Afternoon Tea Series: The Georgian at Fairmont Olympic Hotel / April 29, 2017 by Jenn Chan

What a room! Grand in a prohibition era kind of way. 50 foot high ceilings, ornate columns and intricate mouldings. A very Downton Abbey feel in the middle of metropolitan Seattle. Adding to our experience was our extremely affable Fairmont host, Valerie, who was a wealth of knowledge on the room and the whole property really. We made a new friend!

Afternoon tea is a luxurious affair. Big Kentucky derby-inspired floppy hats, pinkies raised way up in the air and crisp dresses and suits. Judy Dench wouldn't look out of place here nor would Miley Cyrus if she were sipping her tea mere tables away. It's a space for everyone and there's something on the menu to satisfy their tastes! The first stop on our culinary adventure was mimosa town. On a groggy Saturday afternoon it is the perfect destination for a vacationer; I'll let you guess why! Jenn, Valerie and I raised our glasses to the Fairmont, without a drop of insincerity, and toasted them!

Soon the delicious teatime towers were brought out and placed in front of us. Jenn and I wisely chose the 1907 Blend Tea to accompany them; absolutely delicious and it immediately went into my top five tea list! Blueberry Scones Apricot Jam & Devonshire Cream were the first tier of our three tiered tea-stravaganza. I don't know where Devonshire is, but if you told me it was a magical land where hobbits go on mythical adventures I would believe you. If you told me they stole the recipe for this cream from a dragon I would believe it. The scones, made in-house, are so fresh and soft that they fall apart at the touch. Add the heavenly cream and the incredible apricot jam and it's a very, very satisfying carbohydrate delivery device.

My mom is a saint. I wanted for nothing growing up and love filled our home, but I'm not sure if it's a Manitoba thing or something completely Jean Allan; pronouncing sandwiches 'sammerches'. I think about her whenever I'm served a 'sammerch' and the tradition continued when I made my way to the second tier. Hereafter referred to as the 'sammerch tier'. Waldorf Sourdough Bread, Turkey, Apple, Raisins, Celery, Pecans and Herbs made up the first I tried. If I see a turkey sandwich with apple on a menu I order it. Every time. When I see a salad with pecans I do likewise. When I see a sandwich with both I shriek like a 12 year old girl seeing Justin Bieber. This sandwich is delicious!

Up next was one consisting of Curry Salmon Egg Salad Rye Bread Roll, Smoked Salmon, Curry Egg Salad and Micro Greens. Curry is not just for my beloved butter chicken or tandoori, it makes everything better! This sandwich will make you want 10 more. Which I do. Right now. Come on Chef Paul make it happen! This sandwich alone is worth the trip. The Herb Marinated Grilled Prawn, Tomato Jam, Mango Salsa, Cured Tomato, Parmesan Crisp and Mango salsa. Mango salsa should be on every menu! It would make a boiled rat delectable. It would make a toupee taste like heaven. And when you add it to one of the most delicious ocean dwellers the results are as you would expect. You want this! The Cucumber Watercress Sourdough Bread compliments the Watercress Crème Fraiche, Cucumber, Salmon Roe and Preserved Lemon extremely well. Yum! Sourdough makes everything better! I was not expecting much from a sandwich which lacks a huge protein component as I am a carnivore at heart, but the lemon tang mixed well with the very thinly sliced cucumber, which helped beat back the overpowering nature of the cucumber, and the sourdough rounded everything out.

Tea Sandwiches: Turkey Waldorf, Curry Salmon Egg Salad, Grilled Prawn & Cucumber Watercress

Feeling satisfied from our first two tiers we set our sights on the dessert tier hidden masterfully at the bottom. I started with the milk chocolate brownie. I have had a bad brownie only once. It was a little old and the crunch really detracted from the fudge-y goodness. The Georgian's brownie tasted like it came right out of the oven as we entered the room. Add in the milk chocolate icing and this will satisfy even the pickiest chocolate addict. Macaron shops are the donut shops of the new millennium. As junk food places disappear macaron shops, with their luxury price tag, keep popping up. The sole reason is because they are delicious, like very delicious. The Georgian's rose water raspberry macaron ranks amongst the prestige priced Fauberge and Thierry's of the world. Jenn's favourite was the No bake Matcha Mango Cheesecake. If you've never heard of matcha you will before too long. It is everywhere. From its humble Asian beginnings it is finding its way into foods across the cultural spectrum. This cheesecake would have been good with lawn clippings on the top, but the matcha, with its myriad of health benefits, compliments it perfectly. My favourite was the Pistachio Eclair. In the hierarchy of nut deliciousness pistachio ranks high. This eclair, my first in forever, harnesses the deliciousness that is pistachio and combines it with the slight sweetness of the icing and the freshness of the pastry. It is excellent!

