Afternoon Tea

September 5th was Chuck's birthday so we celebrated by having tea! To know Chuck is to know that he does not drink tea. But when in England... A formal British afternoon tea was what he wished for as a way to celebrate. So I booked us a table at the Palm Court at the Langham Hotel. This is the very spot where afternoon tea was invented, more than 150 years ago!!

It was all very elegant, with amazing service - the kind of place where they pull your chair back and flip your napkin into your lap for you. There were people of ages taking tea, including several families with young kids. It turns out that kids get some special delectable goodies but are also provided with a chef's hat... and a teddy bear!

We had the more standard afternoon tea: 

First they brought an amuse-bouche of sorts: a small glass tea pot with rose tea.

Then they brought us complementary glasses of champagne.

Then it was finger sandwiches.

Followed by scones, plain and fruit, with clotted cream and two kinds of jam. [note the beautiful Wedgewood china!]

Then the surprise of a small cake (chocolate mousse filled with passion fruit mousse) while the piano player played a beautiful rendition of "Happy Birthday"!

Then it was on to some pastries, each of them amazing!

Finally, when we thought it was all done, the waiter brought us a small lemon poppyseed cake.

Throughout this, we had as much tea as we could drink. I chose the Langham's signature blend of 150 different teas, created to celebrate the hotel's 150 year history. And Chuck chose a white tea with fruit blossoms.

He says it was the best way he could imagine to celebrate his birthday in London!