Tea by the Sea ... in J. Paul Getty's Villa

From the Getty site

I'd been out of the area for quite awhile and missed out on the advent of many a new tea experience. Fortunately, I at last got to spend the day at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, CA overlooking the Malibu coastline.

The Villa has long been a favorite museum of mine. I'm a 'Greek freak' and anything from the Mediterranean in the days of antiquity makes me nearly giddy.  Add that to the fact that I'm an afternoon tea junkie, and the idea of attending the Getty's Tea by the Sea looked to be so spectacular, I feared spontaneous combustion.

I managed to keep my unbridled enthusiasm to a mild simmer, and purposely went to the museum solo, so as to while away my time doing whatever my soul desired. Touring the restored and expanded compound, designed to give the feeling of life in a Roman country house in the first century A.D., I was awed by the attention to detail. Architecture and horticulture were painstakingly researched in order to give the most accurate display of ancient Roman life possible in modern SoCal.

The tea service echoed this meticulous and loving approach to its source material. The menu was the most complex I've ever enjoyed at afternoon tea, with flavors chosen to exemplify Spring in the Mediterranean, and a custom-blend tea created to compliment the flavorful fare.

The food and service were outstanding, but the real star of the day in my eyes was not the satisfying meal nor the aromatic brew, nor even the incomparable surroundings, no, the highlight for me was Daniel, the fellow who oversees the afternoon teas along with the booming business conducted at the Villa's cafe.

But afternoon tea was not the end of the adventure. Having toured the exhibits and supped and sipped to my heart's content, I then walked off the tea comestibles by joining the Villa's Garden Tour where I learned about the herbs and edibles onsite, including those that were part of the tea experience.

In short, I had a ball, and cannot recommend the experience enough to museum lovers, especially those with a soft spot for ancient Greece and Rome.

My cell-phone images that follow are not the best, and I took too many to crop and edit in a timely manner, so I'll just pick a few random shots and throw them onto the page and let the reader scroll quickly by, to get an idea of the wonders that await at the Villa.

Thank you, Daniel. My visit was a memory I'll cherish.

~Joy
Tea Travellers Societea

That's the ocean, visible through the archway as you leave the Villa

A Coastal Afternoon Tea Oasis

Ever heard of Corona del Mar in Southern California?  Few have, which is a shame as this 'crown of the sea' is the most charming section of Newport Beach.  Even fewer have heard of Sherman Library & Gardens, the petite botanical gardens, library and delightful gift shop located in the heart of CdM.

Yesterday I partook of their twice a month afternoon tea service, prepared by Pascal, Newport's superb French restaurant, at their satellite location, Cafe Jardin, within the confines of Sherman Gardens.  The numerous images included in this post (sorry, yes I got carried away, but I did cut out at least a dozen!) tell the story far more colorfully than I could; but suffice it to say, the experience was perfect!  A gentle breeze washed over me as I gazed out at the English garden setting complete with parasol toting Victorian lady sculpture and bubbling fountain, and all I could do was smile and say, "Thank you."

The food was every bit as good as the French restaurant fare served at Pascal proper. And the tea desserts were the best I've ever had ... and that's saying a lot!  Now, without any further adieu, here is tea at Pascal's Cafe Jardin at Sherman Gardens:

See the lovely Victorian 'lady' in the middle?

even the take-away box was cute!

A traditional afternoon tea for the modern consumer

The Royal Tea & Treatery in Costa Mesa, CA has done the seemingly impossible ― created an afternoon tea service that is not only gluten-free, but dairy-free to boot!

When I dropped in today, I was delighted to learn it was the establishment's one year anniversary.  In the current dietarily-conscious era, I foresee many anniversaries to come for the glamorously accoutered eatery, off the beaten path but close to several major thoroughfares.

Right off the bat, I was delighted by the decor ― a colorful melange of seating areas coordinating with the confections in the glimmering bakery cases. I smiled as I perused the menu selections that included the Gina Lolabridgida sandwich, the Ava and the Ingenue ― but the various afternoon tea options didn't stand a chance once I saw they featured a tea service called The Siren!

As my foodie shot shows, it included:

Behold The Siren tea :D

• a variety of sandwiches (cucumber & non-dairy cream cheese, mango with strawberry spread, tuna with red pepper & apple on homemade focaccia, and hummus with tomato ... I think ... or was it pepper ... I don't remember that last one actually, as I wolfed it down too quickly *wink*)  
• 2 petite berry scones
• 3 mini sweets i.e. a coffee cake square, chocolate chip cookie, and adorable wee chocolate cupcake
• fresh fruit, in this case, cantaloupe, which hit the spot!

And yes, all of that was accomplished without the use of dairy or gluten ingredients ― incredible!  Even my British style tea played along, as I was served coconut milk to lighten my blend. If I hadn't known I was in a dairy-free zone, I never would've guessed, as everything offered comprised what one would label 'real tea food.'

My cozy corner of the tearoom

Though owner Bridget was not there, manager Donna and assistant/server Casey did a marvelous job of spoiling me, making me feel welcome, and generously sharing their time with me in order to answer my many questions. While I lounged, sipped and savored, I noted friends dining, a pair of patrons who were scouting out a venue for a group event, and lone customers such as myself ... including a man! 

For those considering a tea escape for themselves or a group of up to 27 guests, the Treatery delivers a full tea experience that ensures those with dietary restrictions are embraced in the festivities instead of excluded and left to sift through a plateful of 'can vs. cannot' foodstuffs. The ambience is energizing, the staff is delightful, and the fare is both creative and tasty.

If you're not in Southern California, you may visit the Royal Tea & Treatery on Facebook or peek at their website.

~submitted by Joy Devivre

(Note to those who I know are counting, this is the 412th tearoom I've had the good fortune to visit xo)