Sweets: Milk Chocolate Brownie, No Bake Matcha Mango Cheesecake, Rose Water Raspberry Macaron & Pistachio Eclair

If you're lucky enough in life to do what you love for a living you have a better life than 99% of people. Real estate is my passion and I'm blessed to exist in that milieu. Photography is Jenn's passion and we are moulding her passion into an ancillary career which we hope will one day become her primary. Valerie is a people person and the hospitality industry is tailor made for her. Three strangers becoming friends over tea. A cliché from, presumably, every British movie where I imagine tea drinking is prevalent. I would also imagine that this isn't the first time friendship has been sparked in this regal restaurant. Take someone for tea at the Fairmont Olympic Seattle today and I guarantee you leave closer than when you arrived!

Click here for more info: http://www.fairmont.com/seattle/dining/thegeorgiantea/

Seattle Dining: Loulay Kitchen + Bar with Chef in the Hat / April 27, 2017 by Jenn Chan

There's something about high ceilings that really opens up your mind. The dining room at Loulay boasts 30 some odd feet of mind expanding beauty. A tasteful, modern colour palette contrasts with the red neon of the auspicious Loulay sign and disco ball chandeliers. The seasoned wait staff flash warm smiles and turn out to be a wealth of knowledge on the Loulay experience!

Our dining experience starts, as all good experiences do, with cocktails. The first 'and the beet goes on' is not just a delicious dad joke and solid pun, but is also quite a delicious use of the cantankerous beet. My family recently inherited an 320 acre farm from my maternal grandfather. What are we growing you ask? Why on Earth would I bring it up you ask? Beets; good old fashioned, Dugald, Manitoba beets. This cocktail made me think of my grandfather and the trials and tribulations he faced as a POW in Stalag Luft III, made famous by the movie 'The Great Escape' before being rescued on the Nazi Death March in 1945 and returning to Canada after WWII. Beet infused Skyy Vodka forms the base of this refreshing, citrusy concoction and it is very good. The 'Fallen Angel' is a man's drink. An good bourbon makes for an incredible drink and this cocktail gelled very well, extremely, and the light Ramazzotti touch complimented it perfectly. The 'Eldarossa' is the best of the theee and the difference you sense between a well highball and top shelf depends on your palate. As a teenager, well into my 20's really, I could drink hair spray or Grey Goose and my taste buds (and liver) didn't whimper a single complaint. As we age and as we get used to the finer things hair spray no longer doubles as a libation and the difference between Smirnoff, top shelf in many establishments, and Ketel One means a lot. As soon as you sip the Eldarossa, without even looking, I knew the ingredients were top shelf. Upon studying the menu I realized everything at Loulay is. The Ketel One base provides the perfect building blocks for the St Germain and fresh lime juice to make a very good cocktail!

"And the Beets Goes On.." + "Fallen Angel" — "And the Beets Goes On.." + "Fallen Angel"

The Dungeness Crab Salad consists of pickled celery root, grapefruit, tarragon crème, micro arugula and is served with crostini. I have never had bad Dungeness Crab. I've had King Crab that tasted like a sweat sock, I've had soft shell crab that I wouldn't feed my dog, and I don't even like her very much, and I've had Snow Crab that I would have rather toss into a snowbank, but Dungeness has never let me down. It maintains its perfect record under the watchful eye of Chef Thierry. Chunks of grapefruit offer a tart juxtaposition to the sweetness of the tarragon crème and the crab itself and I could have eaten four orders of this!

The Scallops with Fiddlehead Ferns also featured spinach and mustard seeds. Our gracious server, Ryan, was bold enough to recommend the Pinot Noir from the Patricia Green Cellars, in Oregon's Williamette Valley, to go with the scallops. "Red wine only with red meat is a myth" was his assertion as we washed down a bite of the tender scallops with the lovely red wine. A very good pairing, a very good seafood plate and a very, very good suggestion!

