Tag Archives: tea room

NEW MENU ALERT! Muir’s Tea Room | Alice in Wonderland

You already know how deep my love goes for Muir’s Tea Room in Sebastopol! They have been the reigning Number 1 Spot in my raTEAng since we first visited them in September 2018!! They were also first of our Revisits on this Leg of the Tour, when I took my family with me earlier last year in the spring. (And I know yall love them too, cuz I get so many messages + DMs about visiting them!) It should be no surprise then that I happily accepted their invitation to try their new Alice in Wonderland High Tea tea service menu!! The first time in 10 years they are offering whimsical treats and Muir’s style Wonderland decor!

New Menu Visit:

Muir’s Tea Room

330 S Main Street Sebastopol, CA 94572

www.muirstearoomandcafe.com

Let me start by saying that my sister kept calling it the ‘stormiest day of the year’ hehe! It was rainy + windy, but nothing that would stop us from our Sister Date. She had been wanting to try Muir’s for the longest, and we were finally getting our time! It takes me a little over half an hour to get to her place, then about another hour to Sebastopol from there. Things were getting cancelled and people were choosing to stay indoors…but we were NOT gonna miss Muir’s!! Our husbands said a prayer for us and we were off! Safely. The drive wasn’t bad at all. We even made it with a good 30-minutes to spare. We continued our convo in the car until our tea time. I checked my phone real quick to see what time it was, when I noticed 10 texts. Oopsies! I was getting messages from them saying that the power had just gone out!!

I replied to see if they were okay or needed any help with anything, and to see what we should do. Then we took a little detour to the Whole Foods down the street for a bathroom break while we waited. Sure enough, I got a voicemail. But as I finished listening to them being ultra apologetic and seeing if we would at least come in for tea and to-go boxes (aren’t they so sweet!?), another incoming text: “The power just came back on!” They were able to seat us and we were thrilled!

ALWAYS VIP treatment when I come for a visit, and they sat us at the cutest little nook. Since I’m a Eating-Outside-Lover, I’m usually on their patio. But (even before I knew it was gonna rain), I told them I’d adore trying an indoor seating this time. We were welcomed in the cutest little nook!! I had to post 2 pictures of it.

Of course, I got up to look around and admire all their new decor for this theme! Mama Owner described it as “Alice Upscale”, which we fully agreed! More whimsical, than cartoony. They did an EXCELLENT JOB executing every bit. My sister kept remarking on how much it felt like we were just hanging out in someone’s home! So comfy, not overdone, just right.

Something new and very cool that they had at each tables were those old school Viewfinders! Remember those?! Inside were slides of well, Alice!! (feeling love emoji)

After a chat with the owner and her daughter (ugh, love them), we got settled in and looked at our tea choices. So many good ones of course! They always have a few back-of-the-menu specials that they throw in, and my sister chose one from there. Something caught my eye on their regular menu that I haven’t tried before, so I got that one.

Elderflower Melon (decaf herbal)- Oh it poured so prettily! This photo does it no justice at all. It was like this soft corally pink hue! ”Super floral,” she says, as this was my sister’s pick. You could definitely taste the elderflower first, then the melon, and it was creamy at the end.

Raspberry Vanilla (rooibos) – I chose good!! Perfect flavors, as per usual. Creamy fruit, my fave.

Alice’s Garden Salad with Muir’s Signature Dressing – The tallest salad you ever did see, right?! Ugh, that salad. For such a simple looking thing, you would not expect so much packed flavor in one bite?? Those edamame + almonds together just worked seamlessly. And that dressing (I wanna cry), again simple dijon-based but paired nicely. I kept saying one more bite to myself so I could save room, but it was so hard to stop! AND something I have to mention that made me just stop dead in my tracks- when our sweet server came to deliver these (plate in one hand, tiny container in the other), she says “Oh and we knew you didn’t like green onions so we didn’t add any to yours, but put them on the side in case.” (eyes big emoji, whiny emoji, crying emoji) SWEETEST SENTIMENT EVERRR!!! They KNEW me!!?! I was dumbfounded, jaw…on the ground, eyes…totally watered. Now THAT is customer service. Mic drop. Periodt. All the things. Unmatched, unmatched.

This tier was packed to capacity!! The fullest and most attractive tier! I could barely contain my whiny excitement and absolutely could not wait to try everything!!

White Rabbit’s Cucumber & Chive Tea Sandwich – They never miss with their cucumber. Buttery, perfect crunch, awesome ratio. I will never understand how they make their plant-based stuff taste like BUTTER!? My sister + I could not get enough.

A tiny detail but I have to mention, and I don’t have its own picture… Our waters came with a cut strawberry on the rim. Now it wasn’t strawberry-infused water. However, because of where it’s placed- as you take a sip, you are getting all of that strawberry scented goodness! It was an experience for sure. Simplicity that felt like luxury.

Cheshire Cat’s “Sausage” and Roasted Pepper Finger Sandwich – Favorite item on this tea service, hands down. They made their version of In-N-Out sauce. My sister, after finishing hers, “I don’t even like In-N-Out sauce.” Hahah! Oh and it was far from a ‘finger sandwich’, that was a hearty offering! The crostini had a nice crunchy bite, without it scratching up your mouth. And those “sausages” legit taste like a sausage. Magic, I’m tellin you.

The Blue Caterpillar’s Mushroom Tart – Very clever, Muir’s! Okay, I see you!! I can picture that scene now! This was pastry-heavy (sister agreed), which we both loved that part. She said it was “not hard, really tender.” It was salty, but welcome.

Down the Rabbit Hole Spiral Pesto Puff Pastry – Again, very creative! Mama Owner says her + her daughter worked hard to perfect this menu + theme. It was well thought out and it shows. Quoting my sister for this one: “Super buttery, really good pastry again, and very cheesy tasting.” She also added “I haven’t tasted anything vegan yet!?” Which she has tried tons of vegan food, so she knows her stuff. Muir’s said that was the best compliment.

March Hare Artichoke Heart & Hearts of Palm Medley Tea Sandwich – If my memory serves me right, this is the first time ever having hearts of palm on a tea service and I don’t know why more tea rooms don’t use it!? I love hearts of palm!! My daughter + I love having it even as just a snack! This sandwich was so complex. It was tangy, a little mushy, nice heat in the back (you could take it. If I could take it, you could take it). Loved the crunch of that lettuce, and the bread was so soft.

