Self Care Sunday - Afternoon Tea at La Petite Cuillère

It's been almost a year since the last time I went out for Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont YVR for Spring Afternoon Tea in April 2016.  So I was delighted when a friend wanted to treat me for afternoon tea.  

After a bit of research and knowing that someone else was treating me, I chose La Petite Cuillère at 55 Kingsway near Main Street and Broadway.  It is a quaint little shop with cupboards of traditional English tea cups and saucers and that display is everywhere.  That's the fun part is to pretend to walk into an English tea room to have a cup of tea.  La Petite Cuillère is small and that is what makes it attractive because you can comfortably have conversations with your girlfriends and catch up.  The service was friendly and excellent.  When our afternoon tea arrived and the pretty tiers of finger sandwiches, scones, and desserts, the server even offered to take our pictures.  And he knew exactly where to seat us for the best lighting.  They refilled our tea pots with water and we felt right at home.  There was no rush to leave and it was a window view of our afternoon tea treat.  It made me fall in love with afternoon tea.    

I loved their scones with homemade devonshire cream and jam.  The savory sandwichese were creative and one was even warmed - which is a first.  Of course the macaron was the highlight of the sweet tier for me.  Best of all the afternoon tea is reasonably priced at $25 each which is a sweet treat!  

Take care of yourself on #SelfCareSunday and remember what you like to do and what makes you happy!  It took this visit to remind me that I truly enjoy afternoon tea and need to include this on my self care plan even if it may seem extravagant.  It is worth it if it helps me step into a different world even for an afternoon.

If you're curious about afternoon tea, check out their website:  La Petite Cuillère.  For more about Vancouver afternoon tea, check out my previous blog reviews.  

Patissiere Fur Elise Afternoon Tea

Fairmont Vancouver Airport Afternoon Tea

Adonia Afternoon Tea

Neverland Afternoon Tea

Vancouver Afternoon Tea Reviews

Vancouver Afternoon Tea - Fairmont Vancouver Airport Spring Afternoon Tea

Dear Vancity Girlfriends,

Springtime Afternoon Tea

Spring is here and I even though there was no special occasion, I asked my girlfriends if they wanted to go for afternoon like the Queen.  Ironically I had no idea that it was the same time as the Queen's 90th birthday.  So it was an ideal time to celebrate by enjoying the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Afternoon Tea.

There is a Groupon for Spring Afternoon Tea with Sparkling Wine at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport.  This was a 2 for 1 coupon for afternoon tea with 2 hours of free parking.  We couldn't resist the sparkling wine even though I didn't end up finishing it as I had an empty stomach and am not used to drinking on a Sunday afternoon.  My girlfriends luckily did not have any trouble enjoying the sparkling wine that came with our afternoon tea.  The Fairmont Vancouver Airport does not disappoint.  It has amazing views of the airplanes and is luxurious inside.  It is a step into a fairy tale and the service is quite amazing.  I was impressed.  

Difficult Decisions

Macaroon and Sparkling Wine

Fairmont Vancouver Airport Afternoon Tea

Vancouver Afternoon Tea: Salon Tea Groupon Review

Hello Vancity Girlfriends!

Salon Tea

I'm a Groupon fan and love getting good deals.  I also love afternoon tea so I always jump at the opportunity to try new or old tea houses in Vancouver.  

Salon Tea is a tea house in the trendy South Granville shopping area.  I had never been so I jumped at the chance to go somewhere new for afternoon tea.  The Groupon deal was a real steal at $35 for afternoon tea for two.  A perfect way to celebrate a friend's birthday.

I was a bit surprised when I first entered Salon Tea because it is not a traditional tea house.  It is contemporary and we almost walked past it.  The decor is modern and when you first walk in it looks more like a take out tea shop with a display case of sandwiches and treats.  Then after the counter there are tables for afternoon tea.  The display for teas is small like a Starbucks display case.  

It was busy when we arrived so we had to wait before sitting down at the table for our afternoon tea.  In my opinion they need to have more staff on hand so they can have better customer service.

Afternoon tea at Salon Tea is very filling but in my opinion the afternoon tea service is mediocre.  The taste of the finger sandwiches, curry waldorf salad is good and will make you full but nothing special and that continues with the scone layer and treat layer.  

Salon Tea Afternoon Tea - Desserts

Salon Tea Afternoon Tea - Blueberry Scone

Salon Tea Afternoon Tea - Sandwich, Quiche, Salad

The tea menu was creative with names such as "The Muscian", "The Writer" to accompany the selection.  The tea was good but again since the service was lacking they forgot to offer the free take home tea that was on the Groupon.  