Dungeness Crab Salad - pickled celery root, grapefruit, tarragon crème, micro arugula, crostini — Dungeness Crab Salad - pickled celery root, grapefruit, tarragon crème, micro arugula, crostini

Organic Scrambled Egg - lime créme fraiche, white sturgeon caviar

The Butter Poached Halibut comes with roasted cauliflower, spinach, barley, kumquat preserve, green garlic and cultivated mushroom. In 2016 the price of cauliflower skyrocketed because, well, I don't know. But it did. A quick Google showed that it was scarcity that was the first reason for the price increase and the something strange yet eerily predictable happened. People couldn't have it so they wanted it even more.m and demand skyrocketed. The fish was very fresh, no doubt procured fresh from Seattle's port, and could not have been softer. The cauliflower compliments the deliciously fresh halibut very well and the butter poaching really elevates the dish!

Butter Poached Halibut - roasted cauliflower, spinach, barley, kumquat preserve, green garlic, cultivated mushroom

The Carlton Farms Pork Chop dish is served with red cabbage, black garlic, carrot and Beecher's cheddar yukon potato in peppercorn sauce. Meat makes all the difference. That's why Wagyu beef, with their sake massages and pampering, tastes better than a Big Mac with its mysterious composition and origin. I imagine Carlton Farms is a wonderland where the pigs are treated as pets and sleep in the bed with their owners. Tender and fresh and paired perfectly with the peppercorn sauce and heavenly mashed potatoes. My favourites the dish of the night!

Carlton Farms Pork Chop - red cabbage, black garlic, carrot, beecher's cheddar yukon potato, peppercorn sauce

The Northwest Bouillbbaisse has fish, clams, mussels, tomato saffron broth, preserved lemon and grilled bread with Harissa. If they made tomato/ saffron shampoo I would buy it. Diddo on toothpaste. It's very good; extremely good. The seafood is very fresh and flavourful, but you could put this broth on a spare tire and I would eat it, excellent dish! As a Pacific coaster myself, from Vancouver, BC, I think I am equally spoiled by the freshness and quality of the seafood pulled from our shared waters. I believe firmly that someone from Idaho's head would explode at first bite!

Northwest Bouillabaisse - fish, clams, mussels, tomato saffron broth, preserved lemon, grilled bread

The Duck Confit Sliders is topped with an amazing, aged sherry dressing and profiterole. Duck is a delicious bird. It goes: turkey > duck > chicken > game hen. When duck is done right, and is a healthy, lean cut, it nudges very close to the heaven that is turkey. Turkey cannot be surpassed. Because science. But these sliders were amongst the best I've ever had and the cute, little buns, made in-house of course, pâté à choux to be exact, were amazing! You need these in your life.

Duck Confit Sliders - aged sherry dressing, profiterole

The Seared Polenta is plated with assorted mushrooms, vegetable demi-glace, and a cheese crisp. A very Earthy flavour with an excellent variety of mushrooms. A hearty version of Jenn's beloved cream of mushroom soup and she quickly devoured it before I had a chance to taste it for this blog s we will all have to take her word for it.

Seared Polenta - assorted mushrooms, vegetable demi-glace, cheese crisp

Chef Thierry showed up to our table next with their Seared Foie Gras in a tart cherry reduction. I can recall being forced to sit at the dinner table for hours as a young boy. Eat everything on your plate or don't leave the table until you do. Liver and onions, a staple of my dad's Scottish upbringing, was a tough night. Foie Gras is not that kind of liver and Chef Thierry's Foie Gras is a cut above that even. Soft enough to cut with a stern look it very near broke apart in my fork as I raised it to my mouth where it liquified into a cacophony of rich, buttery flavours. I have had Foie Gras at 3 and 4 diamond restaurants, mom and pop cafés and family diners and Chef Thierry's, at the renowned Loulay, is the best of them all! Worth a trip on its own, trust me.
Acting as if we were still very hungry, and not at all like he was trying to kill us through vicarious gluttony, Chef Thierry arranged for two exquisite desserts to be served as he scampered out the door to attend to his other highly regarded restaurant; Luc. Presumably to mingle with guests, answer questions and put his personal touch on Luc's diners' experiences as he had ours. First to arrive was the Lemon tart with huckleberry compote and lime crème fraiche, baked vanilla meringue and pink peppercorns. Think lemon meringue pie moving to and learning the culture of a mythical, unicorn capital city. This is the capital of lemon pie deliciousness. I've waxed poetically many a time on this blog about my dear Granny, Frances Allan, who would make the most incredible lemon pies, everything from scratch, and like a heroine junky I have been searching all my life for the same feeling that first hit gave me. This is as close as it has come, but out of deference for my dearly departed paternal grandmother I have to say it's not quite at her level. Hers was at a 13/10and this is a solid, very solid, 9/10!

