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Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas, NV
Lotus of Siam has been on my radar since I read about it on Gastronomy Blog. This strip mall Thai restaurant has made quite a name for itself and Saipin Chutima has appeared on many popular shows including Top Chef. When my friend decided to celebrate her 30th birthday in Las Vegas, I immediately thought of Lotus of Siam. After calling the restaurant several times with no answer, I gave up on making a reservation. We ended up at the restaurant around 6pm on a Saturday night and the wait was already 1.5 hours. After talking to some regulars who were also waiting we decided to stick it out. And as diners streamed out of the restaurant, they all had huge smiles on their faces and reassured us by saying "it's totally worth the wait!"
Garlic Prawn21.95
Crab Fried Rice13.95
Drunken Noodle with Chicken8.95
Massaman Curry with Pork10.95
Was it worth the wait? Yes and no. The deep fried garlic prawn was definitely one of a kind. The meaty prawns were fried with the shells attached and that added a wonderful crunchiness to the dish. My only complaint is the prawns were cooked a little too long. The crab fried rice was fluffy and light with big chunks of grab. The drunken noodle and massaman curry was also tasty. A touch more coconut flavor in the curry would have been nice. Had we just ordered the noodle and curry, we would have been disappointment considering the long wait. However, the prawn and fried rice made up for it and we would be happy to come back here. Except, next time we will have a reservation.Lotus of Siam953 E Sahara Ave Suite A5Las Vegas, NV 89104
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Bar Bouchon, Beverly Hills
Bar Bouchon is one of my go to spots for a relaxing lunch in Beverly Hills because of the location. The outdoor patio over looks the well manicured courtyard of the Montage hotel and more importantly, it's quiet. Sure, there's chatter from nearby diners and the random parents chasing their kids across the lawn, but there isn't a constant stream of foot traffic. Plus, there's free 2 hour public parking downstairs.
Tomato Soup9 bowl
Peanut Butter and Jelly Special12The chicken and waffle is one of our favorite items, unfortunately, I keep forgetting to take a picture of it. The waffle is buttery yet light and the chicken is cooked to perfection: crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. And then there's the butter and syrup that ties everything together. The tomato soup is a hit or miss. The few times I've ordered it, it's never tasted the same. Some days it's creamier and other days it's more acidic. The specials board is worth a glance and you just might find a PB&J on there. Not worth the price of admission, but it's a solid sandwich if you have a craving. Don't go expecting Bouchon quality food. Go and enjoy the atmosphere and casual food at a Beverly Hills and Thomas Keller markup.
Bar Bouchon235 N Canon DrBeverly Hills, CA 90210
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Lawry's Prime Rib, Beverly Hills
Three years ago, I was invited by my soon to be mother-in-law to join the family in their Christmas shopping tradition. The day starts at Century City mall and ends with dinner at Lawry's Prime Rib in Beverly Hills. This tradition has been in the family for so long it started when Lawry's was still across the street where the Stinking Rose is now. I had been to the restaurant before, but it wasn't until my visit with the family three years ago that I realized why it was such a special place.
During Christmas time, Lawry's has carolers that make their way through the restaurant stopping by every table taking special Christmas song requests. All dressed up in their caroling outfits and with beautiful lights strung around the restaurant, it is truly an one of a kind experience that never gets old. I can still feel the joy in the restaurant and hear the ringing of the bells. Now I can't imagine Christmas time without a trip to Lawry's.
Famous Spinning Salad
Yorkshire Pudding
Lawry's Cut Rare with Mashed Potatoes
The food at Lawry's is consistently good and the ambiance screams old English. There aren't many restaurants where the waitresses go by "Ms." and the carvers roll around giant steel carts filled with prime rib. I can say that I've never had a bad meal at Lawry's and they really take care of their customers.
A note to first timers.
Show up at least 30 minutes early to your reservation and ask the hostess to seat you at your reservation time. Then go to the bar, snag a table, order a glass of house red or a cosmo and make your way across the bar to the potato chip and meatball station. Of course, try not to over do it on the chips and meatball or you won't have any room for dinner. Once you've made it to the dining room for dinner, do yourself a favor and order the Lawry's cut. Most pieces come with a bone and everything makes for good leftovers. Entrees comes with spinning salad, yorkshire pudding and mashed potato. If that's not enough food for you, they have plenty of side offerings. My favorites are the mushrooms and creamed spinach. Don't rush and enjoy the experience. Of course, if you celebrate Christmas, that's the best time to go.