Hatter’s Always Tea Time Scone with imported English Tiptree Raspberry Preserves & “Clotted Cream” – I’m sure I’m repeating myself from old blog posts of theirs, but their scone is really superior. The crispiest edges, fluffy insides, and perfect savory/sweet flavor. Longtime readers know this: whenever I see a tiny JAR of preserves, you already have my heart. Hehe. And I wish I got a picture of it… Coolest thing. They have a little stand by their front door with a basket of empties and a sign that says ‘free, please take what you need’. What an awesome way to recycle and share with the community!

Queen of Hearts Cherry Jammy Dodger – The jam was not overpowering and the pastry was soo chewy. I couldn’t stop nibbling at this, while having slices of the juiciest cantaloupe!

THANK YOU FOR HANGING OUT WITH US ON THE BLOG AND READING ABOUT THEIR NEW MENU! AS A GIFT FROM parTEA with me + Muir’s Tea Room, MENTION THE WORD “UNBIRTHDAY” AT YOUR NEXT VISIT AND ENJOY A FREE TREAT FROM MUIR’S!! (This offer expires September 30, 2024)

The Duchess’s Fresh Peppermint Patty – A nice surprise! This melts in your mouth! Only took a bite so I could save the rest of the Huz, cuz this is his favorite. When I took it home and he had it, he says, “Man, that was better than the original.” You heard it here, Muir’s!!

Tweedledum and Tweedledee Swirl Cupcake – The moistest!! Such a good bite to it. Not too sweet and not too much frosting, which was whipped nicely.

Muir’s Tea Room really outdid themselves this time. (as per ushe) The attention to detail with every bit: the decor, the food, the titles of the food… Mom + Friend, high fives!! Thank you for having us. You showed my sister + I a TOP TIME. She kept raving about how outstanding the service was. Not only do you feel like you’re at family’s house…but you actually feel like family!! Readers + Followers + Social Media Friends- you guys ask me about this place all the time! If you’re waiting for a time to go, it’s NOW!! Pay them a visit, enjoy their new Alice in Wonderland High Tea menu, tell them I said hi, and get your FREE TREAT!!! You have until March 25, 2024 to experience this new theme. Don’t miss out! Stop by their hard-not-to-buy-anything gift shop too!

To my Amazing Sister, thank you for being my date. Thank you for driving us safely through the rain and being one of very FEW I get to let my belly hang out with. I always appreciate our sister time. I feel so safe, so validated, so seen, so understood. Ending this post with such a great shot she took of this original top hat. She’s mad creative too, guys. I’m older than her, but I def wanna be her when I grow up! See you soon Tea Lovers!!

All Muir’s Tea Room related posts:

Spot #28 :: Muir’s Tea Room

Spot Revisit :: Muir’s Tea Room (#28) – Best Overall

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Money

I was supposed to go to Tea this Saturday (well actually, I was supposed to go to Tea 2 weeks ago… But my son had a gig, then we had an event… Yada yada yada). But since I’m not and I haven’t shared a post in a bit, I wanted to do an About The Author post for yall. I had an original topic I wanted to talk about, but then I saw this thing…and that made me change gears for this one. I’ll talk about that one another time!

A thread (from user @richrashann) said: “Social media tricked y’all into thinking that all hobbies need to be monetized. It’s okay to just enjoy things you like to do.”

This struck a chord with me so bad. I’ve talked a little bit about this before (on this post), how I have a knack for turning passions into jobs. But, I don’t think I ever got into really why. A supplemental income. It all started after I had my first child. My bio mom had said she would stay with me and help with the baby for 6 months. Except after 1, she left. I thankfully + hurriedly employed a close friend of ours to be our babysitter. Tho after a little bit, her sister got pregnant and she was needed for them. No childcare once again. It was NEVER in the plans for me to be a stay-at-home mom. I made that real clear to the Huz before we even ever conceived. ”Don’t think I’m gonna be those moms who stay home, cuz I love working too much okay!” But here we were- faced with this situation that needed a solution, and fast! It just didn’t make sense to me to work so hard, just to hand over my check to someone else. So, with an 8-month-old baby, the choice was made for me to be home with him. Reluctant at first, but then soon embraced this wonderful privilege.

We were making it work. My husband at the time was a Maintenance Manager for a property, so our unit came discounted. We’ve always chose a simplified lifestyle, so we never needed a lot of things. But I was hungry. Not for money (I actually hate money, really)…but for being useful. I wanted to contribute. I became the QUEEN of Side Hustles mmkaay!! I started my own business as a Financial Consultant. I have always been really good with money and very organized. I got us out of debt, helped family members move into their own homes, helped friends buy their first cars. WHY NOT get paid for doing that, right!? I was a representative for a multi-level marketing company. I sold baby products (like Tupperware, but with baby stuff). I was a Loan Officer for a real estate firm. I. Did. It. ALL mmkaay! While still raising my beautiful son, teaching him ABCs and keeping on top of laundry. 

It became ingrained, innate. Tho, like I mention in this post, I was very aware of the fact too- that once money is involved, it could turn into something no longer fun. That’s why that thread hit so hard. I love to sew right. Especially after having my daughter, I would make little things for her with onesies that she outgrew. Lots of hair bows + headbands. Someone insisted I get into business with them. I was unenthusiastic about it, but somehow agreed. Sewing was fun for me…when I chose to do it and was inspired. But now I was having to meet quotas and put my personal hobby out there for people to judge. It became a chore. And my daughter was no longer benefiting from it. I stopped it before it ever became a thing.

WHY AM I TALKING ABOUT THIS, you ask? Hehe. Especially when I have previously divulged that I decided to monetize this Blog?! Lol. I also touched on that in the “Website Milestones” post…but again, didn’t get too much into it. (sigh) Here goes. Something I’ve neeeever talked about on here. But felt since it’s unfortunately a big part of my life, that I’m going to use this platform + opportunity to be vulnerable and share my story.

I am legally disabled.

I have a cane and wheelchair when I need extra help, and even a handicap placard.

(exhale) Whew! There, I said it.

