Cork makeover for a fine English dining experience

A FAMOUS English dining tradition has been given a rebel twist to celebrate the British Queen’s historic visit to Cork on Friday.

Claire Nash, one of the city’s best known restaurateurs, has devised a special afternoon tea menu at her Nash 19 restaurant on Prince’s Street.

It will be served up between 2.30pm and 5pm every day this week as the city prepares for the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II on Leeside on Friday.

While the tasty treats adhere to the strict requirements of a traditional English afternoon tea, all the ingredients have been sourced locally.

“We are serving afternoon tea in honour of the queen,” Ms Nash said.

“We hope it will help add to the atmosphere around the city as we look forward to her arrival.”

The afternoon tea for two, which costs €14.95 and is served on a three-tray tower, includes tea, coffee and:

* A savoury selection of traditional finger-cut sandwiches on the lower tray, filled with fresh cucumber, fresh free-range egg and watercress, or Burren smokehouse salmon.

* A selection of home- made scones on the middle tray, served with clotted cream and jams.

* A selection of six different hand-made pastries, including mille-feuille treats, macaroons, lemon madeira slices and tea cakes will be served on the top tray.

And for those with some time on their hands, a glass of rosé is also available.

Ms Nash said despite the tight security, most city-centre traders will be operating as normal on Friday, and hope to capitalise on the festive atmosphere once the restrictions are lifted.

She also revealed a remarkable family link to the queen. Her maternal grandfather, William Courtney, was awarded an OBE in the 1950s by Queen Elizabeth for his services after the war.

Mr Courtney, who was a chief engineer with the Ulster Transport Authority, invented a third gear-change for diesel engine locomotives, which resulted in massive fuel savings.

Mr Courtney and his daughter, Dorothy, Ms Nash’s mother, also attended Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.

The English tradition of afternoon tea is said to have been started in about 1840 by Duchess Anna Maria, wife of the seventh Duke of Bedford, who entertained her friends in the Blue Drawing Room at Woburn Abbey.

The tradition is still kept up in all the fine hotels in Britain and little tearooms around the country, especially in Devon, where the scones are a speciality.

People have to book weeks in advance to take afternoon tea in the likes of The Dorchester and The Ritz in London.