Wednesday, May 31, 2006

DFW Tea Readers Group

http://dfwtea.com/
An interesting club in the DFW area that meets once a month to have a book discussion and tea. Happy sipping ladies!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Afternoon Tea Haikus

Smiling at steam fronds
Breathe the scent of jasmine blooms
Escape for a time

When Sisters rejoin
Words that tumble fall into
Fragile cups of thought

Sipping hot comfort
Such tiny tasty tidbits
Belie the moment.

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Tea Review: White Peach (Adagio)

http://www.adagio.com/white/white_peach.html
This lightly flavored white tea has a slightly sweet taste that compliments the delicate white tea nicely. Matching nicely with mild snacks (such as crackers), I like this tea in the late afternoon, after an unwisely heavy lunch. Although I have not tried it iced yet, I imagine it would be a delightful way to enjoy this brew.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Tea Room Review: Grand Lux Cafe

URL: http://www.grandluxcafe.com/
Address: Galleria Dallas 13420 N. Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX
Phone: (972) 385-3114

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 teacups
Ambiance: 3
Service: 4
Food: 5
Tea: 3

Urban tea. That phrase best describes the tea experience at the Grand Lux, a large, loud, upscale cafe located in the Galleria mall.

Tea is served in the lounge/bar area, and as such, is hardly a cozy affair. Loud music blares from the speakers making it difficult to hear your tea companions. Servers are only slightly familiar with the tea service at this time, making it difficult to get good recommendations on the tea.

Decent quality loose leaf tea is provided, prepared in coffee presses (and interesting addition). Unfortunately, the tea is generally not allowed to steep long enough before pressing, resulting in a weak drink (unless you are fortunate to have a skilled server). Asking for "double strength" helps considerably.

The food is the highlight of this experience, delicous and artfully prepared. Four beautiful open faced sandwiches start the meal, followed by a two tiered trey with three lovely scones (accompanied with lemon curd, raspberry jam, and clotted cream), and seven heavenly desserts.

Sevice was inconsistent - the first time we went, the server was very efficient and friendly. The next time, the server was unfamiliar with tea and often misidentified items when explaining them. A second pot of tea can be provided, but at an additional cost.

Tea Room Review: Angela's Bistro 51

URL: http://www.angelasbistro51.com/
Address: 2701 Guillot Dr, Dallas, TX
Phone: (214) 979-0051
Reservations required.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 teacups
Ambiance: 5
Service: 5
Food: 5
Tea: 3

Elegant from start to finish, Angela's Bistro provides a refined tea experience with superior cuisine. The warmth of the hardwood floors creates a quiet atmosphere that is enhanced by the striking painting hung on every wall, reminiscent of dining in an art gallery.

Upon sitting down, diners are presented with a selection of bag teas from which to choose. A pretty china pot of hot water is provided for the table to refresh your cup. Additions of a loose leaf tea, or a tea pot for each person (so you could steep your bag in the pot rather than in the cup) would be welcome.

The food is as elegant as the surroundings and as unusual as some of the art pieces. The sandwich, desert, and dip courses are served on a tiered tray while scones are brought in a basket to the table during the service. The sandwich courses included a wonderful chicken salad sandwich dipped in fresh herbs and an open-faced cucumber sandwich. The scones were very tasty as were the deserts. The dips were the most noteworthy portion of the meal, an unusual and delicious addition that included a cheddar/cherry dip paired with crackers, lightly steamed asparagus paired with a mustard dip, and strawberries paired with a sweet cream.

Service was impeccable - the server was very efficient and friendly. We never had to ask for refills on the hot water and the dishes seemed to whisk themselves away when we weren't looking.