Over 5 years ago when I entered trauma recovery, my body and nervous system also reacted. It had taken medical professionals that long to diagnose me as well. After many tests and labs and Specialists and misdiagnoses, they finally know what’s going on. The cane isn’t new, I’ve had to use that before. The diagnosis came in April of last year. And the wheelchair (even tho I’ve needed it for longer, but just never asked) came in June. Boyyy, it has been a struggle. I am a young 42yo. I don’t know how to be in that wheelchair and feel like myself. I get my lashes done to feel “cute”. I always feel like I have to wear my coolest clothes. My girlfriend joked with me, asking if she should make me a sign for the back of it: “You know I’m from Richmond right?” Hahah.

What does this have to do with money? No, I’m not trying to pull at your heartstrings like they do in American Idol intros before the auditions to get you to donate to my website!! (ay-yay-yay) I’m telling my Readers about their Author! I’m sharing with yall that YES, I visit Tea Rooms + Tea Houses all over the Bay Area. And I do this only once a month (well, that’s what’s scheduled…I can’t help if more tea times pop up HAHA) because that’s what my body allows. The rest of the time I’m not at afternoon tea- I am home resting, recuperating, and taking preventative measures until my next outing. After all is said and done about not necessarily wanting to turn Loves into income- monetizing this Blog is what allows me to continue doing it. The modest amount that comes from ads and donations fund my Tea Trips, because I am unable to go out and have a traditional 9 to 5. Even tho I didn’t HAVE to explain this, I wanted to. I think it goes a long way in getting to know who you’re supporting. When you are ‘Like’ing posts, viewing + heart’ing Stories, commenting, reposting, clicking on my links, reading this blog, entering your email to subscribe to it, filling out that donation form, interacting with us on Threads… YOU are allowing me to continue ENJOYING what I love to do, whether money is involved or not.

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Looking Forward

We are finishing the 3rd Leg of this Tour strong yall!!

We have visited TWELVE New Spots, squeezed-in THREE additional, and still have a possibility of visiting ONE more new one this month!! We did a Revisit in the Spring of this year, and are now ending the Tour with the remaining FIVE Revisits! That’s a lot of tea yall!! That’s TWENTY-ONE (maybe 22) Afternoon Tea Spots for the 3rd Leg of parTEA with me’s California Tea House Tour, from February 2023 to May 2024. Our fullest and longest one to date! 

I’m in the hat! [I don’t like to put my friend’s faces on my posts]

Also, here’s a little teaser on what’s going on for Leg 4!!!

But don’t worry- during my time off, I will still be going to Tea and sharing some things! Don’t forget to follow us on all the social media platforms (you’ll find links to each below), I post a little something different on each one. Thankful for all our Day One’s. (100 emoji here) Thank you to all those who CONSISTENTLY interact with our posts!! I see each and every one of you. And of course, a humongous ~THANK YOU~ to all who donate. I can’t even gather all the emotions to explain all of what that means to me. If you are moved to help us on the Tour, there is a form below. Check back to see if we made it to the Spot that is supposed to start serving afternoon tea this month… (cheesy emoji smile)

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Spot #41 :: Chelokababi

Our 41st Spot:

Chelokababi Persian Cuisine

1236 S Wolfe Road Sunnyvale, CA 94086

www.chelokababi.com

It was cute cuz I got a few tags + messages about this place…but I already had reservations! I’m a Detective, I’m tellin you! Doesn’t look like much outside, but when you go inside- (open mouth emoji) you really can’t tell a book by its cover. It was busy tho, so I took a few pics at the end of our visit when people started clearing out… You’ll see those at the end.

I’ve never had a “Persian” Tea before. I always get excited to try new themes of tea. We do have a Persian friend who used to love to cook for us, and his food was always good! So if it was anything like that, we were in for a really good meal!

Another treat to this Tea was that we had a visitor all the way from England able to come!! So we got to listen to that sweet accent the whole afternoon hehe. Also a first: a co-ed Tea! Here’s how that went… Since this was a squeezed in Spot (they just starting serving Afternoon Tea this past September) (and you know we do our best to get in as soon as possible), I hadn’t the faintest idea who to take with me and who would be interested in Persian Tea. I put a question sticker on my IG Stories, asking who liked Persian food. One of my friends responded, so I thought of taking her + her bestie (also a friend of mine). When I told the Huz I was going to try a Persian Tea, he said he was interested in going to that one! Ay-yay-yay! Fine, let’s all go!! The girls happen to have their friend from England visiting at the time, so it was an honor to have her join the Tour! Our original girlfriend ended up not being able to make it (missed you babe)…so it was just Mrs. Mamoa, England love, the Huz and me!

[Disclaimer: These photos coming up will not do this place and their food any justice. There was a beautiful ambiance and breathtaking environment. However, the yellowy spotlight directly over my head, created a terrible shadow of my growing baby hairs over each shot. So, I had to take my photos so far so as to not highlight my hair growth, lol. I also decided too late to just use my iPhone instead of fuss with my DSLR settings, so I’ll throw the few of those I took in there too.]

I’m usually not a fan of small amount of tea options. BUT- they have such amazing choices for the 6 that they offer, there was no complaint from me at all! Since there were 4 of us, we each chose a different one so we could try lots.

Persian Tea (An elegant rich blend of Earl Grey, Ceylon, and oil of Bergamot) – So glad my girl chose this one, cuz (well first, how do you go to a Persian Tea without ordering their Persian tea??) this one ended up being my favorite from the table. A really delicious earl grey.

Flora Green (Luxury flowering infusion of Premium Green Tea, Jasmine, and Rose) – My choice. If I can remember back (gosh, from over 40 Teas!), I wanna say this is the first we’ve been served a flowering tea!? So pretty! This one was faint in flavor, but still good.

Saffron Tea (Organically grown Saffron, Rose bud, Jasmin blossoms and Osmanthus) – The most intriguing of the batch for sure. My notes said “light, beautiful, so good.”

Holiday Basket (Black tea with Rose buds, Peppermint, Safflower, dried orange, and cranberries) – This one smelled so minty! It was minty but also creamy. I love me a creamy tea! Made me think of sweet mint gum…in a good way.