Lawry's Prime Rib100 N La Cienega Blvd Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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Tamashii, Sherman Oaks
Ramen houses keep popping up all over the valley and Tamashii is one of the newer additions to Ventura Blvd. Ramen is certainly not a one size fits all kind of dish. With so many variations from broth to noodle to toppings, it is all about personal preference.
Fried Lotus Roots
Pork Gyoza3.95
Mild Tonkotsu8.95braised pork broth
Tamashii Combo for 219.95
Toothsome noodles with a bite, melt in your mouth pork chashu and a thick pork broth are what I prefer. Forget the gyoza, curry, fried rice, and other sides. At the end of the day, it's the delicious bowl of ramen that will satisfy the noodle monster in my belly. Tamashii's ramen is thick, the chashu is tender and the broth packs a punch. There is no mistaking the pork broth for anything else. I especially enjoyed the Tamashii combo. Maybe it's the famous scene from Lady and the Tramp, but there is something special about sharing a giant bowl of ramen with that special someone. Also, it comes with four pieces of gyoza and wonton so there's no fighting over that last piece. Don't worry, the ramen arrives with two small bowls if you want to split the ramen evenly down the middle.
Tamashii Ramen House14531 Ventura BoulevardSherman Oaks CA 91403
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Hostaria Del Piccolo, Santa Monica
We ended up at Hostaria Del Piccolo for a late lunch after a full morning of wedding band shopping. Being huge fans of Piccolo in Venice, we were eager to try the its casual counter part in Santa Monica. The restaurant is away from the main stretch by 3rd street and a nice retreat from the street performers and tourists. The layout and large glass windows gave the restaurant a casual and relaxing atmosphere.
ORECCHIE crispy fried pigs’ ears: salsa verde10
PASTICCIO pasta layered with braised meat, béchamel, parmesan ragú18
TAGLIATELLE Slow braised beef Bolognese, parmesan17
CARPACCIO fresh pear carpaccio, chocolate crème brulée8
Everything on the menu sounded great and the seasonal cocktails were hard to pass up. Being a cold and rainy day, we were immediately drawn to the hardy pasta dishes. Every dish was nicely presented and tasted even better than it looked. The pasta was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of sauce. We would gladly have this meal all over again, although there are so many other dishes to try.
Hostaria Del Piccolo606 Broadway StSanta Monica, CA 90401
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Blue Bayou, Disneyland California
Ever since my first ride on Pirates of the Caribbean I have wanted to eat at the Blue Bayou. Nearly 20 years later and after countless trips to Disneyland, my dream came true! My fiance and I celebrated our engagement at the Blue Bayou.
Complimentary rolls
Choice of gumbo or salad with every entree
Blue Bayou Seafood Jambalaya 35.99
Roasted Beef Strip Loin36.99
From watching pirate boats flow down the river to chipper employees and the usual Disney bells and whistles, dining at the Blue Bayou was truly an experience. With the exception of food, it was everything I had hoped for. The kitchen was very heavy handed and had they been able to cut down on the salt, it would have been a good meal. The ambiance and the service did make up for the salty food, and we soaked it all up.
Blue BayouDisneylandAnaheim, CA
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Swamp House, De Bary FL
When in Florida, eat alligator! There's even a theme park dedicated to alligators where visitors get to watch them devour whole chickens among other things. We weren't visiting Gator World, but we were at DeBary Hall, a historic mansion that was once a hunting lodge for the very wealthy. Since Swamp House is just down the road, we stopped in for lunch. Who can pass up a place called Swamp House plus they serve alligator. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth stopping in just to check out the decor and have a drink or two.
Fried Gator Tail 9.99There were only two options for gator preparation: fried or blackened. Since I had the blackened alligator last time, we opted for fried. The hand battered gator was coated in a sweet and sour sauce that was surprisingly well balanced. The meat was very tender and the sauce had a nice citrus flavor to brighten what could have been a very heavy dish.
Jammin Jambalaya14.99
And who can pass up jambalaya when in the South? It was loaded with shrimp, chicken and andouille sausage. The green peppers added color and texture. It was a solid bowl of well seasoned jambalaya.
Swamp House Fish and Chips14.99Also hard to pass up catfish fish 'n chips. The fillets were huge and fried to perfection. The only issue was not enough sauce, but our waitress brought some extra!
