19 July,2011 11:02 AM IST | | AFP
It's a bikini that looks good enough to eat. A biscuit la Miu Miu piped with navy and white icing in the form of a barely-there bikini makes up part of The Berkeley Hotel's Summer Pr t- -Portea, a collection of designer cookies, pastries and biscuits inspired by the latest runway fashions for the well-heeled fashionista who drinks her tea pinkie up.
In addition to a selection of elegant canap ufffds and tea sandwiches, nibbles are outfitted by some of the world's most popular designers. The London hotel's pastry team pays homage, for instance, to Chlo ufffd's summer clutch in the form of praline and gold chocolate beads.
Victoria Beckham's signature summer tote is recreated in peach-colored sponge cake and a chocolate crocodile print; Stella McCartney's summer citrus print motif is interpreted in orange, blueberry and lemon mousse, papaya, red currant, and topped with pate de fruit; and a Marc Jacobs jumpsuit is made with raspberry and lychee cream and accented with an oversized chocolate flower belt.
The hotel also collaborated with Thomas Goode of Mayfair which produced a bespoke collection of Paul Smith fine bone china to be used for the tea.
The collection is changed every six months to follow the trends in fashion.
The afternoon Pr t- -Portea is served in the hotel's Caramel Room from 1 pm to 6 pm every day for ufffd36.50 ( 42). Add a glass of champagne and that goes up to between ufffd46.50 ( 53) to ufffd53 ( 60).
Earlier this month, pastry houses and couture designers collaborated in an outdoor exhibit Haute Cuisine Paris, to showcase the allied crafts of haute cuisine and haute couture.
Also in Paris, Caf ufffd de la Paix near the Opera Garnier also collaborates every year with a fashion designer to create a new dessert. Thierry Mugler's Rosemary Rodriguez created a dessert called Pop Fizz last year.