Overall, it was a good deal with the Groupon, but in my opinion I would not return for afternoon tea at regular price of $35 at Salon Tea.  I prefer other afternoon tea houses in Vancouver that have a more traditional atmosphere, more flavorful afternoon tea, and better customer service.  I would return to the following tea salons:  

Patissiere Fur Elise Afternoon Tea

Fairmont Vancouver Airport Afternoon Tea

Adonia Afternoon Tea

Neverland Afternoon Tea

Vancouver Afternoon Tea Reviews

Vancouver High Tea - Neverland Tea Salon

Dear Vancity Girlfriends,

I have to admit that I love girly things even though I would never say that to anyone.  Even though I love high tea, I normally save it for special occasions.  One of my friends at work mentioned Neverland Tea Salon to me a few months ago, but when she told me that it was located so far away in Kitsilano, I threw it out of my mind.

As you may start to know, I am always on the lookout of good deals and I'm a member of Open Table reservation system where you get points for making reservations online and when you have enough points Open Table nicely gives you a dining cheque.  

When I saw Neverland Tea Salon on Open Table, I immediately decided that the Christmas season is a special occasion and I texted my Vancity Girlfriend for an afternoon date of high tea at Neverland Tea Salon.

Teas brought to your table

Even though it was a rainy, grey day in Vancouver, it was bright and modern in Neverland Tea Salon.  When I walked in the door, my nosebuds were alerted with the scent of fresh baking on the premises.  WOW!  This was a first to actually have an on-site bakery and the aromas with wake up your nosebuds with delight.  The decor is cute and quaint just as though Alice from Alice in Wonderland decorated it with unique teacups and quaint tables and chairs.  Once seated they brought over a selection of teas for us to smell to our table.  This was a first.  Usually I have to walk over to the selection wall to smell the teas.  Now we had the teas at our fingertips.  

Since we were in Peter Pan's Neverland, I decided to try Peter Pan's green tea.  They also have a signature Neverland black tea.  The menu had a selection for lunch and of course high tea.  We ordered the high tea.  They brought out a nice selection of sandwiches, scones, and sweets.  The high tea was fresh and flavorful.  Then when it was time to refill our teapots, we were allowed to order a fresh tea from the selection.  Not only that but they had an even larger tea menu of 60 teas!  

WOW!  I was also given a new teacup for my second tea choice of a creamy earl grey.  Now as you can tell Neverland Tea Salon has impressed me but they did not end with that.  At the end, when it was time for the bill, it came with free tea samples.  WOW!  For all of that, I would definitely return to Neverland Tea Salon with friends so everyone can enjoy its wonders.  It makes it worth a trip!

Peter Pan Green Tea

Finger sandwiches

Fresh scones with jam and cream

Dessert

Neverland Tea Salon High Tea

Neverland Tea Sample

Do you love afternoon tea in Vancouver?  

Check out Vancouver Afternoon Tea Reviews.

Vancouver Afternoon Tea: Adonia Tea House in Kerrisdale

Adonia Tea House in Kerrisdale has the English teacups and decor that makes you feel as though you just walked into an English tea house.  When you walk in, you'll notice that one side has the tea wall with the sample jars for you to smell the teas before you decide on the one you want with your Vancouver afternoon tea.  The decor is like your grandmother's house and the tea house is quite narrow and small.  All of the tables are perfect for 2 and there are a couple that will fit 4.   

Adonia TeaList

The Adonia Tea list is quite extensive and you can find a variety of green, white, black, and roobis teas to choose from.  The hard part is choosing only one to compliment your afternoon tea service.  

Adonia Tea

Adonia Tea House teas are served at your table with glass tea pots and candles to keep your tea warm during your afternoon tea.  The servers come regularly to refill your tea pots with hot water.  So you are never left with an empty tea pot. 

Adonia Afternoon Tea

Adonia afternoon tea has the traditional tea service with two trays of savory finger sandwiches and even potato salad.  The scones were served on a side tray with jam and devonshire cream.  The top tier is filled with sweets.  My favourite was the fruit tart.  The food is filling and simple.  The ambiance, the English decor and the great value of $27 for an afternoon tea are the drawing features to Adonia Tea House in Kerrisdale. 

 

Adonia Dessert Tier

Since there were 4 of us, we were also given a side tray for additional desserts which included raspberry panne cotta and chocolate raspberry mango mousse.   The desserts are visually attractive but the mousse combination was a little odd for my taste buds. 

Adonia Dessert Tray

Adonia tea house is quaint and we luxuriously enjoyed afternoon tea for almost two hours with our tea pots continuously being refilled. They easily split the bill for us including splitting the birthday girl's portion.  Once Adonia tea house servers realized that we were there celebrating a birthday, they left a special treat for the birthday girl.  A package of the tea that she enjoyed that day!    

