If you read my first experience of visiting the Claremont, you’ll know just how HUGE it was for me to be invited back again to try their newest tea service menu!!

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, read this first. I’ll wait.

All caught up? Okay good. Ready now?! Hehe.

New Menu Visit:

Claremont Hotel

41 Tunnel Road Berkeley, CA 94705

www.claremont-hotel.com

On February 10 and 11, the Claremont Club & Spa Hotel offered their NEW + VERY FIRST Galentine’s Day Tea tea service menu and we had the special privilege of being one of the firsts to try it! If you don’t know what ‘Galentine’s’ is (like I didn’t, lol), I looked it up for yall! It’s a time to celebrate the girlfriends in your life!! “Ooooo My Girlfriends, there through thick and thin… My girlfriends, there for anything… My Girlfriends” (are singing along in your head?) Naturally, I thought to bring 2 of my girlfriends who expressed interest in having tea at the Claremont…but they couldn’t make this one. (Heyyy hey Cutie + Cutie Jr.! You were missed.) As I was thinking of another couple girls to bring, I see my husband’s puppy dog eyes waiting for an invite to be extended haha! Okay, I’ll take you Boo!! He is my biggest supporter + cheerleader.

I was already anticipating the gorgeous room they were gonna take us to. Seriously one of the best venues, guys. You just know you’re surrounded by luxury.

As we were being seated by our stunning Hostess, I could tell she did her homework and knew exactly who I was. She knew when we were here last, was so accommodating, and gave us a little intro about the Harpist that was there. Have yall ever been entertained by a Harpist tho?! When I tell you it’s the most beautiful thing!! (whiny face emoji) I never really knew how much I needed a harp in my life ’til today! Hahah… She played all the best songs- I wanted to sing along and record each one all afternoon!! (Give her a follow here)

It was so hard not to look at the menu. I really like to be surprised you guys! While waiting for our tea selections, we were offered a glass of sparkling rosè. Our Hostess was so sweet, she even turned the label to face me since she knew I was about to film a video!! I chose their sencha, and the Huz picked jasmine today.

Kyushu Japan Sencha (Spring harvest yields a deliciously vegetal green tea with buttery smoothness) – I’ve been a sencha girl lately, and they caught me with that ‘buttery’. A classic good sencha.

Organic Jasmine Gold Dragon (Nighttime harvested jasmine flowers offer an extensive floral character to a delicate early spring green tea) – Very fragrant! A really good quality jasmine.

Take it in, go ahead.

Rosemary Honey Biscuit – Okay, I don’t even like rosemary!! But it was so sweet-smelling and inviting and tasted so good. Crispy edges and fluffy insides check! With that whipped butter and their signature honey…ugh, can’t get enough. Savored every morsel.

Sour Cherry Chocolate Scone (Orange Marmalade, Devonshire Cream) – The crispiest! Tart cherry, so juicy. This was like a dessert, decadent. Definitely my favorite of the entire tier.

Maitake Mushroom Tartine (Whipped Burrata, Toasted Hazelnuts, Thyme Honey) – I’m gonna copy my notes here verbatim, so yall know I always keep it real with you: “tasted like weed, but in the best way possible.” (laughing crying emoji) I asked my husband if that was offensive to say, and he said people might be turned off. Then I told him I couldn’t not write that, cuz that was my legit thought! But later I even asked the chef, and he even said it was the best compliment haha! Now it has been over 20-years for me… But even if you have never had it but have smelled it, I guarantee this is how you would explain this one too. It was just so woodsy and NOTHING like I’ve ever tasted before. This item was the Huz’s favorite and he goes “if you don’t want it, I’ll take it off your hands” before I even got to take my first bite!! Forreal no pun intended, but I INHALED that thing it was so good. [Just confirming for those in the back- THERE WAS NO CANNABIS IN THIS TEA SANDWICH.]

Truffled Egg Salad (Chive, Pain au Lait) – Perfect.

Smoked Mary’s Chicken Salad (Blistered Grapes, Compressed Celery, Croissant) – Smokiest chicken of all time!! Like it had been in the smoker all day. Wait, like since the night before! The chicken pieces were so juicy + tender, almost melts in your mouth. And yall already know I love me some GRAPES and plenty of celery in my chicken salad.

Lobster Roll (Fermented Chili, Shaved Fennel, Brioche) – Absolutely could not get enough of that crunchy fennel!! (sigh) It just adds such an experience to this sandwich. It sliced so thinly but still has a strong bite. I don’t know how he executes that, but…give me more!! And the Huz loved the sweetness of the brioche with it.

Shaved Prime Rib (Horseradish Aioli, Mizuna, Chive Parker House Roll) – Already knew it was gonna be good with all dat arugula hanging out there. It’s like they packed extra for me cuz they knew I am obsessed! We both loved how easy it was to take a bite out that meat. There’s nothing more embarrassing than being on a date, biting a piece of meat (or like sushi with that seaweed boyy), and then it dragging all out your bread!! (covers eyes) None of that with this!

Vanilla Panna Cotta – I did a dance! I usually only take a bite or two first of everything (to make sure I have enough space to try all items offered), buut I took an extra bite of this!! And the Huz said this was his favorite from the sweets level.

Blackberry Pistachio Financier – My favorite texture: chewy and dense. The filling wasn’t too tart either.

Shortly after taking my phone shots of this one, we heard a voice from behind us… ”Is this your Galentine?!” The Executive Chef had come out to meet us!! It was beyond a pleasure to meet Mr. Joseph L. Paire. (Follow him too! here) We complimented him on this new menu and he gave us a bit of background on himself and the thought process to this tea service. WHAT A TREAT. That was so cool!!

Blood Orange Cheesecake – There was a nice bitterness at the end of this, loved that.

Red Velvet Raspberry Roulade – Nice sponge. I really liked the aftertaste this one gave me.

Strawberry Champagne Macaron – This smelled like a perfume! SO flavorful. Sometimes macaron shells are kinda bland…not this at all.

Final thoughts… Okay so, I barely paid attention to my tea! Ha! This menu is IT!! And the whole time I’m smelling my open rosemary biscuit. He turned me into a rosemary-lover over here!! I could just have the scone and biscuits and be good.

Toward the end of our meal, after the last of the other guests had left, my husband + I found ourselves being of the last in the room. It got so quiet and we started awkwardly chuckling! Just then, Chef came back! He took a seat at the table next to us and we spent a good 15-minutes in a private + intimate setting, just talking about the food industry + community. What a brilliant connection! A memorable time for sure. When I say they pulled the red carpet out for us… This experience trying the new menu and their top notch customer service- I tell you, one of the coolest moments yet of the entire Tour. Chef outdid himself with this Galentine’s business! The last time we came was good. This time (sigh) = Excellent. In the history of parTEA with me’s Tea House Tour, I have not changed placement of a Tea Spot on my raTEAngs after a Revisit. But my experience was so elevated here, I am really thinking of raising the Claremont on my list!! Readers/Followers/Tea Lovers: I hope you all find some time in your calendar to dine there. They are offering new tea service themes + brunch menus this year, so keep on the lookout! Stick with us, and we’ll keep you updated here too. Enter your email below yall, don’t miss out!

The Huz + I took a walk to their garden downstairs, and I grabbed a few shots for you. Enjoy!

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