So, a tier came out… And I was so happy (a little confused, but mostly happy), that there was more than one each per person!!?! That was so fun to see!! Wasn’t quite 2 for each of us, but at least you can have more than 1 of an item. I loved that. We made sure we all had at least one each to try, then divvied up the rest. (Again, this is the best pic I got. So imagine what the others looked like!? I have better video of this tier…make sure you’re following us on Instagram!)

Smoked Salmon Bites – These weren’t like your traditional smoked salmon you get at usual afternoon tea spots. It was like a ‘moussed’ salmon! ”Very dilly”, says England love. The carrot was super crunchy (P.S. I love heirloom carrots.) and bread was chewy.

[iPhone shot]

Kalbas (Mortadella lavash rolls with petite Persian pickles and tomato aioli) – Didn’t realize why I loved this one so much til just now, typing the description from their menu. I love Mortadella!! (my Italian roots are clapping!) But this one was a bit different. I knew there was some sort of cold cut or sliced meat, but couldn’t put my finger on which exactly. But the picklessss (I’m whining) MADE this for me. There was also a little heat in the back, which I appreciated. The flavors + textures just all worked so well together in this one. I wasn’t shy about saying I wanted a 2nd piece!! Hehe.

2nd course!! (three clapping emojis)

[iPhone shot]

Spinach Filo (Filo pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese served with cucumber yogurt) – How cute is it that we got a 2nd course of Savories!? This pastry was soo comforting!! Warm + crispy. Who doesn’t love spinach filling? And that yogurt sauce, completed this so nicely.

Our 3rd course! This is so so fun.

Raspberry Scone (served with apricot and cherry jams) – My famous saying: “I could drink that stuff with a straw!!” Their cherry preserves mannn! You’ll see. You’ll see…in the background…I’ll have my own 2nd helping of it, while I’m taking pictures of other stuff haha! But wait- the scone was a GOOD scone too, tho. Sliced nicely, so all their gorgeous jams could sit on top no prob. Ugh, I LOVED this course!!

What happened next was something that doesn’t happen at ALL Afternoon Tea’s, but what I appreciate So. Much. . . . They gave us new plates yall. (about to cry emoji) I looooved that they did this!!! It’s an extra step, sure. But, it makes all the difference in the world! In my opinion anyway. I had a nice clean (and stunning too, might I add) plate for the next sweets. ESPECIALLY, for a (air quotes) Content Creator like myself. The next items had a beautiful background for their photo shoot, tada!

2nd tier/4th course.

[iPhone shot]

House Made Persian Love Cake (Cake Yazdi) – Never had a Love Cake before…but I’m so happy I did. Cardamom rose yall, car-da-mom ROSE! A classic combination. Soo soo good, I wish I had one in front of me right now!!

Noon Chai (Fluffy and lightly sweet roll with chocolate, and fresh strawberries) – This little sandwich was so refreshing! I could’ve eaten about 10 of those!

Mini Apple (not marzipan! Lol) – I’m still including my picture of the cutest, tiniest apple because it had its full dedicated photo shoot!! Haha. Kind of an inside joke, but at one point we thought it was a marzipan apple!! Hahah…

Here were the Huz’s remarks: “…desserts were not decadent, I liked that. It was a simply laid out Tea. Reflected the cuisine of the culture well. Not complicated at all. Simplicity and quality. Well done.”

And finally, here are some shots of the interior…

Absolutely attractive right!? I was already thinking of what kind of intimate party I can have back there and who I’m inviting!! I loved so much that there was a dedicated section of the restaurant for their Afternoon Tea. It made it so special! The interior is something out of a storybook, and I admired every little detail- down to the vases they served our water in! And every table got a different vessel.

This is a family owned business and Tea is the mastermind of their Aunt! She did an amazing job selecting every piece to this very special tea service. I will let her tell you all about it when you come in! The customer service here was unmatched. I think that’s a good part of why we can’t wait to come back so much. Food was extraordinary for sure. But the treatment we got was so good, it made it hard to leave. That’s another thing- IT WAS A FULL TEA EXPERIENCE. I can’t remember the last time I had a service that was 3 hours long!!?! And that used to be my favorite part!! It was a slow and steady process of enjoying each item presented to you. That’s the reason I got to know Mrs. Mamoa and England love better! We were given TIME!!! Some of these Afternoon Tea Spots (i.e. here) will start kicking you out after an hour and a half these days! I loved the leisure Chelokababi gifted us. It was a welcome time away from our day-to-day and we enjoyed every single minute. Thank you, Chelokababi, thank you!! (Btw- I already placed you on my raTEAng, and yall are pretty high up on that list already. Wink wink!)

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Spot #40 :: Claremont Hotel

Our 40th Spot:

Claremont Hotel

41 Tunnel Road Berkeley, CA 94705

claremontresortandclub.com

Have you ever been driving around the East Bay and notice this big beautiful white building in the hills?! Being from Richmond, we would see it all the time. I would hear about it all the time too. My bio mom worked for this really generous boss and she would get sent on weekend retreats there for spa treatments. She would come back telling us all about the food and the glamour of being there. So, I always viewed it as this ‘untouchable’ place that I would never have any business stepping foot in.

Well, that place is the Claremont. And, I had business to tend to in there!

Check out this view, too!

Yes, this was a new Spot I squished in on the Tour again! Tho the Claremont has been serving afternoon tea for decades, this is the first since the Pandemic that they’ve opened their doors for their seasonal offering. I booked the soonest day we had available. Because we were so starstruck just being INSIDE, we wanted to make sure we looked like we knew what we were doing and were important enough to have a reason to be there!! LOL. We passed by an area we thought Tea would be at, but there was a sign on an easel in the front that said “PRIVATE EVENT”. Yeah, that’s not us! So we kept on walking…

Still walking…and nothing. I approached the Concierge to ask where Afternoon Tea was being held, and she directed us to where that sign was. I reiterated- where it says Private Event?? She responds, “You are the Private Event!” (about to cry emoji) THE SWEETEST!!

Just look-

So luxurious right?! Are you excited?? I’m excited to tell you!

Organic Bella Coola Punch (A warming sip for cold winter nights with notes of creamy orange & pineapple) – Very tart, with a slight cream undertone…a punch for sure!

