Wishing you joy and peace in every cup! Hope you find time to relax, laugh, and savor the season. Happy Holidays!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Downton Abbey Tea & Biscuit
A few days ago I read PBS would have a truck rolling around the city giving away tea and biscuits to promote Downton Abbey, and happened upon it today during my lunchtime errands. The truck is hard to miss, it has imagines from Downton plastered all around it, and a woman dressed as a housemaid giving out cups of tea.
The tea is 'Downton Abbey English Rose' which is offered on the PBS website. It's an exclusive blend created for PBS. According to the website it is hibiscus, raspberries, and rose petals. It tastes most of hibiscus and raspberries, with a hint of rose. Not really my thing, but I'm not complaining about free tea! A smart way to advertise the upcoming season and warm up holiday shoppers. I love biscoff cookies, so that was an added bonus.
I wasn't always a Downton fan- I avoided the show for a few seasons, but then my husband actually persuaded me to watch a few DVDs. After a few shows I was hooked on the soap opera plot, and beautifully historic sets and costumes.
If you are in the NYC area you can catch the truck at the following locations:
Wednesday, December 11
50th St. between 6th & 7th Avenue
50th St. between 6th & 7th Avenue
Thursday, December 12
The New York Times Center, 41st St. between 7th & 8th Avenue
Friday, December 13
Broadway between 66th and 67th Street
The New York Times Center, 41st St. between 7th & 8th Avenue
Friday, December 13
Broadway between 66th and 67th Street
Friday, December 6, 2013
Visit: Teavana Tea Bar
A few weeks ago I found myself on the Upper East Side and was finally able to visit the new Teavana Tea Bar. Most of the local tea blogging folks have written about this place and the brewing techniques they use, but I thought I would add a few thoughts of my own.
Upon entering it feels like a low-key Teavana store (since no one tried to upsell anything), but it still has that annoying floral/berry smell that hits you even before you open the door. It was mid morning when I arrived at the tea bar, and I was looking for a strong black tea. The man behind the counter recommended the Black Dragon Pearls.
The place was quiet with just one couple sitting down. This is a small place, with 4 tables. I found the seats to be extremely uncomfortable, which did not invite a relaxed experience. I was surprised by this, since Starbucks usually has relatively comfortable seats. I'm trying not to compare the place to Starbucks but it's tough to avoid since they are the parent company, and the designers have lent an obvious hand to the place. The ordering system is the same, where they take your name and call you when the drink is ready. The service is the same as well, friendly but not overly so. The decor was simple with the usual tea and accessories for sale. The more interesting element is tubes of tea lining the ceiling. The tubes were a bit lost with the bright lights so I could hardly see the teas inside. But it's an interesting idea. It could also be the culprit for the store's signature scent.
The tea ceiling |
While I was sitting for a few minutes, two young children came in with their dad to refill a tea canister. At least the store is supporting the tea habits of the Upper East Side residents! The only place I'd compare this to is Argo, which I prefer. Argo is much more comfortable, and smells much better! But I am not familiar with all of the tea offerings of both, so I couldn't say which has better quality tea.
The tea bar is definitely not a place I'd go out of my way for, but is right near the Metropolitan and other museums, as well as designer consignment stores so it is a good place to stop by after a long day of culture and shopping.
Teavana Tea Bar: 1142 Madison Ave. NY, NY 10028
Recommended for a cup to go if you are in the area, or loose tea to purchase if you like what they usually sell.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812- Go for the Show, Not for the Tea.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a matinee performance of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. After entering the large tent on 45th street you are whisked away to a lavish salon crammed with paintings, a bar, and chic sputnik chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. You sit at tables and can dine during the performance, and I was eager to try the newly added tea service. The show is delightful fun, and I highly recommend it. But if you go, don't have tea.
Love the salon style paintings and sputnik lights |
The show has a historical Russian theme (based on a segment of War and Peace), and offers typical Russian fare such as borscht and pirogi. I was shown a picture of a beautiful samovar prior to attending, and I assumed the samovar would be used for the tea to go along with the theme. This was a very wrong assumption. The samovar was sitting at the hostess stand at the entrance. It was decoration and not for use. The tea menu had a few nice choices, and we were deciding between Darjeeling and an Oolong. When I asked for Oolong, the server said they were out of every tea except for the flavored white blend, and a blackberry tea (which was not on the menu). That was a huge disappointment since I don't care for flavored blends, but I ordered the blackberry tea, full of hope. Let me point out that pots of tea are $25. At this price, I was expecting a large pot, with loose tea. Maybe even a fancy cup to go along with the Russian theme of the show. A tiny one-serving pot showed up with water that was barely warm enough. Along with the pot, the server handed us 4 tea bags. The tea was meant for the 4 people sitting at the table, but the pot was only large enough for one bag. I can understand inflating the cost a bit, but this was offensive. I go to the theater regularly and I know the concession prices are inflated, but I've had tea at 4 star restaurants that was far cheaper. The bags are from The Republic of Tea which is a nice brand, but sadly not worth anywhere near the $25 price point. The tea was pleasant enough, it had a strong blackberry taste with a hit of sage. It's not what I would have chosen myself, but it was satisfying. Sandwich, scone, and sweet platters are also available for purchase.
Despite the tea debacle, the cast is amazingly talented and we loved the show. The eclectic music and sexy costumes enhanced the experience. During the show two of the actors placed their tea cups on our table, and I got to gaze longingly at the lovely little cups. If we were served tea in fancier cups, it may have improved the tea experience a bit.
one of the cups used in the show and our plain white cup behind it |
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