois 1er VV 2009

Domaine Genoux Chateau de Merande La Belle Romaine 2012

At L'Enclume, you can forget the typical a la carte choices. There are only tasting menus here. During lunch time, they also provide less courses choice. As in my case, the 6-course lunch was priced at GBP45.00 per head. You may choose for higher level which should be around 15 courses more or less depending on the day.

The first course was Cod 'yolk' with Pea Shoot, Salt and Vinegar (8/10). It was creamy and fatty with crunchy texture of pea shoot which was fresh indeed. Flavour was fairly subtle but just a bit too much on saltiness. It was then followed by Salt Baked Carrot, Westcombe, Cured Pork and Savoury (9/10). This was one of my favourite dish of the meal. It was a very very carrot dish. Carrot soup was being poured onto below grilled carrots. This small bite dish was coupled along with starchy texture ball and cured pork. The sweetness of carrots balanced well with saltiness of cured pork.

Cod 'yolk' with Pea Shoot, Salt and Vinegar

Salt Baked Carrot, Westcombe, Cured Pork and Savoury

The last one for the first half was Short Horn, Charcoal Oil, Mustard, Apple and Celeriac (10/10). Hey, this was an excellent beef tartare. It was lean but tender. The perfume of charcoal oil was wonderful. Mustard was light and paired perfectly with celeriac.

Short Horn, Charcoal Oil, Mustard, Apple and Celeriac

The final course of savoury was being guinea fowl: Guinea Fowl, Broad Beans, Beetroot and Blackberry Vinegar (9/10). Fowl is typically not my kind of preferred ingredient. However, Simon Rogan and the team made it deliciously. The texture was tender and juicy. The pate served along with added even more flavour to the dish. Sweetness of beetroot, beetroot puree, and blackberry vinegar added complexity to the picture. The last touch of broad beans gave the firmer texture. Brilliant.

Guinea Fowl, Broad Beans, Beetroot and Blackberry Vinegar

For the last two dishes, they were dessert. The first one was lighter and fresher: Almond, Pear, Caramel (10/10), whilst the second one was more fulfilling: Yogurt, Rhubarb, Sorrel and Flowers (9/10). The almond and pear was my kind of dessert. The almond was a creamy ice-cream whilst pear was fine granita. The burnt caramel in contrast provided both texture, aroma, and taste differently. Minor details were then almond flakes and pear pieces. Tremendous dish, it was. For the last one, it was just so beautiful. The overall impression was like having yoghurt with musli for breakfast but a superb light breakfast. Yoghurt mousse was well prepared and balanced out with rhubarb compote and granita which were sweet and sour. Some might dislike rhubarb but trust me, you can forget the old story of yours. The refreshing aroma of flowers was from the restaurant's organic farm.

In brief, this is a must visit restaurant in Lake District. Don't miss it.

Almond, Pear, Caramel

Yogurt, Rhubarb, Sorrel and Flowers

L'Enclume @ Cartmel, United Kingdom

Cavendish Street
Cartmel
Grange-over-Sand
Cumbria, LA11 6PZ
United Kingdom

Open Hours: daily from 12:00pm - 01:30pm for lunch (except Monday) and 06:30pm - 09:00pm for dinner

Tel: +44 (0) 153 953 6362
Web: http://www.lenclume.co.uk/