Ontario Icewine (Smooth and silky with light Riesling and berry notes) – I’ve had an icewine before that I really liked. But what caught my attention was the Riesling part! I used to love me some Riesling. My favorites were Pacific Rim and Chateau Ste Michelle… Anyway, I chose good!

There were too many good shots of this tier, I couldn’t choose just one! So enjoy all three!

Our server beautifully explained each carefully prepared piece. Everything was made in-house. From the bread, to that amazing honey. From the looks alone, you could tell attention to detail was important to them. The bottom tier of sweets had desserts themed from all over the world! I loved that part.

Sweet Potato Cheddar Biscuit (Apple Spiced Butter, Claremont Gold Honey) – I’m not really a fan of cheddar, but I had an open mind when trying this one. I put it all together with its designated fixings. Man oh man!! That thing was incredible! The combination was so complex, I didn’t even know how to describe it!? It became my favorite, fast. And I think it was all because of that honey!!

Cranberry Orange Scone (Blood Orange Preserve, Devonshire Cream) – Ugh, the crispiest edges! Again with the complex. The texture was on point sure, but the flavors were so so good together.

Truffled Egg Salad (Chive, Pain au Lait) – Speechless. I’m learning I really like egg and truffle together!

Honeynut Squash Tartine (Whipped Burrata, Toasted Hazelnuts, Smoked Honey) – There was quite a bite to the squash that was unexpected…thought it was gonna be more mushy, but I welcomed it! The herby flavor gave it much depth.

Smoked Mary’s Chicken Salad (Blistered Grapes, Compressed Celery, Croissant) – That meat was so tender!! Love the grapes, and lots of celery yay! It’s kinda like the chicken salad I make for the kids at home, but a much elevated version of course haha. Just saying that I loved the simplicity of it…especially because it’s like the version I like! Didn’t realize til I was typing it out now, that that was croissant bread!? Um, yum! When I got to the crust part of it, I was so happy about the bread! It’s a good bread.

Lobster Roll (Fermented Chili, Shaved Fennel, Brioche) – Loooved the crunch of that fennel so much! There was a little tiny aftertaste of spice from the lobster, that was nice. It was a little too much bread for me. I would’ve liked more lobster filling for a better ratio.

Shaved Prime Rib (Horseradish Aioli, Mizuna, Chive Parker House Roll) – With all that green poking out, I already knew I was gonna like this one. Didn’t know it was mizuna, but it so closely resembled arugula and the arugula-lover that I am appreciated that so much! The rib was so thinly sliced, rare, and buttery. Made for an easy bite, score points.

There was so much to try in this tea service, and everything was so hearty! It was a nice + welcome change from some services that have the tiniest mouthfuls of things. I took another bite or two of my sandwiches before I moved on to the sweets.

Citrus Cheesecake – Subtle cheese flavor, nice crust, the rind was fun to chew.

Matcha Cake – Very moist cake. That jello center was an interesting surprise. The matcha flavor was really mild.

Chocolate Hazelnut Financier – Sooo chewy! For the bottom and corners of this, think of brownie texture. I loved that part of this sweet so much. And it wasn’t rich at all.

Vanilla Panna Cotta – Since panna cotta is my all-time favorite kind of dessert, I always get excited when I see it on a menu. I wish I would’ve gotten to this sooner, cuz it was melty by the time I had it. Still good flavor, and the raspberry made it better.

Macarons – Our server didn’t know what flavors these were… My best guess would be pistachio and birthday cake. Either way, they were very good! I said I coulda had the whole bottom tier just be these macarons and woulda been fine with that!

The service here was very noteworthy. Everyone treated us with so much kindness. Our server had been in the hospitality industry for some time and you could tell. He was informative about the building and history of the hotel and had a nice conversation with us at the end of our meal. That alone will change my whole tone of my review. If you serve me a step above mediocre food BUT THEN show me some genuine personal interest on top of that, you just raised my experience.

I’m so glad we got to have tea here. Being able to say I went inside the Claremont was worth it alone! The amount of food they present is definitely the value for what you’re paying. As high class of an establishment, no one makes you feel like you don’t belong there. At the end of our party, we were met with the most STUNNING Bay Area sunset. I kinda went crazy with my shots between the DSLR and iPhone! Here’s just a couple… Enjoy!

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my raTEAng 1-42

Did yall know there are FORTY-TWO places to have Afternoon Tea around the greater Bay area!!?! We did. Hahaha! Yes, it has been another 6 Spots yall! For our new Readers: After every 6 visited Tea Spots, I put together a rating from They have no business serving afternoon tea to Why haven’t I been going here all along!! You guys LOVE these posts and show us so much love when I do em. Hope this helps you save some time + money for your next Tea Party!

42. iChina Restaurant, Santa Clara – Unsanitary tea spouts…need I say more?

41. Tal-Y-Tara Tea & Polo Shoppe, San Francisco – Outright rude and has no business being a tea house.

40. Tudor Rose English Tea Room, Santa Rosa – Eleven levels of tea service and you don’t even want one.

39. Secret Garden Tea House, San Francisco – Filthy place with yummy scones.

38. The Tearoom, Oakland – They don’t know how to make tea, don’t go.

37. Tea Time, Palo Alto – Awkward dirty cafe that left us thirsty.

36. The Golden Tea Garden, Hayward – Bad-mannered + arrogant owner with dollar store decor + tea.

35. Leland Tea Company, Burlingame – A cafe that serves food you can make yourself at home + buy yourselves from shelves, on 3 tiers.

34. Sip Tea Room, San Francisco – Take 2 of boring tea.

33. The RoyalTea Garden, Pleasanton – Forgettable tea service.

32. Son & Garden, Palo Alto – Take your selfie, leave the tea.

31. Croissante, Santa Clara – Not everyone needs to offer afternoon tea, especially this place.

30. Linde Lane Tea Room, Dixon – Snooty but pretty with fun sorbet intro.

29. Lovejoy’s Tea Room, San Francisco – Pretentious area with spectacular Black Vanilla tea.

28. Quail & Thistle Tea Room, Capitola – Adorable building with overwhelming all-in-one plate.

27. The Rotunda at Nieman Marcus, San Francisco – Matter-of-fact service and expensive teeny tasteless food.

26. Eddison & Melrose Tea Room, Monterey – Okay tea, but recognition of who we were made my year.

25. Proper Hotel, San Francisco – Hodgepodge decor and hit-or-miss tea party foods.

24. Satori Tea Company, San Jose – Interesting + eclectic, rum butter crumpets, and purple tea.

23. Filoli Gardens, Woodside – Stunning garden views with subpar overpriced cuisine.

22. The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco – A definite must-experience with exceptional service.

21. Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco – Complex + unique flavors that just work, and a have-to-have pear compote.

