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Afternoon Tea Experience - Windsor Arms & What I Wore

Long time readers of HHL already know I LOVE afternoon tea and the tea room at Windsor Arms is one of my very favourites in Toronto. I have wonderful memories of sharing tea with friends there, over the years. It started out as an after Christmas shopping trip in Yorkville treat with some girl friends years ago; evolving over the years to outings for birthday celebrations, girl friend catch ups on life's ups and downs (lots of laughs and tears have been shared here) and other times for no reason other than we love afternoon tea. 

So, when friend E. invited me to tea at Windsor Arms -

 there was no hesitation, "only when and what time?"

Image Via Windsor Arms

We arrived for our 3:00 p.m. sitting and I was happy to be seated in the purple room. There are three areas where tea is served and this is my fav and preferred choice. Something about the room is inviting, calming and relaxing (I think I have taken tea at every table in this room).

 

The Afternoon Tea Menu...

A choice of our Loose-Leaf Teas

Fresh Scones with Preserves and Devon Cream

A Presentation of Fresh Sandwiches:

Potato Blinis with Smoked Salmon Rosette

Pinwheel Egg Salad

Vegetarian with Sundried Tomato Paste and Dill Cream Cheese

Croque Monsieur

Goat Cheese and Caramelized Shallot Tart

Petits Fours

* neither E. or I are crazy about egg salad - so our waiter kindly replaced them with other sandwiches, without a fuss.

The potato blinis with smoked salmon are my fav!! actually it's a tie between them and the goat cheese and caramelized tart. The scones are always delightful and topped with Devon cream and WA's homemade strawberry, raspberry preserves become a party in your mouth. I'm usually giddy with the Petits Fours - but this time the lemon poppy seed cupcake was a little dry and the chocolate cup a bit bland. E. was quite pleased with the lemon meringue bite. 

Life is good!

E. is a little camera shy ... 

This chandelier always takes my breath away ... 

did I mention how much I LOVE afternoon tea at Windsor Arms? 

HHL Rating (this visit): out of 5

  

What I wore: jeans-Suko; belt- Hermes; t-shirt - Ralph Lauren Sport; jacket - Banana Republic; shoes -Anna Marino; sunglasses - Gucci; necklace - WHBM

Afternoon Tea Experience - Shangri La Hotel Toronto

Having enjoyed afternoon tea at many tea rooms throughout Toronto and around the world, I have been wanting to experience tea at the Shangri La Hotel in Toronto, ever since I saw a segment on it during the Morning Show on Global. I missed the Nutcracker Tea they presented at Christmas. So, with Easter upon us I booked reservations for Easter Monday.

Mr. G., and I were seated, and quite  impressed with the beautiful tea setting.  

Photo Credit Shangri-La Hotel website

Tea is served in the airy Lobby Lounge with fireplaces and a beautiful Italian handcrafted Fazioli piano. It was a little disappointing that we didn't get to hear the pianist - we learned later that the entertainment is offered 3 pm - 5 pm  and our tea seating was at 2 pm. 

The extensive tea menu  rivals that of any fine wine menu, with 68 Premium Teas. Teas range from $7 - $70 per teapot. The $15 tea selections were included as part of the Easter Tea. Though we could have ordered any of the other on offer and paid the difference. 

 

Mr. G. selected the Kenya Purple Tea (very rare tea from Kenya , high in antioxidants with bold and earthy flavour) and I choose OM Chai (traditional lightly spiced black tea from India. Exceptional flavaour profile with lingering sweetness).....  both teas were fabulous! and truly the best part of our tea experience. Don't you just love the tray the teapots arrived on?

The tables are low and servers actually kneel at your table to review your sweet and savory goodies. I learned that the Ming porcelain-inspired qipao dresses the servers wore were designed by Sunny Fong. Though they looked beautiful and elegant the slit on the side was perhaps a little too revealing on some of the servers as they exposed a little more, than I'm certain they would care to,  when bending to place items in the sideboard. 

Bottom tier: a selection of honey baked ham with caramelized onion on sourdough bread; poached Atlantic lobster with citrus crème fraiche on brioche roll; Pacific smoked salmon with caper cream on dark rye bread; and Truffle egg mayonnaise on wholemeal bread.

  

Middle tier: fragrant spiced hot cross buns and classic English scones served with caramelized white chocolate and strawberry jam, and Cornish clotted cream.

