Last weekend, I had the pleasure of joining two friends for afternoon tea. These days, it seems we are discouraged from the frivolity of taking the time to spend an hour or so catching up on the news and having some tea, but the tradition is beginning to find a foothold again and spots all over are serving tea of varying formality levels. Claremont Mckenna, my alma mater, served an informal tea every afternoon at four as a nod to its Oxford inspirational roots.
The three of us took tea at a delightful spot just north of the University District called Queen Mary. The shop is crowded, but the thoughtful decor lends itself to feeling cozy rather than chintzy and most of the staff seem to genuinely care about the experience. Lots of patrons were wearing tiaras and hats and enjoying a few "princess moments" while several little girls looked like they were having the time of their lives.
We each ordered a different tea with V ordering a creamy Earl Grey, W ordering a fruity green, while I chose a silver oolong. We
started with three sorbets (spicy peach, rhubarb, and mango which was my favorite) and a shortbread. Shortly thereafter the tower arrived with sweets, savories, and fruit. The variety was wonderful and highlights for me were the chicken almond salad sandwich, the sausage rolls, and the carrot cake bites. Everything was small, but we all ended up stuffed. It was a first afternoon tea for V who is from Mons, Belgium and she got to put a pin on the big world map in the back of the shop. Hooray for new traditions and V please come back to visit soon!
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