Showing posts with label afternoon tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label afternoon tea. Show all posts

Mother's Day Sakura Afternoon Tea at Trump Vancouver Champagne Lounge

It was supposed to be in Tsujiri in Richmond, but my dear 🐻was not able to book a spot for us. Then an ad showed up that Trump Vancouver Champagne Lounge was having a Sakura-themed afternoon tea. Being a Japanophile myself, thrilled by what I saw, I have decided to go to Trump Vancouver the second time around to celebrate my first Mother's Day as a mom.

Afternoon Tea-Birdcage
Deluxe Sakura Afternoon Tea

Afternoon-tea-sweets
Mini Doughnut, Matcha Roll and Sakura Puff
We arrived in a busy lounge, with most patrons coming for the Sakura afternoon tea. I couldn't help admiring the tree tray used to display the tea set and the cherry blossom-shaped cookie pops. After settling in our seats and ensuring that my daughter was comfortable in her stroller; we reviewed the menu to decide which tea set and tea flavour to choose, my heart fluttered with glee upon seeing both motoyaki and takoyaki on the savoury selections. Wishing to take home some of their macarons later and treat myself with champagne, I picked the deluxe set (presented in a birdcage instead of the ring tree to display the tea sets)  and as for the tea, I chose Bain de Roses to match the floral theme. 

Afternoon-tea-menu
Sakura Afternoon Tea Menu

We both shared all the three scones--how I wish there was two of each flavour because they were all really good. My husband gave me his share of the motoyaki and takoyaki as he is not a big fan of both. I gladly accepted the offer; extra motoyaki and takoyaki are always welcome (。✿‿✿。)! To show my appreciation, I gave him my mini doughnut in return.

Not wanting to save the best for last, I started working on my first takoyaki and motoyaki. The takoyaki, being deep fried created a pleasant crunch at each bite, and the oyster motoyaki...it was absolute heaven once it reached my tongue, I love how rich it was and had a hint of lemon to blend the creamy flavour of the sauce and oyster together.

My favourite dessert in the set, the Sakura pannacotta, had a base flavour of vanilla - my forever favourite flavour, with the simple addition of sakura on top, transformed a simple dessert into a piece of delicate edible art.

I am happy that I celebrated my first Mother's Day with my infant daughter with an afternoon tea. Looking forward to more afternoon tea with her as she grows up. This mommy is very happy to go home, and looking forward to having her macaron, but....Concha has another plan. Probably he was not pleased being left in the crate while we dined out.

Being a mom of a Labrador retriever, I forgave the glutton; every Lab mom is very familiar with this story.

Box-of-macaron
Concha's Revenge


Update: Trump Vancouver has permanently closed on August 28, 2020.

Tea Time in H Tasting Lounge

It has been planned a few months earlier, right after our afternoon tea at Trump Vancouver on one snowy weekend. We have decided that the next tea salon to visit will be the H Tasting Lounge of Westin Bayshore.

Tea-menu-H-tasting-lounge-Vancouver
Aircraft illustration on the menu cover
H Tasting Lounge is still new to the afternoon tea scene of Vancouver, but it seems it has everything to match other tea salons in all Metro Vancouver could offer.
Live music was playing a favourite song as we were led to our seat, hinting that this experience will be different than others. The weather was lovely, and to our luck, we were seated beside the floor to ceiling window so we were able to see outdoors. The tea menu was presented to us, they carry the same brand of Tea as L' Orangerie's. While waiting for our tea set to arrive, my sister and I savoured the live music as we admired the H Tasting Lounge's interiors. The whole soul of the lounge pays honour of Westin's one-time resident - Howard Hughes.  

The menu has an illustration of an aircraft on the outside and a quote from the man, who was an aircraft enthusiast and a pilot himself: 
Do-the-impossible-because-almost-everyone-has-told-me-my-ideas-are-merely-fantasies

These were the unique experiences we had on this occasion: it's our first time having a candy floss, very nicely perched on the silvery trunk to form a pink tree. The whole tea set was presented in four sets - the Ferris wheel tray for the savouries, a glass box for the sweets, a plate for the scones, and the whatsitsname for the candy floss that formed into a tree and underneath it rest the confiture and butter for the scones. No tiered tray and still fab - big plus having a crooner with a seductive voice as background music!