Top tier: milk chocolate and raspberry verrine, a light chocolate mousse, raspberry gel and pistachio crumble; tropical Easter Egg with coconut cream, mango curd and crispy meringue; Religieuse Profiterole, a baked choux pastry with white chocolate orange blossom cream and lemon glaze.

Thinking the tongs had been overlooked, I asked one of the ladies for a pair of tongs to retrieve the sandwiches. She respond they "don't use tongs" my puzzled looked must have spoken my thoughts of "umm so how should I retrieve the sandwiches in a lady like manner - especially since the sandwiches were larger than bite size/finger ones " that she quickly said - she would see what she could do. She returned with these (above)... which were of no use to pick up the delicate and slightly larger than finger size sandwiches.  

Improvising I used my knife and fork ... but again the size of the sandwiches did make this method of retrieval  little awkward.

I found the biscuit to be dry and slathered it and my scone with cream and jam.

The tea was served lukewarm ... and Mr. G. noticed the water for replenishing the teapot sat in carafes on the sideboard - so no hopes of actually getting a hot cup of tea. Despite the lukewarm temperature we both did enjoy our selection and can only imagine how much more delightful it would have been - served hot.

The Final Verdict: 
Setting: The tea service with the lion motif was beautiful and elegant. Mr. G. found the low table and sofa seating somewhat awkward (and I must agree with him) as you had to bend over to get anything from the table. A grandmother at the sofa next to us gave up on using her utensils when the efforts to bring her sandwich bites to her mouth failed and just picked them up with her fingers after cutting them into manageable bite size. 

Tea, and Sweet & Savory goodies:The sandwiches were average : the lobster brioche roll was more brioche than lobster filling. The ham was chopped into little squares which made for an odd texture. The smoked salmon was very nicely done ...and the truffle egg mayonnaise I passed on. I found the biscuits dry and the scones a little chewy (maybe a little under done) - the jam and cream were most welcomed. The caramel was an interesting surprise.  You can wrap fruit cake in pink marzipan and top it with a flower ... but it's still fruit cake. I found the chocolate mousse cups too rich - though Mr. G. quite enjoyed them. The Religieuse Profiterole reminded me of Paris and they had me at the Easter Egg meringue, coconut cream and mango curd - scrumptious!!!

Aside from the musical flower arrangement at our table (we started with a tulip arrangement, which was replaced twice with two different Orchid arrangements during our tea) the service and attention was good.

The reason for going was to experience their Easter Tea which I had seen pictures of the beautiful chocolate Easter Eggs and read about the offerings. If there were any (chocolate Easter Eggs) still on display - we did not see them. So aside from the Easter Egg meringue on the goodie tier and the mini chocolate Easter Eggs we were given to take home .... there were no signs that it was Easter. Perhaps it was because it was the last day of the Easter Tea (we went on Easter Monday).

Would I Go Back?

Yes ... I would definitely give tea at Shangri-La Toronto another try. After all the tea selection with 68 Premium teas is nothing to turn one's nose up at. What I would do to help ensure a better experience: book my tea seating between 3 pm - 5 pm when the entertainment is present; ask to be seated at a table with chairs - sans sofa if going for afternoon tea - just for tea the sofa's would be great to sit back in with teacup in hand; request sitting closer to piano - so as to not be right in front of the the lobby doors or close to sideboard. If going because it's a special tea they are offering don't wait to last day - reserve either  for right at the start or mid way through promotion - reserve early!!

And as luck would have it one of our eggs was a winner!! - and I believe that means Afternoon Tea for a year at Shangri-La Hotel Toronto. Looks like there will be plenty of opportunities to experience tea at Shangri-La.

Christmas Tea at the Park Hyatt Toronto

I have enjoyed some wonderful experiences (the spa) at The Park Hyatt Toronto and shared some of these experiences in past posts:  Girls Just Gotta Relax ; the amazing view from the roof lounge - I shared here Summer in the City and the amazing winterlicious dinner I had in the Annona restaurant shared here Two Weeks of Highlights in pictures. Most recently I learned they also offer afternoon tea on weekends - and until December 23, 2016 - they are serving a Festive Tea. So, as a birthday treat to myself I quickly made a reservation. 

Of course no birthday celebration is complete without a glass of bubbly ...

