Do you get p****d on your birthday? Whilst I've nothing against getting drunk, perhaps because it was my 53rd year I wanted to do something different, sedate yet exciting...So with these thoughts in my head, my friend Mark & I set off for North Yorkshire Spa town & former (1982) Eurovision song contest host town - Harrogate.
First destination: the architecturally extravagant Turkish baths to sweat out those toxins & completely comprehend what a fat b*****d I am!
Despite dangerously ill-fitting swim shorts (it was a mixed day) it was a stimulating yet relaxing experience & I cant wait to do it again! God I was hungry....time to go to BETTYS!
Bettys is a Northern institution, established in 1919 by Swiss baker Frederick Belmont, fab cakes, tea, coffee, & attention to detail makes Bettys something unique. Mark & I had an afternoon tea reservation in the Imperial room complete with chandeliers, china, Sheffield cutlery & a pianist!
What was for tea?...A choice of tea...I had Earl Grey with lemon, Mark had Bettys tea room blend, both leaf tea with your own strainer! Finger sandwiches, Bettys own roast ham, roast chicken & smoked salmon garnished with lambs lettuce....mmm you could taste the best butter!
Next sultana scones with homemade strawberry jam & Yorkshire clotted cream, gorgeous! Finally ( I thought ) 3 cakes: chocolate eclair, 3 fruit tart & elderflower drizzle cake....Mark had told Bettys it was my birthday & the pianist played 'happy birthday to you' & a buttercream fondant fancy with candle arrived!
I was deliciously embarrassed!..fantastic tea, fantastic birthday!
HARROGATE LINKS:
Fancy something a bit different? The last link is Harrogate, Tennessee, USA. The twin town of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK.