Seared Foie Gras - rhubarb and spring onion bread pudding, tart cherry reduction

Valrhona Caramélia Torte - white chocolate hazelnut malt candy, espresso sauceValrhona Caramélia Torte - white chocolate hazelnut malt candy, espresso sauce

The Valrhone Caramélia Torte is a white chocolate hazelnut malt candy with espresso sauce. The hierarchy of nuts is hard to pin down. For me it goes something like: pecan, walnut, almond, hazelnut then the rest but for some, many maybe, hazelnut is at or near the top. Nutella and this dessert are two of the reasons why. Rich, but not too sweet. Soft yet perfectly baked this is a must try. If cocktails are the perfect way to start a meal then port is the perfect way to end it! I rate my overall experience at Loulay as a solid 9/10. I always like to leave room for improvement for the venerable Chef in the Hat to ever chase the dream!

Afternoon Tea Series: TWG Tea Canada / April 9, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Have you ever noticed that some days you learn a couple new things and some days you learn nothing? Since TWG Vancouver, which, it turns out, stands for The Wellbeing Group (learning) made its debut in Vancouver in 2016 their offerings seem to be constantly improving. The service has evolved in lockstep with our host Brady and server Donnie making us feel stupendously welcome! We started our visit with the Tea Party Tea, a delightful black tea with sweet undertones, and the White Spring Yin Zhen Silver Needles. The White Spring is renowned for its health benefits and is easily added to ones health regime because it is really delicious.

The West Coast Tea Set is a uniquely Vancouver, three-tiered teatime experience crafted by the very talented Chef Cliff Hohl. Japanese Miso Sablefish, Follow Me Tea Albacore and Steelhead Hawaiian poke with uni, Sencha infused Spicy Scallop Tempura Roll and Wagyu Beef and Burgundy Truffle with Hidden-Pu-Erh infused Vietnamese Pho. Yes Pho, properly pronounced fuh (think duh with an 'f'), in a tea set; amazing! Chef Cliff makes my favourite Sablefish. To say it's delicious cheapens the meaning of the word. It is incendiary. Having visited Hawaii for the first time in 2016 I came home with what some may dub an "unhealthy poke lust". I would dub it love and the poke done at TWG in a way that would make my Oahu brethren proud! The Spicy Scallop Tempura Roll is very good and the Pho, with its incredible Wagyu beefy goodness, wouldn't feel out of place in Saigon. In all an incredible and satisfying meal, but we were fortunate enough to indulge in another tea set right after we devoured this one.

Tier One - Sencha Infused Spicy Scallop Tempura Roll & Wagyu Beef and Burgundy Truffle with Hidden Pu-Erh infused Vietnamese Pho

Tier Two - Japanese Miso Maple Sablefish & Follow Me Tea Infused Albacore and Steelhead Hawaiian Poke with Uni

Tier Three - Lemon Bush Tea Infused Mousse Tart, Napoleon Tea Infused Jivara Petit Four, 1837 Black Tea Infused Pâte De Fruit, TWG Tea Macaron

The Chic Tea Set, unlike the temporarily available West Coast tea set, is a bonafide, tried and tested TWG menu staple. It features: Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Cream with Nori and Genmaicha Furikake, Mimosa Egg Sandwich with Aioli and Mirror Quail Eggs, Smoky Russian Tea Infused Tomato Bread with Pesto Chicken and Stracciatella Cheese. We had our arms twisted and added the Finger Sandwiches plate so we could enjoy two additional sandwiches not included in the Chic Tea Set, the Foie Gras Medallion and Atlantic Lobster Salad.