20. Napa Valley Wine Train, Napa – A luxury and leisure tea I could totally get used to.

19. The St. Regis, San Francisco – A tea service that makes you feel rich, regal, and important.

18. Palace Hotel, San Francisco – Breathtaking surroundings and flawless food.

17. Lovey’s Tea Shoppe, Pacifica – Black Vanilla with Lavender tea, asparagus sandwich, and sweet staff.

16. Camellia Tea Room, Benecia – Impeccable service and an all-around wonderful time.

15. Lisa’s Tea Treasures, Los Altos – Like going to your sister’s house and having delicious tea.

14. Maison Danel, San Francisco – A Croissant-Lover’s dream, but get dropped off.

13. Crown & Crumpet Tea Stop Cafe, San Francisco – Unforgettable crumpets and scrumptious tea sandwiches.

12. Tal’s Patisserie, Danville – Best rustic tea meal for a bread-lover, with best store-bought tea.

11. Pardee Home, Oakland – A tour in a tour that will feed you until satisfaction and the definition of ‘cuteness overload’.

10. Alexander’s Patisserie, Mountain View – Home to the Best Tea Sandwich I’ve had on the entire Tour.

9. Crown & Crumpet, Ross – Gold standard of Afternoon Tea.

8. Jade Chocolates, San Francisco – Lilikoi marshmallow.

7. Dartealing Lounge, San Francisco – Best sandwiches and cutest ambiance.

6. The White Hart Tea Room, Pacific Grove – Really like going to someone’s house for tea (cuz you are), and having true homemade food (cuz you are).

5. Four Seasons, Palo Alto – Really good everything and you’ll want to come back already by the end of your meal.

4. Malaya Tea Room, Alameda – New go-to spot with exemplary finger sandwiches.

3. The English Rosa Tea Room, Pleasanton – A hundred delectable teas and textbook shabby chic decor.

2. Tyme for Tea & Co., Fremont – The perfect tea house, with perfect food, and perfect service.

1. Muir’s Tea Room, Sebastopol – There are no words invented yet that describe how GOOD this Tea Spot is, it excels in all aspects of Afternoon Tea.

So- how many have you tried from this list?? How many do you have yet to try?! We wanna know all the deats!! Share your stories in the comments! The good, the bad, the never again haha! We love putting this list together for you all. Over the years doing this Tour, I have made some pretty cool relationships with some of these tea house + tea room owners. I get so excited when I’m able to tell them you’re coming after reading this Blog!! Thank you for all your messages + DMs, I appreciate you. Thank you for keeping this Blog alive! Thank you for letting me write as my job. Love yall.

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Spot #38 :: Crown & Crumpet Ross

Our 38th Spot:

Crown & Crumpet

22 Ross Common Ross, CA 94957

crownandcrumpet.com

If this tea room’s name looks familiar, it’s cuz we’ve visited them before…but in the City! Crown & Crumpet has been around for a long time!! Their first location was in Ghirardelli, that’s when my love affair with them started. Who remembers the story about the facebook pictures and my bedridden pregnancy!? Ahh, huh, ah-ha! So, our very first Spot on the Tour in 2014 was their next location (btw the Ghirardelli one closed) in Japantown. That’s when I met their cheeky owner, love her. Read about that visit here. When I opened the Tour again and started our 3rd Leg, she invited us to visit their Ross location. Of course we would!

Now it’s got its own Spot Number and Review, because they’re different! Just like Lovey’s is different from Lovejoy’s…

I didn’t get too much of the interior (1) cuz there were people eating in there, and (2) cuz I was already busy talking with the owner when we got there! But here’s a pic or two…

We had a bit of a drive to get there…a little over an hour. And it was such a rainy day. But we were still thrilled to have this adventure scheduled! In April of this year, I was so honored to be invited to a friend’s first time to C&C’s place in San Francisco. She had always wanted to go, and I had the privilege of attending with her. Since C&C was her JAM, I invited her to this tea party too! We took another cutie friend, and the 2 coolest gramma’s you will ever meet!! (too young to be my gramma’s, but happy to have them as friends!) I felt so flattered that they agreed to spend the afternoon with me. Just the ride over was already fantastic! Nothing like passing San Quentin and being in Pac’s hometown of Marin hehe. So. Many. Inside jokes… Such a cute little town, Ross is. We woulda loved to spend more time perusing the boutique shops around their main street feel!

When she walked us to the back to our table and it was OUTSIDE- (the ‘I can’t handle this’ emoji) let’s all say it together: “I love eating outside!!!” Since I don’t look at social media or websites too much before visits, I either didn’t know or had forgotten that they had an outdoor option. Even their tents were so cute with window details! They helped us feel so comfy back there. We had cozy blankets, heaters on (that later we even turned off), and even (guys) purse holders were offered! This elevated the experience for me already.

After we got settled in, we all took turns selecting our teas. Here’s what we ordered at our table: Alice Drink Me Tea (raspberry, white peach, strawberry black), Pretty in Pink (strawberry vanilla herbal), Earl Grey (bergamot black), Swamp Water (tropical rooibos), and my pick Lychee Congou (special reserve black). Everyone absolutely loved their choices! Especially my friend who ordered their Alice blend, she even purchased some on our way out. My Lychee was soo good (yall know I love me a lychee tea), it was like lychee but also creamy!? Happy they were happy!!

We’re sitting there enjoying our teas and the rain really starts pouring. Ugh, it was BEAUTUFUL. Hearing the pitter-patter of each of those chunky raindrops hit the canopy we were under… While sipping our hot drinks… I could’ve stayed under there forever. I JUST LOVED IT!!

