Chef Danielle is quite a powerhouse! She has just come back from presenting an afternoon tea in Florida… she is the first vegan chef to present at The Ideal Home …. She hosts gluten free and vegan afternoon tea pop ups and trains people for The Vegetarian Society.
Florida Day 2024
A few months ago…
Can you imagine how I feel? I can't even find the words, excited, honoured…
This first experience is beyond my dreams.
It all started a few months ago with a message from Angelica Williams, Founder of Green Luxury Living, “I love your afternoon teas, would you be interested in presenting an event in Florida?”
The experience was unseen and unique, and finding a venue was therefore not easy. A few moments of discouragement - as always in big projects - but finally, an email "I found a very nice venue for our event, the Pink Salt Restaurant in Jacksonville. The owner, Chef Richard Robinson, is very interested in hosting vegan events, he recently organised a vegan menu tasting, and the event was fully booked!
All hands on deck! Then began the long process of promotion. Thanks to the joint efforts of Karin Ridgers, director of Mad Promotions and my new partner Angelica Williams, the event took shape, it was time to book my plane ticket!
Florida, here I come!!
A few days before…
The preparation work begins with the search for ingredients. Quite a challenge, some are impossible to find, others are different from those found on the market in the UK. We will have to make do!!
2 days of intensive preparation, Chef Richard kindly puts his kitchen at our disposal.
1st day, all the baking, it's about getting used to the ovens, they don't have a transparent window, so I pray each time that the products are baked impeccably - the scones give me cold sweats...
2nd day, assembly of the sweets and savouries.
On the day…
The day is breaking in Florida, and here is D ‘Day! !
Last preps: prepare and bake the scones, decorate the cakes, cream and jam, decorate the tables... We opted for one long table, where everyone could meet, chat... An afternoon tea is also a matter of sharing and conviviality... Of course, there were also some private tables, according to the guests' choice....
1:20 PM… Everything is ready, just time to put on my jacket, and the first guests arrive. Charmed by the place, the decor, the first glance is crucial!
A key word on everyone's lips "We are so excited"!
I introduce myself, with my usual sense of humour!
In the group, there are 4 "gluten-free" guests, they were in heaven! Never, ever, had they taken part in such an experience "It's the first time, I am happy to empty my plate" ! they said!
The savouries arrive, a surprise: I resolutely ban the cucumber sandwich, and offer original recipes from the Middle East, from my country, Belgium, each recipe has a story!
A short break, we talk about vegan cuisine in Florida, the difficulty of finding vegan and gluten-free ingredients.
Arrival of the scones with their cream and jam. The secret of their flavour and lightness: sweet potato puree.
The unanimous reaction is... "This is delicious, and so light"!
Followed with the desserts, I explain the importance of finding a perfect combination between the flavours and textures when creating a dessert.
To finish, the signing of my book, we all take some selfies, and a little attention thanking each guest for having participated in this unique experience.
The challenge was immense: , the difficulty of gathering the ingredients, familiarising myself with a kitchen, the ovens, the equipment, long working days... all rather stressful, I must confess!
However the enthusiasm of the guests and their warm thanks quickly made me forget the huge efforts and all of the participants were over the moon!
"I would never have imagined that such a degree of refinement and flavour was possible"
There is already talk of adding a pastry class to the afternoon tea, at the request of the Florida participants...!
Finally, I couldn’t close this story without mentioning our support for the “Trees for the Future” action:
I am proud to announce that each ticket sold donates a part to the movement and ensures the planting of a tree, currently in Africa. To find out more, visit trees.org
What was on the menu
Savouries:
Kalamata Olive & Mint Pastry
Radish & Scallion Vegan Cream Cheese Wrap
Vegan Cheese, Heirloom Tomato & Arugula on Homemade Seed Bread
Scones:
Freshly Baked Sweet Potato Scones
Whipped Vegan Cream
Strawberry Preserves
Pastries:
Spiced Apple Caramel Crème Mousseline
Pistachio & Raspberry Tart
Nut-Ella Chocolate & Almond Cake
Beverages
A selection of Specialty Black & Herbal Teas was included