Swamp House Grill488 W. HighbanksDeBary, FL 32713
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Chuan Ma, Rowland Heights
After reading SinoSoul.com's write up on Chuan Ma, we couldn't wait to make the 50 mile trek to Rowland Heights to try the fierce noodles. To our disappointment, the restaurant had run out of sliced noodles by 5pm on a Sunday so we had to settle for the regular noodles. I waited to post this because we wanted to go back and try the sliced noodles, but they were out on our second attempt as well. Perhaps they just stopped making it all together or we just keep going at the wrong time. Either way, we hope others have had better luck.
House Beef Noodle Soup6.95
Although we couldn't try the soup with sliced noodles, we were happy we came. The broth was rich and flavorful, the noodles were tender and there was a generous serving of beef. It was a solid bowl of beef noodle soup, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss the thick cut noodles.
Hot and Sour Rice Noodle Soup5.95
This was one of the better hot and sour rice noodle soup I've had in Southern California, but I'm not sure that's saying much since it's not a noodle dish I've seen at many restaurants. I really enjoyed the balance of the vinegar and peppercorns and the crunchy texture of the peanuts.
Chuan Ma Noodle House18438 Colima Road #31Rowland Heights, CA 91748
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Mumbo Gumbo Fest, Pasadena
We met a friend at the Mumbo Gumbo fest in Pasadena for all you can eat crawfish, shrimp and gumbo. I never pass up an opportunity to sit back, relax, and peel some tasty shrimp and crawfish. Not only did the event include food, but there were also alcoholic beverages available for purchase and plenty of good music. A portion of the proceeds benefited the Rosemary's Children Services Cottage.
The gumbo was pretty good. There was a generous amount of sausage and a good balance of spices.
The shrimp and crawfish were definitely the stars of the show. They were big, juicy and very fresh. Each portion was served with a garlic aioli that complimented the shrimp and crawfish well.
It was a fun event and for a good cause. If you go, don't expect to eat $50 worth of top notch food and you'll walk away happy. Just remember it's for charity.
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Mountain Cafe, K-Town Los Angeles
Mountain Cafe is a tiny hole in the wall spot that is known for their abalone porridge/juk/congee. If you've never been, it would benefit you to memorize the giant white character in the above picture. If you are driving by expecting to see a sign with the word "mountain" on it you will easily miss this place. The restaurant is open 24 hours and has very limited seating inside. It seemed like most people got their food to go, which is a smart idea if you live in the area. Although the place is known for abalone jook, I would say the ginseng chicken soup and the banchan were the standouts.Their menu is on the wall and the English translation can be vague and confusing. This is when a Korean friend comes in handy. I'm going to guess that boiled ravioli is supposed to be mandu?
BanchanComplimentarySpicy beef stew upcloseThe spicy beef stew made the meal. These tender pieces of flavored beef with jalapenos were addicting and went really well with the abalone "chowder." Watch out, some jalapenos are really spicy.
Ginseng chicken soup10.65The ginseng chicken soup is actually a Cornish game hen stuffed with glutinous rice in a clear broth. There is no salt added to the soup, but it is served with a side of seasoned salt. I recommend tasting the broth before adding anything. The clean flavor of the chicken ginseng broth is totally worth it.
Abalone chowder7.85There were bits and pieces of abalone scattered throughout the "chowder" but the flavor was hardly detectable. The egg yolk added a nice richness to the dish once it was mixed in, but the "chowder" was quite ordinary on its own. Adding beef, kimchi, and radish to each spoonful, really brought the dish to life. The abalone "chowder" is really a vessel used to consume the tasty banchan. More beef and radish please!Mountain Cafe3064 West 8th StreetLos Angeles, CA 90005
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The Parish, Los Angeles
The Parish is a two story gastropub wedged between Spring and Main street in downtown Los Angeles. There is a casual cafe setting downstairs and a more sophisticated dining space upstairs making it a good spot to meet friends after work or to go for date night. The food and drink menus are simple and straight forward. There is definitely something for everyone from deviled eggs to pigs feet and vodka to bourbon. If I lived downtown, The Parish would be one of my regular spots.
Russian Tulip12The red one is the Russian Tulip, made with vodka, lemon juice, grenadine and bitters. The drink was very light with a tang from the lemon juice. Went really well with everything we ordered.
Marrow 15The marrow was super fatty and delicious. The brightness of the celery salad was a nice addition to cut the richness of the marrow. The dish also came with two giant pieces of buttered toast.
