Our 26th Spot:

Filoli Gardens

86 Cañada Road  Woodside, CA 94062

filoli.org

Surprise!!  I told ya you would hear from us from time to time!  I have had some Spots in my back pocket to visit, but no set agenda.  Thought we would keep you on your toes…and only the exclusive hardcore Followers would know when a new Spot popped up!  😉  (just kidding, I love you all equally)

I had never heard about this place.  And only until my girlfriend mentioned they served tea, did my ears perk up.  You know I have to go to each and every tea place for yall roight?!  So we made a plan to go, and it just so happened that the weekend we were all available they were having a Flower Show!!  Cool, we’re there.  P.S.  I did NOT intend to visit this new Spot a year later, almost exactly to the day!!?!  (just noticed when I referred back to my last post…as I’m rusty with the blogging and wanted to make sure I got it all right for yall)

[Disclaimer: I didn’t feel like lugging my professional camera throughout the Flower Show, so these photos included are just from my beat up iPhone 6]

When we got there, there were 2 lines: one for private seating and the other for general.  My friend had purchased our tickets online, and couldn’t remember which one we paid for.  For the amount we paid, I think we were supposed to be at a private table.  But, we were in line for ‘general’.  They sat us (there were 3 of us) at a table for 8 with 5 strangers.  Of course, these ladies were nice ladies…but we hadn’t seen one of our friends in awhile and wanted to catch up!  It woulda been nice to be able to have that private time, but whatev.  So, we couldn’t really “let our bellies hang out” if you know what I mean, since we were amongst other company.

I got excited as I read the menu tho.  For reasons I’m not gonna get into on this blog, I’ve had to change my ENTIRE diet due to health issues.  So, I was quite happy with the sandwiches we were going to be served.  All my favorite things: asparagus, basil, arugula…YAY!!

Oh, here’s what the inside looked like…

It wasn’t fantastic, but oh well.  Kinda looked like Conference Room B, if you ask me…

These sweet grammas would come around and ask if you would like a pour of tea.  They were serving 3 types: Filoli Rose Tea, Traditional Irish Breakfast, and Fruit Blend Herbal Tea.  😐  Neither are my go-to’s, buuut I still didn’t let that bother me.  I’m not a breakfast tea girl nor a fruity tea girl, so I went for the rose.  It was niiiiice!  I think I might’ve had 10 cuppas of that stuff that afternoon!?  “Keep em comin granny!”  I even had to ask what the base tea was because I was in disbelief that it was black…it was SO LIGHT!!?!

After a half a cup of tea, they started coming around with the tiers.

I liked how they made sure to tell everyone at the table that they had one each of everything.  Some Most places don’t do…okay, NO other places really do that.  Then I have to tell my story about how I went to tea with a girl who didn’t know that etiquette, until we heard the other girl sitting next to her that she didn’t get a chicken curry sandwich!  Well, it was because the first girl ate TWO!!

Only because everyone else was doing it, I went for my scone first!  Hehe.  (Hey-  you get nervous when you’re having to eat around strangers k!)  As you can see, it was topped with sugar galore.  It was a Lavender Scone with (what they say was) Clotted Cream (it wasn’t!!) and their specialty Marionberry Jam.  Very crumbly and dry and waaay too much sugar topping.  But I still ate it.  🙂

Interestingly, the sandwiches were all toothpicked together.  I had the Asparagus and Herb Goat Cheese tea sandwich to start.  (If you’ve read my posts on either Lovejoy’s or Lovey’s, you KNOW how I feel about asparagus sandwiches.)  Suuuper crunchy!!  I liked it A LOT.  And, the goat cheese was light and smooth.  I coulda had more of that one.

I think I went for the Sliced Turkey with Beet Hummus and Arugula next.  Earl Grey Gal said that one was dry for her.  But, I kept an open mind going in with this one.  Yum!  Since I stopped having poultry almost a year ago, I didn’t care too much for the turkey…but the hummus and of course the arugula (my favorite leaf!) MADE that sandwich, mmkaay!  And I think it was on a pumpernickel or rye bread-  delicious.

I saved the Prosciutto and Melon with Fresh Basil tea sandwich for last.  Doesn’t that just sound like a ‘dessert’ sandwich anyway!?  Who knows the song “Save The Best For Last”??  I’m glad I did.  That was wonderful!!  Perfect compliments.  I can still remember the flavors as I type this!

Even tho I didn’t want to (I’ve cut down on my sugar a lot), again because I didn’t wanna carry anything around with me in the gardens, I tried the desserts.  (And let me just say, it was almost NINETY degrees that day!!)  I do love me a Lemon Bar, so…  It was okay.  Nothing to write home to mom about.  Honestly, I think I make a better one from the box at home.  The Fruit Tart was sooo dryyy!  And the crust didn’t taste like anything!?  The custard I liked, but they were stingy with it.  The Chocolate Éclair was good.  (that’s the little pink thing in the picture)  But, you barely had a bite full of that one.  I washed it all down with more of that rosey tea!

All-in-all it wasn’t a bad tea.  I really liked my sandwiches.  BUT, for having to sit with people I don’t know, only 3 choices of tea, and only subpar food-  it was not worth the $75.00 we had to pay!!!  (Oh yes I did call them out.  My longtime followers know I don’t usually disclose tea service costs, but that was WAY TOO MUCH MONEY.  Now, the Gardens, were beautiful.  I don’t wanna ruin it for you, cuz it’s def a must-see.  But, I’ll include my favorite shots of the day…

Well, that was fun!!  I had forgotten how much I missed having tea and writing about it!?  THANK YOU to all of you, new ones to the blog and our loyal followers!!  There are a few more Spots we have yet to visit.  As Michael Scott says, “Catch you on the flippity flip!”

 

 

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