Smoke anything, salmon, beef, leather or bicycle, and I'll eat it. I will. The smoked salmon sandwich has a really nice popcorn-y flavour to it and I could have eaten 50 even after the West Coast Tea Set! The Mimosa Egg Sandwich's yoke pops as soon as you put it in your mouth and the flavour is fabulous. The pesto chicken sandwich is literally the best chicken sandwich I've ever had! Somewhere between the unique cheese and tomato bread a new level in chicken sandwichery is reached. Lobster is the most expensive crustacean on Earth and it isn't because they're beautiful. It isn't because they're hard to catch. It is because they taste like a sunny walk through a dewy meadow on your birthday. The lobster salad sandwich tastes like that walk times 10; it is incredible! The foie gras offering is equally delicious with a tangy mustard kick.

Smoked Salmon and Horserash Cream with Nori and Genmaicha Furikake, Mimosa Egg Sandwich with Aioli and Mirror Quail Eggs, Smoky Russian Tea Infused Tomato Bread with Pesto Chicken and Stracciatella Cheese

2 Freshly Baked Scones Served with TWG Tea Jelly & Whipped Cream

Finger Sandwiches - Smoked Salmon and Horserashish Cream with Nori and Genmaicha Furikake, Mimosa Egg Sandwich with Aioli and Mirror Quail Eggs, Smoky Russian Tea Infused Tomato Bread with Pesto Chicken and Stracciatella Cheese, Foie Gras Medallion … — Finger Sandwiches - Smoked Salmon and Horserashish Cream with Nori and Genmaicha Furikake, Mimosa Egg Sandwich with Aioli and Mirror Quail Eggs, Smoky Russian Tea Infused Tomato Bread with Pesto Chicken and Stracciatella Cheese, Foie Gras Medallion with Homemade Summer Palace Tea Infused Cherry Jam, Atlantic Lobster Salad bound with Geisha Blossom Tea Infused Créme Fraîche, Meyer Lemon and Norther Divine Caviar

The TWG desserts are worth the trip alone: Lemon Bush Tea infused Mousse Tart, Napoleon Tea Infused Jivara Petit Four, 1837 Tea Infused Pâté de Fruit and TWG Macaron. The Pâté de Fruit is amongst the tastiest things I've ever masticated. I have a sweet tooth, all my teeth really, and this soothed the lot. The lemon tart harkened back to my sweet Granny's homemade lemon meringue pies and I like things that make me think of the dearly departed Francis Allan so I liked this tart. Like a lot. The TWG macarons wouldn't be easily discernible sitting beside their $100 a pop, bejewelled Parisienne cousins and the Jivara Petit Four would satisfy any chocolate hounds cravings.

TWG is the best tea house in Vancouver. Full stop. It is wondrously beautiful inside and it, like the world's best athletes, the world's best anything really, strives to improve itself everyday. Chef Cliff Hohl is passionate about his craft and is also very, very good at it. Their upcoming Easter Tea Set will no doubt inspire me to wax poetically and I look forward to trying it. As you should.

Holy Crab! / March 29, 2017 by Jenn Chan

As you walk into Holy Crab's bright, modern space you're struck by the casual atmosphere not usually associated with their high end fare. Crabs and clams and mussels and lobsters dot the tables as bibs and gloves adorn the smiling guests. Whimsical how-to videos play on a loop on the tv's around the dining room and comical instruction guides 15 feet high dominate the back wall, we're in for some fun!

Our lovely server Crystal was keen to introduce herself and get our culinary adventure started. Evelyn, the manager, was similarly eager to make our acquaintance and, uncharacteristically of us, we let her order our entire meal! Minus the Hurricane IPA I requested, which was delicious, and the Stawberry Pom Mojito Crystal suggested for Jenn; both delicious! Seconds after our drinks arrived the surprises started to come as well. Seafood Chowder, amazing, and Seafood Bisque were first up followed quickly by Deep Fried Frog Legs and Crispy Soft Shell Crab. The chowder has a slightly sweet broth and was packed with seafood and potato; delicious! The bisque has a nice, light broth with a distinct, fresh flavour.

Frog legs are good, they just are! Caked in an incredible Cajun spice these were the best I have ever had! Go now, we'll wait. Good, right? I've yet to ever have a bad soft shell crab. If you haven't tried them you owe it to yourself. There's no messy de-shelling, not that, that isn't super fun anyway, but you simply grab and munch.

