What’s the same as an Afternoon Tea but occurs prior to noon? Beforenoon Tea of course!

Mimi’s Bakehouse, now an Edinburgh institution has turned Afternoon Tea on its head and has brought the best thing since sliced white bread to the city - The Beforenoon Tea. The absolute perfect balance of savoury sweetness, bringing us harmony between breakfast and brunch (perhaps even lunch) and giving you the best excuse to get out of bed before noon on a weekend.

The Beforenoon Tea is not a new concept to Mimi’s and has in fact been running for a few years, but now with things having returned to some form of normality after the pandemic, Mimi’s Bakehouse is proud to re-introduce this at both their Leith, The Shore and Corstorphine Cafes.

REVIEW OF BEFORENOON TEA AT MIMIS BAKEHOUSE, EDINBURGH

Just like Afternoon Tea, your Beforenoon Tea will be presented on a sharing stand or individual ones should you have dietary requirements.

Three plates filled with savoury and sweets treats ensuring that your eyes send ‘eat me now’ signals straight to your belly.

The Beforenoon Tea is £20.00 per person and includes the following:

• Sublime Scones - warm Orkney cheddar scones served with chive cream cheese

• Something Sweet - granola jar with homemade jam and coconut yoghurt, mini muffin of the day, breakfast tray bake, mini banana bread, biscoff and vanilla creme fraiche

• Something Savoury - avocado crumpet with feta and chilli oil, mini Ayrshire bacon roll

• eTeaket tea or filter coffee - Mimi’s Scottish blend, Breakfast blend, Royal Earl Grey, perfect peppermint, Bollywood chai, blooming marvellous green and cranberry apple riot

You can add fresh juice for an extra £3pp or Prosecco for £5pp or Champagne for £9pp.

Mimi’s is one of my favourite places for scones and these mini scones with the chive cream cheese are honestly sensational. The cream cheese tastes like its been whipped as its so light and fluffy but packs a glorious pungent flavour that only chives can impart.

The mini muffin of the day was Sticky Toffee Pudding - did they know I was coming!?!?! I couldn’t help but pop this all in one go into my mouth. Gosh it was freaking awesome.

The granola pots were delightful. I truly loved the cinnamon/nutmeg/honey spice that run through the granola ontop, combined with the creamy yoghurt and the sweet sharp jam - a perfect explosion of flavour.

The tray bakes was yummy too, flapjack like and dense with lots of oaty goodness.

The bottom tier was where the savoury treats were hanging out. The mini Ayrshire bacon rolls were delicious and tasty - although my advice would be to eat this tray of goodies first, especially if you like warm savoury food. The crumpet with avo and chilli oil certainly packed a punch but was my least favourite morsel here.

My overall favourite was the tidbit I saved for last, the banana bread with biscoff and vanilla creme fraiche. Oh sweet glory be, food heaven above - simply super moreish and finger licking good. The banana bread was soft and moist, with beautiful big peaks of biscoff spread smeared over it.

I think I much prefer this to an Afternoon Tea, I ate almost every single thing on offer here. Usually I leave a sandwich or five when it comes to the Afternoon Teas. I love the choice and the fact that there are muffins, rolls and scones with not a sandwich in sight.

The Beforenoon Tea is a splendid eating activity that I encourage everyone to undertake. Mimi’s serve the Beforenoon Tea from 9am Monday to Saturday and from 11am on a Sunday; its one beautiful way to ease yourself into any morning especially on a weekend.

Mimi’s Bakehouse Leith offer:

• Vegetarian option

• Dogs friendly - outside tables only

Mimi’s Bakehouse, Leith The Shore. www.mimisbakehouse.com

My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10

I was invited by Mimi’s Bakehouse to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.