A Peculiar Tea opens in Belfast

Opening on 3rd December on University Road, A Peculiar Tea is set to be a one-of-a-kind dining experience in one of Belfast’s most vibrant areas. Known as the ‘Emporium of Imagination’, Austin created the concept of A Peculiar Tea on the premise of escaping from reality and the stresses of adult life.

Talking about the ethos of A Peculiar Tea, Austin says: “The kitchen is my playground. To me, professional kitchens shouldn’t be full of shouting and anger; it’s a place for family and creating something wonderful.”

She explains the important of enjoying food in all its stages, from cooking to eating and everything in between. She said: “Food should be fun. We spent 13 hours a day in the kitchen, why not enjoy it?”

The brand new restaurant opened with an inventive six-course festive tasting menu called, ‘’Twas the Night Before Christmas’, running throughout the Christmas season from 3rd December to 4th January.

Courses include potato, guinea fowl, truffle, prawn, chocolate, and venison. With wine pairings available, the menu is sure to offer an all-round festive experience.

Alongside their evening menu, A Peculiar Tea will also serve a delicious Afternoon Tea Menu to match the theme of the current tasting menu.

Featuring a range of sweet treats, sandwiches, and scones, with gluten-free and vegetarian options available, this will provide the perfect afternoon treat.

A lunch menu is also available, featuring delicious dishes, such as a guinea fowl sausage roll, duck waffles, venison pie, and much more.

Austin and her team are passionate about sustainability and animal welfare throughout the business.

Operating a no-waste policy, utilising local producers and suppliers, and refusing to cook foods they believe to be over-farmed or unnecessary to eat, their ethical ethos lies at the heart of everything they do.

Earlier this year, Austin was one of four chefs representing Northern Ireland on BBC’s Great British Menu 2021. While she didn’t make it to the national finals, Austin’s Belfast-inspired menus didn’t fail to impress the judges.

While on the show, Austin served a starter called ‘Support your Local’, which showcased her take on ham, egg, and chips.

The dish consisted of ham hock fritters brined in Belfast beer, served with Irish boxty, with a delicious array of trimmings. Judge Daniel Clifford gave the dish an impressive score of 8/10.
A Peculiar Tea is now taking bookings until 4th January. Lunch and afternoon tea are available from 12pm to 3pm and the Evening Tasting Menu is available from 5pm to 9pm.