Speaking of the fun of de-shelling crustaceans... Just as I pop a wonderful soft shell crab into my mouth out swaggers Crystal with the main event; a 2.4 LBs Dungeness crab which looked like he probably gave the fishermen trying to reel his crab pot in a fight. Sturdy. The young man was sturdy. As food bloggers we enjoy, and greatly appreciate, certain perks. Our favourite on this night was the opportunity to try all six of Holy Crab's sauces. Generally you'll make a decision and your prehistoric sea creature will be covered in one of their highly doggy-baggable sauces, but we were lucky enough to get a six pack and an explanation of each. I like it hot. Hot, hot, hot. So I tended, when not opting for the tried and true melted butter original, to hover around the super spicy sauce. When Jenn wasn't looking I tried to swap it around for the medium spice, but she eyed the colour difference and my prank, sadly, did not succeed. That failure aside the crab was amongst the best is ever tried. Fresh, well coloured and meaty! I highly recommend Holy Crab if the usual snottiness of high end seafood restaurants draw your ire or if you don't think your kids could behave long enough in one for you to finish. It's a modern, upscale test casual seafood experience and one the whole family can enjoy. Tell Evelyn that Jenn Chan Media sent you and you'll be glad we did!

Dungeness Crab, Shrimps, variety of sauces, Nugget Potatoes, Corn, Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab, Deep Fried Frog Legs & Lobster Bisque

Fusion Restaurants in Vancouver: Kamei Baru / March 27, 2017 by Jenn Chan

Kamei Royale was the Kamei family's original foray into the Vancouver restaurant scene. For 40 years it was an institution in the neighbourhood that was once commonly called Lil Ginza; the stretch of Alberni Street between Burrard and Bute Streets. As a resident of Alberni Street I still call it Lil Ginza and hope desperately it catches back on! Kamei Baru, Japanese for bar, is a more casual atmosphere, but with the same quality that has helped the Kamei and Ebisu brands expand throughout the Lower Mainland.

Naomi, our very lovely server, assured me my Yuzu Margarita wasn't topped with caramelized onions as she placed it in front of me; "phew" I thought as I took a large sip. Deon explained it as a hybrid between an orange and a lemon and it's newly in my top five fruits! JC ordered the Lychee Ball: Lychee liqueur, peach liqueur, apple juice and garnished with, you guessed it, Lychee balls. "Sweet and fruity, the liqueurs are barely noticeable, a dangerous combo.

Raw fish isn't for everyone. The idea alone scares some people, but, luckily, Jenn and I aren't among those people. It would be a valid estimate to say that I have eaten my weight in salmon sashimi in my lifetime and I'm a big boy. Like 220 LBs of big. That's a lot of poor little fishies, but it's them or me. The sashimi platter at Kamei, Hamachi, Atlantic and Sockeye Salmons and Albacore Tuna, is world class. I've ordered sashimi at small mom and pop spots and 4 diamond eateries and Kamei Baru's offering holds its own in terms of quality of fish and freshness with anyone!

Sashimi Platter: Hamachi, Atlantic Salmon, Sockeye Salmon & Albacore Tuna

Up next on our adventure was the Lobster Miso Chowder Pot Pie. It's the first and only time I've ever, ever seen this on a menu or even heard of it, but it should be everywhere! A flaky, heavenly, pastry hiding a steaming bowl of Japanese inspired Miso seafood chowder. Big bites of delicious lobster throughout, corn, celery and tender potatoes round out his incredible dish. Right on the heels of the pot pie, which vanished at top speed in a whirl of duelling spoons, came the Baru wings, Salmon Motoyaki Battera and BBQ Cuttlefish. The chicken wings, bathed in a unique balsamic teriyaki sauce, stack jup against any in the city; very, very good!

The Salmon Motoyaki Battera is pressed Atlantic Salmon with Motoyaki sauce on sushi rice and blow torched. If you're thinking that sounds good you're right! Cuttlefish could look scary if you're not a big seafood person or if you're an old timey sailor with recurring nightmares of giant squid capsizing your ship, but there's nothing to be scared of! This squid's cousin is tender and delicious and, when dunked into the Japanese mayo, the world's best mayo, it is a flavour explosion!