I’m always saying this but I never do it… I need to record them when they’re explaining what’s on the tiers, especially when each item isn’t listed in detail on their menus! I legit got quiet when they were sharing with the table next to us, and told all my friends to ear hustle so we could get the deats again! Haha! I have some official names aand some I made up…hehe.

I always go for my Crumpet first. And they bring it out warm, so come on! Theirs is perfect, lemme just say that right here. It might not look like much in the picture…but I can assure you, each of those crannies are filled with buttery goodness. The edges are crispy, the middle is chewy. And their fixings aren’t pictured here, but they lovingly gave us EACH our own to use and (ugh I wanna cry) their clotted cream and house-made lemon curd + jam = gold standard, period.

Cucumber Sandwich – Okay so, their cucumber is a bit soggy. Yes, I admit. However. I love me some chewy soggy bread thooo!! This one almost melts in your mouth AND they put something a little different in theirs!? Like, I kinda tasted dill…but…it could be something different, I don’t know. It’s one of those tastes that make you go hmm.

Egg Salad on Croissant – You can see it in there, I know you can. There’s a big chunck of GREEN ONION. Right there! There! (whiny emoji) If you’re a longtime reader of this blog (thanks for still being here, love ya for that), you’ll know I hate me some green onions. (green nauseated emoji) Can’t stand em, won’t eat em, can’t do em. When I’m watching a cooking show with the Huz and they add that scallion business on anything, I have to obnoxiously + verbally take my stand on my hatred. BUT. I don’t know if I was feeling brave or didn’t wanna bother with the removal project… (takes a deep breath) I just freely took my bites out that sandwich. And you know what. I loved it. There, I said it.

Coronation Chicken Sandwich (lightly curried chicken with apricots, almonds, green onions & mango chutney) – Their menu says “lightly” but that didn’t taste ‘lightly’ to me. That joint was FULL of curry flavor. I’ve had a number of curry chicken sandwiches on this Tour in the last almost 10 years, and my friends, that is one SLAMMIN chicken curry sandwich!! (three clapping emojis) I couldn’t get enough. I woulda eaten a whole loaf mmkay, of those things!

Sausage Savory – This may not look like much (I know I said that already about something else huh), but don’t let this tiny bite fool you. It packs a smoky punch boyy!

Brie Tart – That’s a sturdy pastry!! Made this savory so much more fun, that crumbly crunch. The brie and jelly were a match made for each other! So yum.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry – Always a happy-maker. I could eat these all day!

Cinnamon Cake – Dense bread, subtle spice.

Lavendar Rosemary Shortbread – Crispy cookie, light flavor, the sugar crystals gave exciting texture!

Apricot Bar – I wanted a whole 9 by 13 of this!! I savored every morsel. Not too sweet, great textures (with the crunchy bottom, gooey center + crumbly topping). Absolutely delicious!

Cranberry (I think) Scone – And last but not least! Just a really good standard scone. Fluffy, nice flavor. Couldn’t say anything bad about it if I tried!

Honestly, I breezed through my pictures + notes! Even forgot to post on Threads for my ‘Real Time Thoughts’ hahah. (I mean, I did post…but not as well as I could’ve) I was just thoroughly enjoying myself with my guests, I wanted to join in on all that laughter that was being had!! The owner of C&C (as I’m sure I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts + social media) is just such a riot, she always hosts us to such a good time. And as I told her verbatim, “I could never say anything bad about this place.” They know what they’re doing with tea and they do an exceptional job with it all. We browsed around their shop next door, met their sweet Shop Girl! Used the bathroom one last time before our long drive home, and took photos with their Queen cut-out on the wall hehe. Can’t wait to come back here! If yall find yourselves out that way, please stop by and have some Tea at the Crown & Crumpet. You won’t be sorry you did!

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Work Life

Since I decided to monetize this Blog and make it worth my while (even tho the pure satisfaction of writing is totally enough for me), it’s been fun feeling so official and putting a little more pep in my step with these Spot Visits + blog posts. And if you follow us on Instagram, you’ll know I was recently dubbed “Queen of Tea in the Bay Area” hehe. Thank you, thank you! (bowing)

This passed weekend was a FULL weekend of work. Sharing more of each event on our Instagram account, so follow us there if you’re not already! Friday afternoon, I took the Huz on a date to try the Four Seasons new tea service menu. Every bite was more stunning + satisfying than the next. And I am thoroughly convinced that I am the biggest fan of Vanilla Oil and Truffle Honey. Um, YUUUUM. My standout favorites were their Smoked Salmon Crostini, Matcha Green Tea Cheesecake, and Pumpkin Cheesecake Macaron. Service is always amazing there. We did a 4:45p reservation, and had the whole place to ourselves!! So it was nice + quiet. I think we did that last time…missed the crowd, on purpose. For a new hotel afternoon tea service, the Four Seasons sure does know what they’re doing over there.

The following morning, we got ready and headed into the City. The SF Tea Fest was in town yall! OF COURSE, parTEA with me was gonna be in the house!! It was so great learning about new brands and meeting the owners behind them. The best sips I had were from Sips Global Teas Butterscotch black tea, Justea‘s Cream Earl Grey, Saku Tea Superfood Latte Blends Vanilla Maple Jade and Ruby Cocoa, and Sporgy Mushrooms Mush Love Tea Cafe and Awaken. Check them out! We thought it was funny or interesting that the longest line there was for Harney & Sons. Don’t get me wrong, love the brand. I have their tea tins all over my room holding all my stationary supplies. (meaning I’ve had a ton of Harney in my day) But like- you could get that at Target yall. Jus sayin… The Huz goes, “That just shows you the extent of people’s knowledge in tea.” He’s not wrong.

While my weekend was packed, it felt so good to be in the Tea Community. We are in the thick of the Tour now (sweat bead emoji)! Tho I keep finding new places to visit and it keeps getting extended!! No complaints here, happy to do it. For myself, for all my guests, and for all yall! Grateful for views, grateful for Subscribers (have you entered your email yet??), grateful for Donators. Thank you for allowing me to do something that brings me so much joy and is good for my nervous system haha.