Clams18The clam was one of my favorites because of the scrumptious sauce made with leeks, sherry and saffron. The toast was helpful in soaking up everything after we ate all the clams.
Poutine Fried Oysters15I usually prefer my oysters raw, but these fried oysters were very good. The oysters were still moist and the batter didn't over power the flavor. The poutine was also quite tasty since the fries were able to soak up the flavors of the garlicy gravy.
The Parish240 S. Spring StreetLos Angeles, CA 90014
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Smoke City Market, Sherman Oaks
Hey Texans, there's a Texas BBQ spot in the San Fernando Valley! The first time we heard about this place was from a car salesman who grew up in Texas. He claimed Smoke City Market was the best Texas style BBQ joint in Los Angeles. Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity when we were invited to chow down at Smoke City Market in Sherman Oaks. The restaurant is located along the stretch of Van Nuys made famous by the huge selection of car dealerships. The inside definitely has the Texas flair with rifles and plenty of cowboy paraphernalia. The menu is simple: choose your meat, choose your sides, sit and wait for your food to arrive.
Texas BBQ Platter for 2(Not actually on the menu, just a made up name)
The Meat: Starting at the top (going clockwise) beef sausage, pulled pork, fatty brisket, regular brisket, pastrami.
The Sides: Baked beans, pickles, mac n cheese, salw, potato salad (not pictured)
The Sauces: BBQ or Vinegar Everything used to be made in-house, but to keep up with the high demand, the sausages are now made by a company to the exact specifications of the owner. All the meat was great with a nice smokiness, but the most amazing and crave worthy item was by far the fatty brisket. WOW! Had no idea fatty brisket even existed and it is now my favorite BBQ meat. The meat just melted in my mouth. I dare say I may even prefer the fatty brisket over pork belly now.
The sides were also really good. My favorite was the potato salad, which was made with whole grain mustard and had a nice tangy. I could order a gallon of that at a time it is so good.
This giant platter of food was more than enough for 2 and could satisfy a party of 3.
If you're into eating challenges, Smoke City Market has that covered as well with their "Are you Texas Enough" challenge. It's a LOT of meat to eat in 1 hour, but at least it's good tasting meat!Dessert: banana pudding
We finished our meal with banana pudding topped with vanilla wafers. It was cool, creamy and had chunks of fresh banana.
I'm certainly no BBQ expert, but I can say with out a doubt that the fatty brisket at Smoke City Market rocked my taste buds and I can't wait to go back.
Smoke City Market5242 Van Nuys Blvd.Sherman Oaks, CA 91401
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Daglas Drive-In, Winnetka
Daglas is an institution in the San Fernando Valley and most well known for their french fries. This locals spot is always busy at any given time of the day, but there is never a long wait for the food. They have perfected the idea of fast food and if you go, you can watch the guy behind the grill work his magic. The menu is quite extensive, ranging from vegetarian burgers, to pastrami burgers and salads and shakes.
French Fries - Small2.50When I have a series craving for fries and I'm in the area, I always go to Daglas and get an order of small fries. If you've never been, you should know that a small at Daglas is probably equivalent to a large or x-large anywhere else. I worked my way through most of the bag before getting home to take a picture, but imagine a small lunch bag filled to the brim with double fried fries. I love their fries because they are crispy on the outside but still fluffy on the inside. It's also worth noting that these fries are good the next day.
Grilled Cheese w/Pastrami2 for grilled cheese, add 2 for pastramiFeeling adventurous, I decided to try something else from their menu this trip and got the grilled cheese with pastrami. The slices of bread were toasted just enough to hold everything without falling apart. Inside were two slices of melted American cheese and a generous pile of pastrami. It tasted exactly as I imagined: a grilled cheese with pastrami. I really enjoyed the combination of the melted cheese with the salty pastrami, but it's definitely not something I would order all the time especially on top of an order of fries.
I'm glad I was introduced to Daglas many years ago and even happier the quality of food has not changed. I can always count on them to satisfy my french fry cravings!Daglas Drive-In20036 Vanowen StreetWinnetka, CA 91301
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Natas Portuguese Bakery and Cafe, Sherman Oaks
The minute I walk into Natas, I feel like I am in an European cafe. The dining room is tastefully decorated with beautiful tiles from Portugal that go perfectly with the dark ceiling giving off a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. It's easy to focus in on the mouth watering pastries and just get dessert and coffee as I have done many times, but this time I was determined to try the authentic Portuguese dishes. The cafe is named after a popular Portuguese dessert called nata, which means cooked cream. This delicate, flaky pastry is filled with a smooth custard that's not overly sweet and goes really well with a cup of Americano. I can write a separate post just on all the delicious pastries this gem has to offer, but this visit was about the food.
