Afternoon tea or high tea is a tradition originating from the English elite. Today, a number of five-star hotels and pastry shops offer high tea between 3:00 to 6:00 as a means to bridge the long hours between lunch and dinner.
High tea usually consists of tea served with milk and sugar, sandwich, scones, quiches and cakes. It is accompanied by a generous serving of butter or margarine and jam. I invited my sister for high tea as she has been requesting it for some time. When she saw my food pictures when I had high tea at Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, she immediately wanted to try this "fancy meal" for herself. Too cute! I quickly browsed online and saw that Ruelo Patisserie offers Groupon coupons for their high tea. For the price of $27.50, you can avail of their tea for two (originally a $50 value). I bought a coupon for me and my sister, hoping to use it that weekend. However, this was the start of the mildly annoying experience I had at Ruelo. Their customer service is severely lacking! When I phoned for my reservation for the North York location, the lady who took the call was less than enthused to book my reservation. Me: Hello, I'd like to use my Groupon coupon for high tea this Saturday. Ruelo: Sorry, this Saturday is fully booked. Me: Okay, how about on Sunday? Ruelo: Fully booked as well. Me: (slightly irritated) Why won't you tell me which days are available so I can book my reservation accordingly? It's as if they don't want my business at all. When I finally settled on a date and time, the lady told me that I have to send them an email to confirm my reservation! I asked her shouldn’t this phone call suffice? She then informed that it's their policy to have customers email their high tea reservations. After I ended the call, I immediately sent Ruelo an email informing them of the date and time of my reservation. Three days passed and I still didn't receive a reply. So I phoned Ruelo again to inquire whether they receive my email reservation. Ruelo: Which email address did you send it to? Me: [email protected]. That's what's on your website. Ruelo: Oh, that's actually incorrect. You should send it to [email protected]. Me: How would I know that? It's not on your website. Ruelo: The person who initially took your order should've given you that information. Me: Ugh! If you can deal with Ruelo's poor customer service without your blood pressure rising, you will be rewarded with their delicious high tea. The Groupon deal includes: • Two scones with Devon cream and Kusmi jam • Mini danish • Mini Atlantic smoked salmon sandwich on a scone • Italian prosciutto wrapped grilled pepper • Mini shrimp salad sandwich served on a crispy crouton • Daily quiche • Macarons, crème brûlée, and two daily desserts • Coffee or Kusmi tea Also, as a tip for those who want to go to their North York branch, it's best to Google the exact location beforehand. Nestled between industrial warehouses, it's neither the usual nor the ideal place for a patisserie to set up shop. Otherwise, I greatly enjoyed our high tea! Check out some of the photos my sister took for her Instagram:
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So you've had a sumptuous dinner and the night is still young. If you've got nowhere else to go, try the ultra-chic lounge at Barchef. Located in the eclectic Queen West neighborhood, Barchef lounge attracts a discerning crowd looking for exotic libations. If you're in the mood for screwdrivers and cosmos, you won't find those here. Barchef's cocktails are artisanal and one-of-a-kind. The bartenders and cocktail chefs may take a few minutes preparing your poison. Have patience; you can't hurry art. If you fancy something whimsical, try the Rocket from their Sweet & Sour menu. For a cocktail extravaganza, anything under the Modernist menu delivers drama and superb craftsmanship. Below is the daiquiri adaptation served in a coconut shell with floating wisps of dry ice. More photos from BarchefToronto.com taken by Leanne Neufeld: Next time you're in the area and looking for mind-blowing digestifs, drop by at Barchef and prepare to be mesmerized!
Whenever you search for the best restaurants in Toronto, Scaramouche is always on the top three of the list. So I wonder why I never see this restaurant whenever I’m driving by the Forest Hill area. I was surprised to find out that the restaurant is located in the basement of an old condominium building. If you plan on driving to the restaurant, be prepared to be greeted by a valet as there’s a very limited parking spot. The condominium is beside a ravine, providing an amazing view of downtown Toronto! Check out their menu: With Scaramouche’s steep price points - filet mignon for $49 and venison for $44 - it would be best to reserve this place for special occasions and corporate events. But the food, service and breathtaking view make for an excellent dining experience!
So what’s the big deal about Uncle Tetsu’s Cheesecake? I heard the small Japanese bakeshop always has a huge lineup of people waiting to taste their pastries and macha tea. When I had the opportunity to go downtown, I made sure to stop by Bay and Dundas to taste Uncle Tetsu’s cheesecake for myself! True enough, there was a lineup at 2:00 pm. People should still be either at work or school by that time, but there were more than a couple of college kids in the queue. Inside the tiny bakeshop, the management posted a few signs notifying customers of their one cheesecake per person policy! Not sure if this is the best way to operate their business. But to ensure that everyone in line gets to taste their cheesecake, I guess it’s only fair. It might even be an effective word-of-mouth strategy by ensuring that more people get to enjoy their product and consequently spread the word. They always make their cheesecakes fresh. Thus, the wait and the ridiculous lineup that ensues. I got myself one cheesecake for $10 and four madeleines for $7. Was it worth it? I wasn’t able to taste it right away. I took the subway and didn’t taste it until I got home 40 minutes later. When I opened the tiny box, I got a butter knife and sliced myself and my father a piece. It was unbelievably soft and fluffy! Half sponge cake and half soufflé with the undeniable taste of cheesecake. Unlike traditional cheesecakes, Uncle Tetsu's is not overwhelmingly sweet nor cream heavy. And since I’m Filipino, the closest thing that I can compare it to is Goldilocks custard mamon! As for the madeleines — meh! They were good, but they’re really just buttery cupcakes. Besides, nobody goes to Uncle Tetsu’s for their madeleines. It’s all about the cheesecake!
I would certainly be back at Uncle Tetsu’s. But I don’t think it’s totally worth the hype. |
AuthorThe Toronto Traipser aims to explore the vibrant city by indulging in its many sights, sounds and flavours. Archives
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