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Spot #39 :: Croissante

Our 39th Spot:

Croissante

2908 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA 95051

www.croissantebakery.com

(clears throat) Okay, let me explain about the out of order numbers again… The Tea Spot that was scheduled to be visited in October was actually visited in August (Jade Chocolates) becauuuse I didn’t want to miss their Hawaiian-themed tea service (and they change themes often). Then, I was supposed to take a month off in October just to have a breather…which turned out to be timely, since my Mom passed away end of Sept. HOWeverr, this Spot just started offering Afternoon Tea AND I like to try it out as early as possible for you guys sooo- here we are! Squeezed this one in on the Tour before our 38th to-be-visited Spot scheduled for November, which is WHY it’s our 39th. (exhale)

If I can go back to my roots for a moment and be extremely Bay Area– it was HELLA loud in there. This was our first time in that bakery. It had been bookmarked in my Yelp to try, just never made it yet. So I was excited to kill two birds with one stone, and check this off while trying their tea service. But yeah, the sheer level of volume initially turned me off. Tho, I remained optimistic!

So- they offer loose AND bag. One pot to share, and they brought it to us not ready yet. (rolling eyes emoji) We chose their Jardin Bleu. No descriptions on the menu, they just told us “vanilla”. Ohhkaay… Thankfully, of the minimal choices on their menu, we both were interested in that one. We like a dark steep, so we let a good amount of time go before our first pours. But even then, it was still light. The vanilla was there, and maybe a berry aftertaste…? In the middle of our service, anticipating that it was gonna be better (having over-steeped by now), it was still just okay. And you are not allowed to change your tea blend.

Our tier came and as he was explaining everything, I already off the bat didn’t like that there’s not 2 of everything and you have to share some tiny items.

Plain Scones with jam and clotted cream – nice flavor but too crispy for me, more like a biscuit, you cut it and it crumbles; menu says “clotted cream” but I don’t know what that was

Egg Sandwich – it was good, could use salt, I like the soft boil, almost like a cold wet scramble

Prosciutto Sandwich – grill is nice, not every bite has prosciutto, I don’t know what else to say; the Huz said “it’s a decent grilled cheese”

Lemon Mint Pot de Creme – the mint made it taste dirty, “earthy”, very very faint lemon flavor, I do like the custard consistency a lot; thankfully my date was who I married, cuz we were forced to share this pot if we both wanted to try it

Chocolate Pot de Creme – this one taste worse, not creamy, almost eggy, curdled! I changed my mind! (when I saw there were one each of the pots, I said he could have the lemon cuz I’m not a lemon dessert person); he says “…and don’t serve it to me in plastic!” Hahah! Said it had a jell-o shot feel

Mini Madeleine dipped in Chocolate – honestly forgot to make a note… these were so cute + little, but nothing special, they are as big as your kid’s pinky finger and YES we cut each in half so we could both try

Matcha Tiramisu – tastes like shampoo

Matcha Truffle – I got a big dose of powder to tongue! I had made a sour face just as our server came to check on us!

Dark Chocolate Truffle – very nice, but nothing fantastic about it, reminded me of Trader Joe’s one (in that square red box)

Strawberry Pistachio Choux – here’s how our conversation went about this one…

Me: “What does that taste like, DIRT?”

Him: “Yeah.”

“Like they didn’t clean the pistachio.”

(3 crying laughing emjois)

It was way too much filling, tho I liked the pastry a lot

Rose Mousse – how do you eat it, you can’t pick it up, I had to bite down on the paper it was sitting on and scrape it off with my teeth, not cute, I thought that clear disc was hard candy but it was like chicken cartilage!!

Special Tart – I’m sure there was an official name for this one, but I didn’t hear him. I know for sure it was lilikoi. After setting down our tier and saying there was something else he was bringing out for us “to share”… After seeing all those sweets, I was hoping it was gonna be like a huge ham sandwich!! I usually like passion fruit stuff, but I didn’t like this. Didn’t like the coconut, and I don’t know why it reminded me of baby food.

Listen, the staff was very nice. Good service, sure. But this WASN’T IT for me guys!! I didn’t like that it was 500 sweet things to only TWO savories. The atmosphere wasn’t tea party vibes! The Huz goes: “I’m still trying to understand the aesthetic of how this fits into afternoon tea.” He was saying it would have been nice for a Bakery to put out more baked goods; “use your storefront to catapult this,” he says. And I agree! I think the focus was too much on the shock factor and what it looked like…as opposed to taste and flavor. We left there HUNGRY. Didn’t take the leftovers either. No joke- we stopped by McDonald’s on the way home and enjoyed some double-double’s!! And I wouldn’t normally nitpick on this, but there was just too much not to say something- if you want us to take you seriously as an Afternoon Tea Spot, REPRINT YOUR MENUS. I counted way too many typos. It’s not “darjeenling” for goodness sake!

You know how people say “Not everyone needs to have a podcast”? Well, not everyone needs to offer Afternoon Tea.

This was the first of 5 Tea things we have coming in the next 4 weeks!! EXCITING! So if you’re not already, please take a moment to enter your email below to subscribe so you can get all Blog Posts we share. Follow us on Threads too, cuz we post real time thoughts from all our Tea Adventures! We appreciate any donations that you are moved to contribute as well. See you here soon!

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3rd Leg Tour Updates

Hi TEAcups! (when we were operating our old tea company, we used to call our Supporters “TEAcups” hehe)

It’s been a fun-filled + PACKED first half of the Tour already!! Lots of squeezing in last-minute visits and a good amount of off-tour tea visits as well! (sweat bead emoji) You know how I do- I will try to fit it in and be the first to review these places so you don’t have to. So in true parTEA with me form, I have managed to add TWO new Afternoon Tea Spots to visit on this Leg!!! Stay tuned for those!

And I know I sound like a broken record (but I don’t care)… Just wanted to thank all of you for continuing to come back and read about all these new Afternoon Tea Spots, and even reading about the old ones! I see each + every view, and I love looking at all the different countries you all are from! Introduce yourself, leave where you’re reading our Blog at in the comments!! I would love to know! And to those who have, who are, and who will donate– ugh, you guys. You guys help make this possible so so much!!! There is such an appreciation I have for you…there aren’t words invented yet to explain just how much. (100 emoji) Soo, follow us on all the things! I post differently on each one, so our content will keep you on your toes! I’m rambling now, so I better finish this post! Talk to yall soon!!

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