The complimentary bread included a variety of olives.
Pasties de bacalhau2 The Portuguese cod cakes were crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. It was surprising light tasting for the preparation. The sauce added a touch of heat and creaminess.
Gambia a Alho15.95 Although I've never been to Portugal, I've always heard about their amazing piri piri dishes and especially the famous shrimp in piri piri sauce. There were so many dishes that sounded amazing I had a difficult time deciding. Luckily, Fatima, the owner of Natas made a few suggestions that helped narrow down the choices. I could not have been happier with the Gambia a Alho. The dish arrived with eight large shrimp tossed in the most delicious piri piri cream sauce. There were so many flavors happening in the sauce, it was like fireworks going off in my mouth. I soaked up every last drop of sauce with the bread before they took the plate away. I think this dish is best enjoyed using both hands, so don't be afraid to get messy if you order it.
I will bring a large group next time so I can try more dishes on the menu. If everything else is as good as the Gambia a Alho, I might not need to go to Portugal.
Natas Pastries13317 Ventura Blvd. #DSherman Oaks, CA 91423
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The Hatchery - Dare 2 Dream Farms
Where to buy chickens in Los Angeles? After calling numerous feed stores in Los Angeles, it turns out places that do sell chickens only sell chicks that are one to three weeks old. Since chicks have to be under a heat lamp until 6 weeks, we really wanted to get started pullets (15-22 weeks).
We found many hatcheries online that have started pullets, but the expensive shipping fees and long travel time for these chickens put us off. Finally, I came across Dare 2 Dream Farms on a popular forum. I called them and the gentleman who answered was very friendly and happy to answer my laundry list of questions. The farm is located in Lompoc and they make deliveries to Los Angeles every Tuesday for a $20 flat fee. Luckily, they have plenty of 13-15 week old Buff Orpingtons and we put in an order for 3 at $20 each.
Due to delays in the building of our coop I had to call Dare 2 Dream Farms to postpone our delivery and they were more than understanding and accommodating. I am very glad to have found them and look forward to getting more chickens from them in the future.
This is a picture of Jeremy and Megan in front of our coop right after they delivered the Buff Orpingtons.
And here are the new additions to our family.
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Chicken Coop & Run
We decided to build our own chicken coop for several reasons. First, we love the sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a project like this that we can't get from going down to the local feed store and picking up a pre-made coop. Second, we looked at the cost of coops and to get something we really like, it would have cost over $1,000. We figured we could make our own for a fraction of the cost. Third, we wanted to make a coop that worked for us and our chickens. So, we started our research on building a homemade chicken coop. Again, Backyard Chickens was a huge help with hundreds of coop plans and the forums filled with advice from chicken owners. We gathered everything we learned and drew out a basic plan to get us started.
Building our chicken coop
Most agree that every chicken needs about 4 sq ft of living space inside the coop and this can change depending on size, but it seemed unanimous that the more space the better. With this information we decided to make a coop that was 4' X 3'. We also had to consider height of the coop and a few things came into play in figuring this out. We found that roosting poles have to be higher than the nesting box and 18'' away from the wall and at least 8'' of room for each chicken. The chickens also need enough head room once they are on the roosting poles. This lead us to build a coop that was 4' tall one one side and 5' tall on another to allow for a sloped roof.
Below is a picture of the chicken coop frame.
We decided to make the coop and run two pieces to allow for ease of moving. This meant building two frames which turned out to be a lot more work than we expected. By the end of the first weekend we only had the frames finished and the walls cut. By the second weekend we were able to stain the frame, put up the walls, the roof, prime, paint and finish the project.
This is the finished coop and run together. The total cost of materials was just under $250. The chickens arrive tomorrow and we hope that they love their new home!
Here is a collection of helpful links we gathered along the way:
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Choosing the chicken breed
A few weeks after moving into our house, our neighbors gave us half a dozen eggs from their laying hens. These large brown eggs had an intense bright orange yolk and were the most flavorful eggs we had tasted in a long time. Of course, we immediately thought about raising our own chickens. Fast forward a few years and we are finally in the serious research and planning phase of the idea. The popular sites we've found are Backyard Chickens and My Pet Chicken.