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Afternoon tea set

Ferris-wheel-tray-afternoon-tea
Ferris wheel tray - Learn the art of balancing act ೕ(•̀ᴗ•́)

As for our favourites: Pork bao and the steamed bun with salty yolk filling. The menu at that time seems to have a good mix of the typical afternoon tea fare - scones, cucumber sandwich, with Eastern touch. I am looking forward coming to H Tasting Lounge when they have their own themed afternoon tea in the near future and perhaps get myself a cocktail too. ( ͝° ͜ʖ͡°)つY

Themed Afternoon Tea Notch 8 And Trump Champagne Lounge

After I realized that I had been to several tea parlours around Metro Vancouver, I acknowledged that I had acquired an afternoon tea bug. Whenever we go out of town, I sometimes make sure that I should go for one; a bonus experience if I can find a tea parlour that does afternoon tea with a cultural twist. In regards, to adding a cultural twist to afternoon tea, I am very disappointed that I missed the opportunity to experience the afternoon tea-Filipino style at Marco Polo Davao during my Davao 2017 trip, It would be very interesting on how Filipino cuisine could be presented in an afternoon tea. It's something that I am going to search for the next time I visit the Philippines.

Notch 8


Afternoon_tea_menu
Themed afternoon tea is another trend that's been going around. My introduction to themed tea time was from Notch 8's Enchanted Forest Afternoon Tea. Arrived with our empty bellies and plenty of stories to share, my amigas and I decided to meet up to indulge in fairyland. After meeting each other in Hotel Vancouver's lobby, we all together checked in to the cafe, and we were led to the section of Notch 8's that was transformed into a lush magical place.

Our 'enchanted' edibles were neatly arranged on a layered log tray. The presence of the 'toadstools' (meringue with chocolate glaze) on the tray added to a 'forest-y' mood.

Unfortunately, the excitement of being with my amigas prevent me from taking decent photos of our afternoon tea. Safe to say we relished every tidbit and every second at those moments, before we knew it, it was time for us to go as they limit their guests' stay to one and a half hour.
Enchanted_Forest_Afternoon_Tea
Enchanted Forest Afternoon Tea

Trump Champagne Lounge


One snowy afternoon, my sister and I, met up to try Trump Vancouver's take on afternoon tea. We booked it a few days earlier without any idea what that day has a surprise for us. We headed to the Trump Champagne Lounge and ignored the snowstorm warning to satisfy our curiosity.
Little did we know, they were doing a 'Beauty and the Beast' (Tale as old as time) themed afternoon tea. I remember being on cloud 9 as I was on my way to the theatre to watch it when I was young. Now a mother to a baby girl, I am looking forward to the day I will read books to her every night, and Beauty and the Beast will be one of them.


Slice of Heaven in Higashiya Ginza


Pola BuildingSomewhere in Ginza there is a modest looking building that house the wonderland of tea parlours. The search for this building started off when I wanted to go for a high tea in Tokyo.
Since afternoon tea is mostly a European custom, I began to wonder if there is a distinctly Japanese fashion in enjoying an afternoon tea. I admire how they put so much thought and care to detail of almost every aspect of their lives. Blend this trait with the formal presentation of high tea and the result would surely be a divine experience.  My search led us to the doorsteps of Higashiya Ginza.

Higashiya Ginza pride itself for their traditional Japanese confectioneries (wagashi), and their original tea blends to match their sweet treasures. I am very familiar with few Japanese confectionaries, but it would be a great experience to try other traditional treats aside from mochis.
Based on my research, Higashiya Ginza is the only place in Metropolitan Tokyo that offers Japanese twist on afternoon tea.



As we stepped out of the elevator, their logo on a drape welcomed us. Behind the drapes, everything is arranged elegantly - from the neat displays of the different wagashi, the glass vials display, wooden furniture, the whole interior of the Higashiya Ginza radiates perfection.
Higashiya_Ginza_Bar
Tea Bar

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High Tea in Higashiya Ginza
Our wagashi was served on wood and brass-like tray,  The good thing for me, my dear 🐻is not a big fan of fermented vegetables which means more for me to enjoy. We had one of each when it comes to our treats, all of them - superb, but the one that stood out the most was this:

Natsume_Butter

Their natsume-butter (photo above), is a dried date with walnut and fermented butter stuffing. This treat was so rich that is so decadently addicting. On our way out we decided to bring us a few more for ourselves to enjoy and was hoping that we can bring it home to Canada. But alas, the Natsume-butter has a shelf life of four days! It's funny to think that a decadent treat has a way of telling us that there are some things that are meant to be enjoyed in a limited time.
Higashiya Ginza has opened my eyes to other traditional confectionaries of Japan aside from different kinds of mochis. I can see myself wagashi hopping on my next trip!

Higashiya_Ginza_Box