Champagne tea - please ...

and what a delight that it was my fav - Veuve Clicquot !! 

  

For my teacup loving readers ... 

I remembered to capture the manufacturer of this darling and joyous teacup. The colours were perfect! The butterfly and humming birds drifted my thoughts from the gloomy, over cast slushy winter day outside - to memories of the warm summer in the garden.

Cheers ... 

The tea sandwiches were a symphony of flavours ... and each bite was perfection! Christmas Tree Cucumber, Ham & Havarti on Pumpernickel Turkey & Cranberry Walnut Cream Cheese on Egg Bread; The Crispy Cone of Boursin, Mushroom & Chive and Smoked Salmon, Dillweed & Cream Cheese Crepe Cube were my absolute favs!!

Also served was a Chicken Salad & Pomegranate Bouche with Five Spice Boy - not being fond of chicken salad - I requested it be substituted - which they happily accommodated. I did get to enjoy the bouche with five spice boy - and let me tell you it was flaky and tasty ... I can only imagine the harmony of the egg salad served upon it (unfortunately I'm not an egg salad person - but if you are I'm certain you will be impressed!) 

Since I was celebrating my birthday the - Celebration Medley - 

by Sloane tea seem most appropriate. A South-African Red Rooibos sings with the natural sweetness of Apple, Orange and Rose, creating the perfect concert of flavours with spice notes. Ladies let me tell you - it was everything and more as described. I know I'll be looking for it on my next tea restocking shopping trip. 

When the dessert tower arrived ... I was in heaven!! 

Long time readers of HHL already know I have a "bit" of a sweet tooth! and these delights did not disappoint: Currant, Orange & Cream Scones with Classic Clotted Cream & Fruit Preserves; Dark Chocolate Mint Petit Four; Snow Man Sugar Cookie; Cranberry Lemon Checkerboard Tea Cake; Orange Spice Madeleines; Chocolate Candied Ginger Tart; Celebration Tea Macaron. 

no words required! 

The checkboard tea cake was an explosion of delight in my mouth!  

Did I mention how juicy and sweet the strawberries were? 

in winter - this was a definite treat!!! 

The staff were most welcoming and friendly - and the service was spot on. 

Thank you for making my birthday celebration to myself extra special!

Ladies, I know afternoon tea with the girls is fun (it's one of my fav outings with my besties) - but I have to say it's a wonderful experience to be on your own with your thoughts. Lots of reflecting and planning happened during this afternoon tea, on my own. The Festive Tea is on until December 23 - so if you are in the Toronto area - I highly suggest making the time to experience it! - Solo or with the girls and even that special male friend.

Tea is served in the elegantly decorated Annona restaurant within the hotel. For full menu details click here.

The Park Hyatt Toronto is located just off Mink Mile on the outer edge of Yorkville at 4 Avenue Road Toronto, ON, M5R 2E8 tel:: 416- 925- 1234 or visit the website: Parkhyatttoronto.com

SIDE NOTE: While the Festive Tea is only being served until December 23 - I understand regular afternoon tea is served on weekends. I know I'll be enjoying a cup of tea here again!

Afternoon Tea at The Ritz Paris

After my first afternoon tea at The Ritz Paris in 2010 , I knew I would be back one day. But in my wildest dreams did I ever think it would be the following year. When an unexpected opportunity to travel to Paris arose in autumn 2011 (thanks to my friend Elizabeth) - I did not have to be asked twice! And since she too is an afternoon tea fan, when I suggested we make reservations at The Ritz, yes didn't have to think twice!

This time around tea was served inside ... and it was just as magical and elegant!

Last year I was so overwhelmed with excitement that I had forgotten to take photos of the "Dessert Buffet" ... I hope the following make up for it!!

Photos of the savory part of the tea were not omitted purposefully ... I was so focused on capturing photos of the desserts that I forgot the savories... Well they say the third time is a charm ..lol... so perhaps the next time I will get just right - for the photo sharing.

After our tea ... we went exploring and these little cherubs painted on the ceiling were spectacular!

The autumn floral decor was equally beautiful as it was gigantic ...

It was so much fun to experience it with a friend ... lots of laughter was had and memories made. Definitely add afternoon tea at The Ritz, on your next girls get-away. I Can't wait for my next trip to Paris and afternoon tea at The Ritz!! again.

You are the curator of your life so make it luxurious,