After doing much research, we decided to get Buff Orpingtons for their calm and sweet demeanor and of course good egg laying abilities. They are also dual purpose chickens, which means after they are done laying eggs in approx. 3 years, we have the option of coop-to-kitchen. The Buff Orpingtons are one of the most popular breeds according to several websites and they are considered a large bird which means they will need more room in the coop and run, but it also means their weight limits their ability to fly out of the yard.
One online hatchery has started pullets (15-22 week old chickens) for $18 each, but shipping for 2 chickens would cost an estimated $87! I understand the price is for express shipping, but there must be hatchery in Southern California that sell this breed. Now we are on the hunt for a local hatchery that has started pullets.
Why Not Chicks? There is a lot involved with raising chicks and we wanted to bypass the work involved with the early stages of raising a chicken. At 15-22 weeks old, we will be able to put our chickens in their coop and let them live outside. Also, the hatchery will be able to tell the sex of the chicken with very high accuracy.
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Weekend in Calistoga, CA
Summer time means wedding season and we were in Calistoga for a beautiful winery wedding complete with a reception inside a cave and endless bottles of delicious wine. I had no idea summers in Calistoga meant dry hot days with temperatures as high as 115 followed by cool evenings in the mid 50s. I didn't get to enjoy 4 full days in the area like the rest of my party, but the 32 hours I did get to spend there were a lot of fun.
The welcome reception was held at the Luxe Hotel, which apparently only has 4 rooms and the couple rented out the entire place in order to have the reception on the porch. The chef used to work at The French Laundry and cooked up quite a few delicious appetizers for all the guests. My favorite was the pork belly over kimchi.
The rehearsal dinner was held at Tra Vigne in St. Helena, which also happens to have the worst traffic between Napa and Calistoga. We ate in the private room just off to the side and it was air conditioned, which was a plus. The menu was predetermined which included a family style pasta course, which was my favorite and a choice of short ribs or flounder for the main course.
The wedding was held at Hans Fahden Winery in Calistoga followed by a beautiful reception inside a man made cave. The steak and lemon mashed potato was absolutely delicious and the best wedding dish I have tasted to date.
Now I can cross Calistoga/Napa off my list and look forward to Paso Robles as my next vino destination.
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Cafe del Rey, Marina Del Rey
A friend and I stopped by Cafe del Rey for lunch on the last day of DineLA and had a very pleasant meal over looking the marina. We picked this restaurant since it was close to our work and the idea of being right next to the ocean was an added bonus.
The bread came with a tapenade and olive oil balsamic mixture.
DineLA Lunch25The tomato soup was slightly chunky which I liked and the parmesan crisp added a richness and saltiness to every spoon full.
The prawns were cooked well and the ras el hanout cilantro marinade was very good. All the elements on this plate was balanced and the harissa vinaigrette had just the right amount of heat.
The pistachio carrot cake was moist and a lot lighter than we both expected. I could have done without the candied carrot and sugar.
Overall, we had an enjoyable meal at Cafe del Rey. Good flavors, good portions, and good service.
Cafe Del Rey4451 Admiralty Way Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
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Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula, Beverly Hills
I never understood the appeal of afternoon tea until I tried it for the first time at The Peninsula in Beverly Hills. There was something about going to tea with ten women all in our best Sunday dresses that made the experience feel more special. We felt so sophisticated and proper as we were guided through the living room and seated at an elegantly setup long coffee table. All the food was predetermined and the only choice we had to make was whether we wanted champagne with our tea.
The Royal Tea comes with two champagne options and I highly recommend the Mumm. There was also a separate menu with a list of all the teas from caffeine free to scented and blends.
Strawberries with whipped creamWe all received our glass of champagne just as the strawberries arrived. The generous dollop of whipped cream was not overly sweet and the strawberries tasted like they had just been picked.
Genmai ChaiThe tea lived up to its description of being "heavy-bodied" for a green tea. The tea was very smooth and there was a nice flavor from the roasted rice.
Scones, pastries and sandwichesEach tier was filled with tasty treats for two. The scones, egg salad and curried chicken sandwich were the standouts, but everything was very good. Don't miss out on the jams and creams for the scone.
Overall, we had a wonderful afternoon enjoying tea and bite sized treats. It was such a relaxing and fun way to enjoy the company of friends.
The Peninsula9882 S. Santa Monica Blvd.Beverly Hills, CA 90212
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