After a Leg is done, I usually like to share my Final Thoughts and personally thank my guests that have come…etc etc. This is going to be a bit different. I’m gonna do the little summary for Leg 4, sure. But then I am going to add some Highlights and name some special people (I don’t usually include names), from the ENTIRE TOUR since 2014! And at the end of all that, a cool little feature- I’m going to list everyone (just initials to keep my personal friends’ privacy) that’s ever joined a tea party with me and the number of times they’ve attended our California Tea House Tour!!

LEG 4

This one was messy. No matter how much you plan (even my meticulous organized OCD self), there are just some things you won’t have control over. There were way too many Spots this Leg that just either didn’t have their act together, stopped their tea service, or weren’t sure if/when they were bringing it back. And I wasn’t gonna bother with any of that, so I just left them out. Quite a few, however, also popped up so we had additional ones to visit in place. I did discover some new gems, so I was really happy about that. I’m def going back to The Caviar Co. (already been twice more since hehe), Beacon Grand, Elliston, Kiki’s, and Rosewood Sand Hill FO SHO. Found my new “Regulars” too. These Sweethearts just make it so EASY for me, and I love that. I will invite them to Tea anytime, all the time. My health was slowly deteriorating all year, so I was getting slower with each new Spot Visit. Lots of times I didn’t even bring my DSLR, so the shots you see were just from my phone… Thankfully, my girls all knew how to support me when needed. Thank you to all who waited for me + my cane, parked closer (VIP paking with my placard heyy), offered their arm, or just made me feel like a human being. My husband said this could be my last Leg. And while sometimes it was a struggle, I’m glad I did it. I can’t say how many times at Tea, my friends talked about special moments on the Tour for them or how much they liked or disliked a place I brought them to. Those memories will be etched in my heart for always.

HIGHLIGHTS

When we met Amy, the owner of Crown & Crumpet, and she showed us such a good time I just knew this was going to be the start of something extraordinary.

When someone from this Spot searched for my name on facebook (I don’t have an account there anymore) to write me a nasty message about how I shared a FACT about his place. Changed my name on there after that.

Finding my new favorite go-to afternoon tea spot, The English Rose. I lost count how many tea parties I hosted there after that.

When we were offered the teeniest tiniest pre-selected [for us] tea sandwiches at this Spot and were treated awfully. Then went to have dinner at the Beach Chalet directly after because we were starving! But not before we all had to stop at the bathroom downstairs first where it smelled like the worst long lost dump you could ever imagine!!

When we met Ramesh at The Ritz-Carlton, and he gave us each to-go boxes with fresh new sweets and new jars of condiments to take home.

When we went to this Tea Spot and the owner came to our table and asked us: “Are you parTEA with me??” and was so excited to meet us! Decade made.

That potato salad from Muir’s Tea Room.

The filthiest tea pot spouts I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Writing about it. Writing the owner. And him writing me back, telling me that they bought things to clean it and are now having their staff trained on how to do it.

Meeting Mom (Christine) and Aubree (Chef) at Muir’s. Not knowing they were going to become like family.

The exemplary tea sandwich sizes at Malaya Tea Room.

That egg salad sandwich at Alexander’s Patisserie.

Having tea on a TRAIN!!

The Executive Chef Joseph L. Paire for Claremont Hotel coming out to meet + chill with me and the Huz.

Seeing owner Pauline at Dartealing Lounge, and her coming out to meet + speak with my girls and making it really special for them.

Having THREE COLLAB’s in a month!!?!

Revisiting my 2nd favorite tea room, only to be disappointed with how much their quality has lowered and moving them 28 spots DOWN on my raTEAng. (never done before)

Being the very first tea party reservation at K On The Go and meeting owners Justin + Tea, not yet knowing that this would become our 2nd home and we’d be seeing them often! And having my very first (and only) Guest Writer, my Daughter!!

Having the Hotel Manager at the Claremont come out to meet me and me having something in my teeth, sitting in front of my plate of One-Bite’s. (melting emoji)

Caviar.

The candle at Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel.

TEA GUESTS

Of the 78 official Tea House and Tea Room Visits, here’s how many my 73 friends + family have attended!

V.Ro. “Kika” – 23

M.K.K. “the Huz” – 21

N.V. – 17

T.L. “Florecita” – 14

M.S. – 13

S.M. “Earl Grey Gal” – 13

F.F. “Rizitos”- 13

A.P. “Mariposa” – 10

B.A. “Cutie Jr.” – 7

P.T. – 6

I.M. “Seat Mate Date/Wife of Filipino” – 6

Mar.A. “Cutie” – 5

E.B. “Big Sis” – 5

E.R. “Indy” – 5

S.E. “Daughter” – 5

R.L. – 4

Li.C. – 4

Me.A. – 3

A.V. – 3

J.C. – 3

Mic.M. – 2

P.A. – 2

A.L. – 2

H.M. – 2

F.S. – 2

M.D. “Mrs. Mamoa” – 2

Mir.M. – 2

Ma.M. – 2

I.S. – 2

E.S. – 2

L.L. – 2

T.H. – 2

T.W. – 2

St.R. – 2

1-Timer’s: G.M., R.P., R.R., C.P., V.H., Lo.C., B.L., N.M., M.V., V.Ri., Sha.M., Shi.M., R.C., S.C., O.I., NOVA, Mo.M., A.M., L.M., A.O., Ja.M., J.B., R.M., E.E., Jo.M., C.F., E.A., S.A. “Cutie’s Mr.”, M.C., D.L., J.S., R.D., A.T., L.E., So.R., H.A., C.R., Y.A., Man.A.

*SHOUT OUT* to Kika for going to 30% of all the Spots!! And to the Huz for coming with me to most of my Collabs and Late Entries!!

And here’s something fun I thought of including last minute… This is a FULL LIST of all the different places + countries that have visited + read our blog!! Hello to all you beautiful people and thank you for visiting my website! If you are from one of these countries PLEASE say ‘hello’ in the comments and tell us which one?!

United States

Albania

Algeria

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Bangladesh

Belarus

Belgium

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Brazil

Bulgaria

Cambodia

Canada

Chile

China

Columbia

Côte d’Ivoire

Croatia

Curaçao

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Ecuador

Egypt

European Union

Finland

France

Germany

Ghana

Greece

Guatemala

Hong Kong

Honduras

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Jordan

Kenya

Kuwait

Lebanon

Malaysia

Maldives

Malta

Martinique

Mexico

Moldova

Mongolia

Myanmar (Burma)

Namibia

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Pakistan

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Qatar

Romania

Russia

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Tanzania

Thailand

Türkiye

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Uruguay

U.S. Virgin Islands

Venezuela

Vietnam

Zambia

Zimbabwe

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