YummySF » Afternoon Tea http://www.yummysf.com San Francisco Food Blog from an Asian Perspective Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:37:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Samovar Tea Lounge http://www.yummysf.com/samovar-tea-lounge-2/ http://www.yummysf.com/samovar-tea-lounge-2/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:11:25 +0000 Fanny http://www.yummysf.com/?p=232 Continue reading →]]> On a rainy afternoon, my husband and I decided to have afternoon tea at Samovar Tea Lounge in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens. We have walked by the Lounge a few times and it has always been brimming with people. But on this day, Samovar Tea Lounge was noticeably empty, due to the rain. We were delighted to have most of the place to ourselves. I had the English Tea Service and my husband had the Japanese Tonsu Box and Ryokucha.

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Japanese Tonsu Box & Ryokucha $17

Poached Silken Tofu w/ Yuzu Shoyu, or Wild Smoked Salmon, Braised
Japanese Eggplant, Sesame-Wakame Seaweed Salad, House-made pickles,
Brown Rice, Seasoned Nori, Squash-Miso Soup.

To tell you the truth, when I saw the Japanese Tonsu Box, I was envious and immediately wished I had ordered that instead. Thankfully, my husband let me have his Japanese Tonsu Box. It’s healthy and yummy at the same time. The Japanese Tonsu Box comes with Ryokucha Tea.

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Ryokucha Tea
The Squash-Miso soup is deliciously delicate with little bits of lentils and carrots. I also really liked the Sesame-Wakame Seaweed Salad with its creamy dressing. We used the Seasoned Nori to wrap up rice with salmon and seaweed. Yummy! The Ryokucha Tea is thick and creamy, a unique texture for a type of Genmaicha Tea.
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English Service & Breakfast Blend $19
3-Tiered Platters of: Shitake Mushroom or Wild Smoked Salmon Quiche,
Scones, Devonshire Cream & Jam, Fresh Fruit.

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Breakfast Blend Tea

The traditional English Tea Service is not like the one at Ritz Carlton of course. But at $19, it’s a deal if you want to try traditional English tea. The Salmon Quiche is freshly baked. The scone was quite dry though, but that’s what the Devonshire Cream and Jam are for. Definitely, the Japanese Tea Service is much better and more filling as a meal. Next time, I want to try the Indian Tea Service which features one of my favorite teas – Chai!

Samovar Tea Lounge is open from brunch to dinner with the same menu all day. Enjoy a snack of waffles or try a full tea service which can be a meal. The tea service is more affordable than other afternoon tea services that I have had.

Samovar Tea Lounge
730 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 227-9400

Samovar Tea Lounge on Urbanspoon

]]> http://www.yummysf.com/samovar-tea-lounge-2/feed/ 3 Afternoon Tea at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco http://www.yummysf.com/afternoon-tea-at-the-ritz-carlton-san-francisco/ http://www.yummysf.com/afternoon-tea-at-the-ritz-carlton-san-francisco/#comments Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:55:45 +0000 Fanny http://www.yummysf.com/?p=158 Continue reading →]]> Afternoon Tea Ritz Carlton SF

I have fond memories of my friend’s bridal shower years ago, having Afternoon Tea at the Ritz Carlton San Francisco. So I went back with my best friend. Several weeks beforehand, I made reservations. It can get busy during certain holidays. Afternoon Tea in the Lobby Lounge starts at 1pm.

When we arrived, we were seated at a tiny, but charmingly decorated table behind a column. I wished I had requested a table by the window. There is a beautiful view of the city since the Ritz Carlton San Francisco is located above the Stockton Tunnel leading to Chinatown.

As the harpist played soothing, instrumental versions of popular songs, my friend and I poured over the menu. You can choose from Royal Tea, Premier Tea, Traditional Tea, Vegetarian Tea, and Children’s Tea. We finally decided on Traditional Tea which includes:

Selection of Tea

Smoked Salmon with Pickled Onion & Caviar on Dark Rye

Cucumber, Roquefort and Walnut on White Bread

Prosciutto with Melon on Light Rye Bread

Egg and Chive Sandwich

Freshly Baked Scone with Devonshire cream, Lemon Curd and Strawberry Preserves

English Tea Cakes, Chef’s Choice of Tea Pastries

There is a wide variety of loose leaf teas to choose from. Chocolat, Vanilla Rooibos, and Shanghai Rose peaked my interest. But I settled on Shanghai Rose (an exotic blend of black tea leaves, infused with the sweet and sultry flavors of Lychee and Rose.) Ever since my friend’s bridal shower and trying Rose tea for the first time, I have been searching for this Rose tea, but haven’t been very successful. Now I realize that it’s also a mixture of Lychee tea.

The various pastries and delicate sandwiches arrive presented on a three tiered serving dish. And the teapots match the tea cups… so cute! The cucumber sandwich was my favorite, but everything else was quite delicious as well. The presentation of the pastries pleases the eyes as well as the palate. We enjoyed our girl talk and lounged in a relaxed environment. I would definitely go back! At $36/person for the Traditional Tea set, it won’t be too often. =( I think one day I will try to recreate afternoon tea at home!

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