That was a nice touch!  It is worth a try to step into an English tea house for a day.  

Do you love afternoon tea in Vancouver?

Check out Vancouver Afternoon Tea Reviews.

Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Vancouver Airport with Vancity Girlfriend Maria

Hello Vancity Girlfriends,
I visited Fairmont Vancouver Airport for afternoon tea while you watch the planes land.  It was a gorgeous day and a lovely way to catch up with an old friend.  I saw the coupon on Social Shopper and had to grab it because it was such a good deal!  Often Social Shopper has additional coupons that can be used with the already discounted sale like right now they have a flash sale where you can take $5 off the price.  With deals like this you can see how I can get addicted so easily.

But am trying hard this year to use all of the coupons before they expire.  The disadvantage of Social Shopper coupons is that if you don't use them after they expire, you lose your money.  So you have to get organized and treat yourself!

Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Vancouver airport was a great way to celebrate a friend's birthday.  It is a luxurious atmosphere and we had a relaxing time chatting about life over trays of finger sandwiches, scones and mini desserts.  

We both ordered their most popular tea selections which are the Chai and the Maple Maple.  The tea pots are full and plenty for one.

Our bonus was at the end of the meal, inside the billfold, they even gave us 2 additional 2 for 1 coupons for afternoon tea.  What a treat!  Enjoy the pics!

Check out Vancouver Afternoon Tea Reviews for more!
 

Gluten Free Epicurean with VanCity Girlfriend Maria

Hello Vancouver Girls!
Right now I'm on a staycation and the best part is spending quality time with old friends and discovering new places.  The Gluten Free Epicurean is one place I would never go to on my own because I'm not gluten free. When my friend brought me there, it was nothing like what I imagined.  It was quaint and pretty.  They served the cakes on tea plates and it felt like you were going for afternoon high tea. 

 


My friend is gluten free and she LOVES this place!  Now I know why.  Often we think that going gluten free means going taste free but this is not the case at the Gluten free Epicurean.  You would never know that you are missing anything at all.

I had the special of the day which was a Lemon, Vanilla, Lavendar Cake!  The combination was truly unique and lovely.  We shared a teapot of Cherry Fig black tea.  
The peanut butter brownie was for my five year old 'niece' who also enjoyed the trunk full of toys and books for kids.  

We were lucky because it was quiet and the choices were plentiful on a Friday afternoon.  I have heard that on the weekends, they do sell out on their selections so you want to go there early for your best choices.



 

I think that it would be great fun one day to return to have your own 'afternoon high tea'.  Order a bunch of different cakes, brownies, cookies to share with different pots of tea. 

Enjoy what Vancity has to offer!
Your VanCity Girlfriend,
Maria

Afternoon Tea at Patissiere Fur Elise with Vancity Girlfriend Maria

Hello Vancouver Girls,

I love being a tourist in my own town and when my friend from Japan came to visit me, it was a chance for me to find a new afternoon tea place.  And that is exactly what I did.  
When Social Shopper had the coupon for Afternoon Tea at Patissiere Fur Elise, I grabbed the 2 for 1 deal.  Now I could treat my friend for a wonderful afternoon tea in Vancouver.

We walked into the heritage home on Hamilton street minutes from the Vancouver Public Library and it was like stepping into a Victorian tea house.  The first floor is the pastry bakery for you to buy sweets and upstairs in the intimate afternoon tea house.  This was an elegant and very 'girly' atmosphere.  I LOVED IT!  (I guess that means I'm a girly girl)   
They also have a small room in the back that's perfect for bridal or baby showers.  I'm not sure which was taking place when we went, but the girls were dressed for some special occasion.

Now onto my afternoon tea experience.  I got to taste a refreshing mango panne cotte for the first time.  That was breathtaking!  

My favourite sweet was definitely the signature Fur Elise which is a little bit of strawberry shortcake heaven.  (I'm not a fan of matcha so passed on the green tea cake and the macaroons were too sweet for my liking).  I devoured all of the savory sandwiches and loved the flavour combinations.  Overall, I'm so happy I discovered Patissiere Fur Elise and would return again for a special and memorable afternoon tea.

The afternoon tea menu is $30 per person. 

Enjoy the photos!  
Maria

Mango Tea with Mango Panne Cotta

Sweets - Pink Fur Elise was my favourite

Savories - Cucumber, Smoked Salmon, Scone, Prosciutto & Brie

Do you love afternoon tea in Vancouver?

Check out Vancouver Afternoon Tea Reviews.