Risking explosion we let Naomi talk us into desserts. You won't be able to tell her no either! Jenn went with the Anmitsu and I ordered the cheesecake. The presentation was lovely and the cheesecake, made in-house, was nice and light with a delicious crust! Served with whipped cream, fresh strawberries, blueberries and rich piece of milk chocolate it was an excellent cap to the meal! Jenn's dessert, of the traditional Japanese variety, consisted of green tea ice cream, mochi balls, fresh strawberries, red Sean and whipped cream. Very good mixture of flavours and she really enjoyed it!

This wasn't our first time at Kamei Baru and it won't be our last. Centrally located just off Burrard Street on Smithe and steps to the bustling Scotiabank Movie Theatre it is a very convenient location for downtowners and there wasn't an empty seat in the house on a drizzly Friday night. Awesome energy, great food and well above average service!

Afternoon Tea Series: The Secret Garden Tea Company / March 25, 2017 by Jenn Chan

"Take a bite and then write" were Jenn's words of welcome as I sauntered into the lovely Secret Garden nearly an hour late. A cold bead of sweat trickled down my forehead as I took in the ambience and started to acclimate to the tony surroundings. Elegant white, wood paneling adorn the walls and Persian rugs bigger than I've ever seen half cover light hardwood floors. Half tea shoppe and half tea room the Secret Garden Tea Company puts off a distinct Alice in Wonderland vibe and everyone is grinning ear to ear!

I elected to go with a pot of apricot/ peach tea, to satisfy my sweet tooth, and was very glad I did! Delicious, aromatic and not too sweet. One of the best teas I've ever tried! As I sipped a 3-tiered tower of deliciousness was placed in front of me. Now I have developed a pretty bad habit over the last few years: croissant addiction. A severe, sometimes crippling addiction to France's second best export which only trails the French invention of democracy by a hair. I don't know what it is. I can't explain it, but when I see croissants I eat them. Without shame. The Tarragon Scented Asparagus Sandwiches on Petit Croissants were a revelation and I don't generally like asparagus. Or tarragon for that matter. But put them on a croissant and I could have eaten 20!

The Secret Garden Egg Pinwheels were a close runner up, akin to democracy trailing only croissants, and were incredibly fresh. If you've gathered that I have no aversion to carbohydrates and their prime delivery agents, pastries, you couldn't be more right. Enter the

Muffaletta with Genoa Salami, Ham, and Olive Relish on Housemade Cornmeal Biscuits. I have only been to Italy for a few hours, a quick jaunt into Trieste during a road trip of the Balkans, but if I get into Genoa I'm putting them on notice right now that they're going to need to make extra salami! This sandwich is a peppery adventure sweetened just enough by the cornmeal; excellent!

Secret Garden Egg Pinwheels, Tarragon Scented Asparagus Sandwiches on Petit Croissants, & Muffaletta with Genoa Salami, Ham, and Olive Relish on Housemade Cornmeal Biscuits

Scones are good. You might have guessed already that it'd be likely I'd enjoy them. Add some Raspberry Jam and Devonshire Cream and I enjoyed them more than I should have. A perfect 10/10 pastry! The Tea Cake Slices were a nice blend of sweet and tart, but the Tangy Mini Lemon Curd Tart was all sweet in a very good way. Bittersweet Chocolate Silk Mousse Cake speaks for itself. I remember sneaking my mom's baking chocolate out of the cupboard thinking I've stumbled upon a mother load only to find them half edible, but when you add the sweetness of the mousse to the mix thus dessert is a home run! When tourists come to Canada they almost inevitable leave with maple syrup. Why? We'll fit one its awesome. For two we have the leaf from that particular tree displayed prominently on our flag and, we'll, everywhere else! The Quebec Maple Fudge with Vanilla Chantilly scream Canada, whiskers the Anglican/ Francophone brotherhood and is just plain delicious.

Scone with Raspberry Jam and Devonshire Cream & Tea Cake Slices

Tangy Mini Lemon Curd Tart, Bittersweet Chocolate Silk Mousse Cake, & Quebec Maple Fudge with Vanilla Chantilly

When you combine the bright, airy surroundings, incredibly congenial service, amazing tea and excellent food it isn't hard to see why the Secret Garden requires a reservation! Call today and tell them the folks at Jenn Chan Media sent you and take our word for it you'll be glad you did!