อ่านบทความภาษาไทยคลิกที่นี่
Afternoon teas are not a Chiang Mai tradition, but, as the Brits discovered as they ran amok taking charge of the world, there is something delightful about taking an hour or two out of a hot tropical day to enjoy a steaming cuppa — the hot tea somehow helping to alleviate the heat from the swirling summer waves.
Lady and the Fox — Brunch & Eatery has been building a solid following since opening a couple of years ago for its LA diner vibe and an overflowing menu of generously portioned, full-flavoured dishes served in a cool and casual setting that welcomes the whole family, all at the right price point. The relaxed, sun-warmed and air-cooled diner is a great spot to drop into throughout the day — for a power breakfast, a quick lunch, a decadent bite of dessert, a cheeky sip of champagne or beer, a hasty grab of a pastry or a full family feast, and anything in between.
Now, with its new afternoon tea offering, Lady and the Fox has, without great ceremony, made a case for taking a moment and slowing down in the middle of the day to indulge in the fine art of having tea — and a good number of people seem to be agreeing.
Everything on the menu is made in-house, and that consistency extends to the Afternoon Tea Set, which has been gathering attention lately and deserves it. At the centre of it all is ‘Ci’, the owner, who has a habit of tinkering — new ideas, seasonal adjustments, things that catch her interest and find their way onto the menu. She is not someone who settles on a formula and leaves it alone, which keeps the café from the kind of slow drift that can affect places once the novelty has worn off. The pancakes, soft and lightly fragrant, remain a fixture with their devoted followers. But it is the afternoon tea that is doing the talking at the moment.
The set is a fine one. The spread is entirely homemade and covers the expected range with some care: freshly baked scones served with strawberry jam and lemon curd, a selection of sumptuous sandwiches, tempting soft cupcakes, seductive petit gâteaux, a kaleidoscopic array of macarons, light and properly crisp meringues, a chocolate mousse that doesn’t just double down but apparently triples it — a three-layered affair — chocolate bonbons and rum balls. It is a generous and decadent spread, and the fact that all of it comes from the café’s own kitchen rather than a supplier gives it a coherence that tiered sets don’t always have.
The sweet components shift with what’s seasonal and available, so the set is not entirely fixed from one visit to the next — which means there will always be a reason to return. A pot of aromatic hot tea comes alongside, and the whole thing is presented with care — attractive enough to photograph, but the kind of food you actually want to eat rather than simply document.
For those less inclined toward sweet things, or who find themselves at Lady and the Fox at an hour that calls for something more savoury, there is also a Cheese Plate: cheddar, brie, goat cheese and camembert, served with cold cuts, crackers, almonds and fresh fruit. It is straightforward and well put together, pairing nicely with wine or champagne for anyone inclined in that direction. It is not trying to be a cheese course at a fine dining restaurant — it is simply a good cheese plate, which is all it needs to be.
Both the Afternoon Tea Set and the Cheese Plate are available in two sizes — one for two, and a larger version better suited to a small group. So whether you want to read a book while quietly enjoying a lovely afternoon tea, catch up with a friend, fill a slow weekend afternoon, treat yourself to a midweek hour that needs reclaiming from the general business of things or simply find out what all the fuss is about — you know where to go.
It is, in the end, a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours in Chiang Mai. Unpretentious, carefully made and entirely sufficient reason to cancel whatever you had planned for four o’clock.
Visit Lady and The Fox – Brunch & Eatery
Location: D Space Project
Address: 69/2 Atsadathon Road, Pa Tan, Mueang District, Chiang Mai
Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Open daily)
Phone: 085-552-7399
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MRNHCyPBtzgUFwLaA
