TEA TIME BITCH

I recently took a day trip down to the City of Brotherly Love... It was an interview on behalf of luxury fashion site, Hello La Mode.   I had an hour to kill before my bus back to NYC would depart so I decided to treat myself to a posh tea service at the Rittenhouse Hotel.

I always loved this area in Philadelphia.  The Cassatt tea room is beautiful, and the servers here are very friendly.  They managed to be formal, but not stuffy (something New York servers can't quite achieve).  Their standard tea service (about $25) included lovely sandwiches of pate, egg salad, smoked salmon, melon and chicken salad that were very fresh.  Their current scone was accompanied by lemon curd, clotted cream and strawberry preserves.

Desserts included a blueberry tartlet, profiterole, layered cake and this rather obscene-looking strawberry mousse confection:

Why does a ladies afternoon always include pastel treats of some kind?  That's not a complaint...Just wondering.  Bosie Tea Parlor in the West Village is an under-the-radar tea spot that looks like an assuming little cafe.  Ladies who lunch don't get dressed up to come here, (but ladies wearing jeans, but arriving with their own driver do).

Don't be fooled.  Bosie Tea Parlor has one of the better full tea services in the city.  Their standard tea service is $51 for two and includes your choice of tea sandwiches, your choice of exotic or seasonal macarons, a selection of tea cakes, scones with clotted cream and jam.  The sandwiches range from the expected cucumber or egg salad, to cheddar and chutney, or chicken with curry mayonnaise and raisins.  If you want an upgrade, there is a special champagne tea and the mother of all tea services, the Chef's tea.

The Chef's tea includes 24 canapes for two guests. This includes things like quail eggs with black truffle, duck breast and pastries from the big display case in addition to all the other goodies.  Don't worry, there are many a la carte menu options if you're not good with commitment.

I like the cozy, tucked away location of this tea parlor.  I feel I could sneak in here during the day and gorge myself on sandwiches and cakes without anyone seeing me to judge me.

I was first introduced to Harney & Sons tea during a bridal shower.  Their "Tea for Marriage" came in a pretty silver tin, the bags were organza shapes filled with a vanilla scented floral tea.  I visited their shop and cafe in Millerton NY last year with Hubby and my Mother in Law.  It was a jewel in country, but too far away from NYC for regular visits.

I was ecstatic when they opened an outpost in Soho.  The front is a cozy tea shop with chic accessories and their wide selection of teas.  The back houses a tiny tea salon.

Hubby and I had a lovely break on a cold Sunday afternoon.  Our service consisted of gravlax on green tea cream cheese on rice crackers, macrons, warm scones and a trio of mini tea infused ice cream cones.  Their chef really knows how to incorporate the tea flavors to complement the other elements.  Cute guys are all behind the counter too.

433 Broome St  Ground Floor, New York, NY 10013 (212) 933-4853