Seldom can you link the world's top fashion designers with belt-busting biscuits, fancies and meringues and expect to get away with it.
But it's all happening at The Berkeley, in London's Knightsbridge, where names like Lanvin, Christopher Kane and Michael Kors are the tempters.
The sweet treats have undergone a makeover in the style of Hervé Léger, Balmain and Oscar de la Renta, as The Berkeley launches its new Spring/Summer 2009 Prêt-à-Portea collection.
The event is held annually and is a firm date in every fashion diary as the Prêt-à-Portea adds a creative twist to the traditional English afternoon tea with cakes and pastries inspired by the latest fashion season’s catwalk designs.
(No, Virginia, you don't wear 'em; you eat 'em).
Prêt-à-Portea at The Berkeley includes fashionista delectables like a Josh Goot combination of strawberry pannacotta, mango crème and kiwi marshmallows, representing the current trend of block colours as well as an Alexander McQueen Elvie chocolate truffle tote wrapped in mint flavoured marzipan in vibrant summer green.
“Must-have” this season is the Christopher Kane clementine bavaroise dress complete with signature over-sized circles, ticking this summer’s orange trend box,'' we are told. But the piece de resistance (we are also told) is inspired by a stunning new creation from Michael Kors, featuring this season’s red and blue striped Regatta dress cake made out of rich Valrohna chocolate.
It even sounds fattening!
This season also brings the newest must-see to the fashion world and the SWI London area with the ultimate fashionista biscuit delivery service.
Prêt-à-Portea is now available by delivery aboard a Vespa in the Prêt identity colours of pistachio green and pale pink complete with handbag take-away boxes stowed in a much larger bespoke handbag carrier perched on the back of the Vespa. Berkeley pastry chefs visit London Fashion Week shows to get their inspiration for the colours and the textures of the new collections.
A nice touch (what else at The Berkeley?) is the Thomas Goode of Mayfair bespoke collection of Paul Smith fine bone china for the tea. Chilled champers is served in Baccarat crystal flutes.
Prêt-à-Portea is served daily in the Caramel Room at The Berkeley from 1-6pm at 35 pounds pp. If you want the Laurent Perrier champagne add another nine pounds.
If you're going to be in London, do it - even if it's just for the bragging rights later.
If you decide to stay over there's a Berkeley “special” of 289 pounds a night plus 15 per cent VAT and another five per cent discretionary service charge, with a welcome bottle of champagne and a full English breakfast. But after all that Pret-a-Portea-ing I think I'd pass on the brekkie.
To make a reservation for Prêt-à-Portea call +44 20 7235 6000 and for a weekend chic accommodation booking call +44 20 7107 8841.
Fiji falters – blame the GFC
But new team in Sydney tips turnaround
The global financial crisis, fears of the “R” word - or worse - and some devastating regional floods caused a 27.8 per cent drop in Australian visitor arrivals in Fiji during January and February.
That's not good news for a destination which relies heavily on the tourist buck - especially ours - but it still translates as 23,285 Aussies demonstrating their faith in our traditional favourite tourist destination and not giving a whit about military governments, sanctions or the like.
Paresh Pant, Tourism Fiji's director in Sydney, and the organisation's new PR man here Mike Parker-Brown, anticipate improvement as Fiji's version of a stimulus package takes effect.
In effect, they spent $1 million on a campaign to highlight “value Fiji” to potential tourists and the travel industry. Pant also believes the Fiji Reserve Bank devaluing their dollar by 20 per cent will also help.
Parker-Brown's accession to the job handled bravely and efficiently through coups and counter-coups for years by the late-and-much-lamented Geoff Smith will be a major boost. Mike did a brilliant job for oft-maligned Garuda and a seesawing destination called Bali eons ago (or so it seems) and had some major Fiji travel clients before Geoff was called to the big lovo.
If you want to know what's happening in Fiji, check-in with Tourism Fiji on 9264 3399 or motivate your friendly local travel agent. | 
