We went to London for a vegan chef’s afternoon tea!

Sam and Maz from the Cookery School were delighted to receive an invitation to vegan chef Danielle Maupertuis’s vegan afternoon tea at the beautiful Milestone Hotel in Kensington. Sam shares her thoughts.

Danielle Maupertuis has been a valued tutor at the Cookery School for several years now. So of course, we jumped on a train and headed off to the Big Smoke.

⁠When we arrived, Danielle was still hard at work putting the finishing touches to her unbelievable vegan afternoon tea treats. The care and attention she puts into every single piece is a marvel to behold. Not only does Danielle use the latest and finest vegan ingredients, but most of her creations are also gluten-free. Danielle wants no one to miss out on a truly decedent dessert.

The stunning wood-panelled room was full of foodies, authors, influencers, actors, presenters, and television producers, all eager to watch Danielle perform her magic. Danielle gave a quick demonstration on how she brings vegan ingredients together into exquisite delicacies. One of the many things I love about Danielle’s work is how easy she makes it look. We may not all have the same skill and experience as her, but in her book, Vegans Deserve Better than a Fruit Salad, she explains everything so clearly and passionately. Danielle is on a one-person mission to bring the joy of baking into your life.

Of course, what afternoon tea would be complete without the eating! We were treated to sweet potato scones with homemade jam; pomegranate cheesecake with a lychee inclusion; chocolate mousse with dried red fruits crumble, and brownie; aubergine caviar on shortcrust; and my hands down favourite of the day, ‘Baiser Vole’: vanilla pannacotta, raspberry and rose jelly, pistachio halva, Victoria sponge. The lightness of the flavours were an absolute joy!

Danielle is currently working hard on her second book and is due back at the Cookery School when we’re settled in our new venue. In the meantime, you can catch one of her incredible afternoon teas in and around London, or find her at one of the many shows and events she will be appearing at this year.

Find out more about Danielle’s creations.

Images: Glyn Ridgers Photography