Tea @ The Ritz
When we were making plans for our trip to London, there was one very special item on my list of things to do while there. Aside from the popular sites to see—the Tate, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben—I really wanted to have afternoon tea somewhere fantastic. On our last night in London that wish definitely came true. We had a champagne cream tea at the Ritz.
From the number of tables with cameras, you can see it’s a very popular place for those visiting the city or celebrating a special occasion. And it’s very obvious why. The tea room was beautifully done in ornate gold & rococo decor. The whole place was filled with a sense of excitement—lots of good people watching & servers running back and forth carrying three-tiered trays of sandwiches, scones & sweets.
The tea itself was served loose-leaf in a silver pot. I chose an elder-flower tea that was sweet all on its own & really delicious. I would love to buy some at a tea shop here. The selection of sandwiches featured ingredients popular in the UK: prawn, cucumber, “mature” cheddar, smoked salmon & watercress, plus egg and chicken salads made less creamy than the versions we have in the States.
The pastries, tarts, and mousses were rich & delicious. A raspberry & cream tart was made with a toasted pistachio crust. A strawberry napoleon was light & flakey with a vanilla custard layered in between sheets of puff pastry. The chocolate torte was beyond decadent.
While the sweets & sandwiches were wonderful, my favorite part by far were the scones. Light, not dense or dry, raisin scones were served with jam & the perfect clotted cream. It was the highlight of a fantastic experience. I really want to thank our friends Craig & Teresa for making it happen 
My grandmother always would have tea parties with us when we were little. It’s one of my favorite memories of her. Sitting in such a magical place, I thought about our little tea sets and homemade cookies. This formality was a far way away from those tea parties at home, but the feeling of specialness was very much the same. I wish she could have been there. In a way, I feel like she was.
While it might not be London, you can have Afternoon Tea at the Ritz in Dallas. I bet it’s just as tasty & you don’t have to worry about the exchange rate!
This looks amazing!