To be honest, I really don't know what a 'high tea' is. The fact that the British refer to taking any meal as "having tea", is beyond me. I'm not sure what the etiquette is, whether you're supposed to take milk, sugar, or lemon with your tea, how long to let it steep, and what finger to hold up when you sip out of your teacup. Its seems a little pretentious, but all in all is quite fun. Supposedly high tea is an early evening meal between 5-6PM to be followed by a very light dinner. However, a lot of tea shops, hotels, etc refer to afternoon tea as high tea, where tea is served with an assortment of sandwiches, scones, sweet and savory pastries, cakes, butter, and jams. I suppose that high tea just sounds more regal than your plain 'ole afternoon tea.
A few months ago I had the opportunity to take high tea at the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. Though a bit on the pricey side, it was worth stopping in on a chilly fall afternoon to get a bite to eat. One thing I loved is their massive popovers they serve.
They were crunchy on the outside yet light and fluffy on the inside. Perfect! The best part? They're included with the meal. Also included was a consommé served with a moon shaped 'allumette', or cheese topped puff pastry.
Since I was a bit hungry, in addition to the high tea, I also ordered a bowl of lobster bisque. It was nice and flavorful with some chunks of lobster.
After the popover and the lobster bisque, I was already stuffed. However, the main attraction was yet to come. Along with a pot of tea came a selection of savory and sweet bites. The savories included deviled egg sandwiches, cucumber cheese sandwiches, crab-stuffed puff pastries, chicken salad on toasts, and filled cheese puffs.
The sweets included scones with clotted cream, marmalade, jam, and honey, brownies, mini-carrot cakes, raspberry tarts, madeleines, and petits-fours cakes.
In the end we were all stuffed and had to take half of the sweet treats home in Neiman Marcus doggie bags. High tea is definitely a nice way to spoil yourself every now and then.
The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus
150 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 95108
Tel: 415 249 2720
A few months ago I had the opportunity to take high tea at the Rotunda at Neiman Marcus in San Francisco. Though a bit on the pricey side, it was worth stopping in on a chilly fall afternoon to get a bite to eat. One thing I loved is their massive popovers they serve.
The Rotunda at Neiman Marcus
150 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 95108
Tel: 415 249 2720
3 comments:
I went to the web site, but couldn't find any reference to high tea at the Rotunda - just afternoon tea between 2:30 and 4 or 5. I'd like to go there with my daughter - do you know when you went, and specifically what you ordered (besides the bisque!)? Thanks.
Hi Marsha,
Actually, yes it is their afternoon tea, which is $35 per person on their menu (without wine/champagne/etc). It includes a pot of tea per person and the tray of goodies.
Thank you!
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