Four Seasons Tea

I'm going to start by saying that the Four Seasons is my new favourite tea place. The ladies had all been here before but it was my first time and I will definitely be going back.

When I arrived, we were all seated around the tiny table right at the entrance to the Lobby Bar. This was probably the only thing I didn't like about the Four Seasons: that you can see the driveway from this tiny little table. But it was cozy and we're not *that* classy. As usual, Dining Queen was late (!) so the waiter started us off with a round of iced blackcurrent juice (this is Ribena, for all you connoisseurs of fruit juices) and little shot glasses filled with whipped cream and strawberries. God, so yummy!

I phoned ahead about my egg-allergy and they were very good about it. Not only did them substitute out the egg salad with an extra cucumber sandwich, but they served them to me on a separate plate. Now, this was not at all necessary - it's a digestive, not anaphylactic, allergy - but I was grateful all the same.

The scones were wonderful, although we had to request more Devon cream a couple of times (yes, we're pigs) and the petits-fours looked lovely. I have stopped eating these though. It's bad enough that I'm awake most of the night without having to deal with egg-induced catatonia in the early afternoon.

I had the organic Assam tea (no Darjeeling, strangely enough) and it was perfect. I have come to the conclusion that you can tell the best tea places because the waiter is Indian. Perhaps I should find me an Indian man and train him to serve me tea every weekend...

http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/dining/lobby_bar.html
(Sticker shock warning: the cost of afternoon tea is not listed, with good reason!)

I could go on and on Annona...

But I won't because I have a full Sunday evening planned with Detective Murdoch and my couch. Five of us had high tea at Anonna* at the Park Hyatt this afternoon and it was good. It was not too pricey ($26) as far as Yorkville goes, but I'm hungry again which is a bit unusual. However, the food was good.

Finger sandwiches included:

• watercress and cheddar pinwheel on whole wheat (two for me),
• devilled eggs with ham (which I skipped, of course),
• grilled chicken and pineapple crepe roll up,
• smoked salmon salad with dill on white,
• roast beef with horseradish on rye.

I should maybe stop going to the gym before tea because I was not full after the sandwiches. The scones more than filled up the space in my tummy though. These might very well have been the best mini scones I have ever tasted. They were light and fluffy, airy even, and the flavour was very subtle. Individual pots of clotted cream and a good (but not overwhelming) assortment of mini preserves.

I ordered the white tip darjeeling (duh) and also tried the jasmine (refreshing but a slight hint of something astringent) and Eros (orange and vanilla, was really delicious and this from an herbal tea snob).

For dessert, I had a bite of the chocolate ganache and almost went into egg-accelerated chocolate shock. It was rich enough to marry, have kids and then happily divorce. I also tried a small bit of the english trifle shot but the flavour was masked by the ganache monster in my mouth.

The waiter and kitchen were very accommodating of my allergy so that was much appreciated. Good enough to recommend to my mother and her friends.

*I want to link directly to the tea menu on their website but it prompts me to download or open a PDF which is frankly annoying and unprofessional.