Lightly toasted, and smothered in lashings of butter, the humble hot cross bun is the perfect Easter treat.
But have you ever thought of smothering one in slow-roasted lamb, or serving it with salmon?
They might seem like quirky suggestions you'd typically dismiss - but Tesco has created an inventive menu celebrating the teatime treat.
You might think it's sacrilege to stray away from the classic spiced bun, in favour of flavours such as blueberry and bacon, but a visit to the cafe would prove you wrong.
I visited the cafe for dinner along with Mirror writers Courtney Pochin and Zoe Forsey, and tried out a five-course tasting menu featuring different hot cross buns.
The cafe is now open to the public, with a five-course meal setting you back £18, with profits going to the Trussell Trust charity, helping it support people in crisis this Easter.
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Steak Tartare served with fruity hot cross bun crostinis - washed down with a Hot Cross Bun Martini
Reading that sentence, you might already feel like that is an overload of the humble Easter favourite.
But it really works - the martini is essentially an espresso martini with some spiced cinnamon and chocolate added. It's delicious and dangerously drinkable.
I was more sceptical about the tartare but it's lovely - the fatty flavoursome meat well balanced by the sweetness of the crackers.
Smoked salmon with beetroot and hot cross bun croutons
This ended up being my least favourite dish - but not for the reason you might expect.
I love salmon and beetroot, and the croutons were lovely - but this was probably the dish that felt least influenced by the hot cross bun.
The croutons were lovely but didn't add much, thanks to the strong flavours of beetroot and salmon taking over.
Harissa roasted lamb shoulder and feta on an apple and cinnamon hot cross bun, alongside a Simnel Cake sour
Delicious. It shouldn't work but it does. The texture is lovely, with the slow-roasted meat complementing the toasted bun. The sweet bun packed with apple and cinnamon is a tasty contrast to the fragrant meat.
I will be attempting to recreate this at home, so I can convince dubious friends and family that this is a winning combination Next time I'll try some crunchy pickles on top.
The Simnel Cake sour is a winning replicate of the traditional fruit cake - tasting exactly of glacé cherries, and citrus peel, and naturally is served with a marzipan lemon on top.
Blueberry hot cross bun cannoli filled with lemon curd
This will make any diner hoppy. The irresistible flavour of lemon curd, combined with fragrant blueberries and a hot cross bun, creates a beautiful Easter dessert.
I could have eaten ten more. Pleasingly the cannoli was lightly spiced and sweet, which really worked.
S'm or e se rved with salted caramel and chocolate hot cross bun
Perfect for those with a sweet tooth - the crunchy chocolate cracker and marshmallows, drizzled in chocolate sauce is a winning end to a surprisingly fun meal. 10/10.
The cafe is now open for one week only and offers a range of menus to suit all ages – including brunch and afternoon tea.
The café can be found at 46 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3EP and bookings can be made through the website OpenTable, though walk-in places are available.
Tesco chief customer officer Alessandra Bellini said: "The hot cross bun is very much having a moment in 2022, as reflected by our focus on quality at an affordable price along with innovation in this year’s ranges.
"We wanted to make sure that this year’s was our best, but also go one step further and create a memorable Easter experience that allows hot cross bun lovers to enjoy our extensive offering in a variety of new and unexpected ways, while celebrating with family and friends.”
