PRESS RELEASES
ROSEWOOD LONDON CELEBRATES YAYOI KUSAMA WITH LATEST ART AFTERNOON TEA
May 26, 2021
Inspired by the upcoming exhibition at the Tate Modern - ‘Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms’ - Rosewood London’s very own Mirror Room will launch a brand-new Art Afternoon Tea on Thursday 20th May. Executive Pastry Chef Mark Perkins, well known for his exceptional portfolio of show-stopping Art Afternoon Teas developed over the past five years, will combine unique Japanese flavours with traditional French pastry and patisserie, to express Yayoi Kusama’s contemporary works.
Kusama is renowned for visual and conceptual sculptures and installations that are infused with autobiographical and psychological content. The impact of her life events can be seen vividly in her dramatic and bold art, and is the reason she is acknowledged as one of the most important living artists to come out of Japan. Her exhibition at the Tate Modern is an immersive installation that transports guests into Kusama’s unique vision of endless reflections, through the use of mirrors. Inspired by Kusama’s work, Perkins and his talented pastry team will serve the afternoon tea in the aptly named Mirror Room at Rosewood London. With both classic pastries and complex flavour profiles influenced by Japan and Kusama’s bold and complex artworks, Perkins has created a selection of desserts to bring the artist’s works to life in cake form.
The Yayoi Kusama Art Afternoon Tea will comprise three courses: traditional sandwiches, classic pastries, followed by Kusama inspired cakes.
The three pastries celebrating Japanese flavours will be a visual delight for guests. Presented as a trio, the pastries will include: The Tonka Caramel, a rectangular chocolate cup filled with decadent tonka cream, salted caramel and a caramel chocolate crumb, topped with a vibrant multicolored, chocolate polka dot pattern.
The second pastry - Peach and Jasmine macaroon - incorporates a beautiful pink sugar flower sitting atop an almond macaroon, filled with peach jelly and jasmine tea ganache. Lastly, a cheesecake inspired by Japan’s infamous cherry blossoms has been created using cherry blossom gel, a vanilla cheesecake dome topped with vanilla glaze, a sable tartlet and a red and white chocolate decoration. The design of the Cherry Blossom cheesecake is influenced by Kusama’s famed red and white spotted pattern. Kusama Cakes
● Flowers That Bloom at Midnight - Inspired by Kusama’s ‘Flowers that bloom at Midnight’ (2010), this pastry will evoke images of a midnight sci-fi garden. The cake is made with tropical coconut mousse, strawberry yuzu jelly for a flash of tartness, matcha green tea sponge, strawberry crisps for added texture and an earthy sable biscuit.
● All My love for Tulips - Inspired by Kusama’s ‘With all my love for the Tulips, I pray forever’ (2011). Representing the artist’s preoccupation with creating visceral art to draw in viewers, the shape of the dotted petals create depth. This pastry features a citrusy yuzu mousse, raspberry yuzu jelly, almond pan de gene, green tea sable, raspberry cremeux and chocolate petals.
● Dots Obsession – Soul of Pumpkin - A pumpkin-inspired cake was featured in Chef Mark Perkins’ inaugural art afternoon tea at Rosewood London, and was inspired by Kusama’s travelling works ‘Dots Obsession – Soul of Pumpkin’ (2003). During her childhood, Kusama recalled a pumpkin speaking to her during harvest on her family’s farm. Perkins’ cake contains a dark chocolate sable, punchy passion fruit cremeux, rich jivara chocolate mousse, flourless chocolate cake, praline feuilletine, passionfruit ganache and chocolate decorations.
Alongside the pastry selection, guests will enjoy a traditional selection of freshly made finger sandwiches with Japanese influences, including Crispy rice cracker, yuzu avocado and keta caviar; Cucumber, cream cheese and shichimi; Smoked salmon, wasabi cream; Chicken teriyaki and spring onion; Egg mayonnaise, katsuobushi and chives; as well as scones. A wide selection of Mariage Freres teas will also be available.
Mark Perkins says:
“To create this afternoon tea I did a lot of research into Kusama’s works as well as Japanese food culture to help encapsulate her works in edible form. Incorporating Japanese flavours into the cakes allowed me to experiment with different ingredients and influence from Kusama’s installations, which enabled me to play around with fun and unique designs using bold colours. I’m very much looking forward to our guests trying the new creations after such a long time preparing and planning them!”
The Art Afternoon Tea will be available from Thursday 20th May, Thursday to Sunday from 12.00 p.m to 6.00 p.m. It is priced from £65 per person. Guests can also include a glass of Ruinart Brut for £75, Ruinart rosé or a unique Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2012 limited edition champagne in partnership with the revered artist herself, Yayoi Kusama, from £125 per person. For Veuve Clicquot, it was essential to partner with an iconic and committed personality, much like Madame Clicquot herself, who made Veuve Clicquot an emblematic Champagne house all those years ago. In keeping with Veuve Clicquot’s history La Grande Dame 2012 is an elegant, fresh and lively new vintage offering strong minerality due to the Pinot Noir, achieving just the right balance of harmony. Rosewood London’s Mirror Room will be the only location to exclusively service the champagne for a period of 3 months.
