Tea for Two

November 1

We are off to Butchart Gardens this morning to hook up with Mike Brown and Carol, who just arrived yesterday from Ontario.  Beautiful sunny day in the works.  Nice to see a familiar face from Craigleith, and we had a nice walk and chat as we toured around the gardens.  Unfortunately a lot of plantings here are “done for the season”……that is becoming a recurring theme!……but what was still in place was beautiful, and the trees, especially the Japanese Maple’s were spectacular.  The roses obviously were not in bloom because they are “done for the season”, but interesting to see the names given to certain flowers. This place must be gorgeous in the summer, and apparently they illuminate most of it for Christmas/Winter viewing also. Lot’s of gardens pic’s.

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We pass on high tea (not where you smoke a joint and put on the kettle) with M&C at the gardens dining room, as Jutta and I are planning to do this at the Empress Hotel downtown sometime during the trip, and once we are in the car, we decide what the hell, let’s give them a call.  Somehow, we are in luck, and our booking for high tea is in 90 minutes…….perfect.  Apparently they have spent millions of dollars renovating this landmark hotel, and soon plan to close certain sections again for even further work to be done.  It looked pretty good to me, so not sure what they are up to now.  

Tea is served overlooking the harbour in a lovely light filled lounge with soaring ceilings, and obviously starts as most meals do with the Menu……..this one tea only………I opt for Orange Pekoe (I’m a regular guy), and Jutta is obviously feeling a little Bella Coola Organic today.  The table is prepared with candle warmers for our individual pots, and an interesting tri-hourglass to help us determine when to pull the bag (a bit much, but fun).  Before long, our triple decker service arrives………middle layer first……sandwiches…..one each…..shrimp, salmon, curried chicken, pinwheel pumpernickel w/artichokes and red peppers, and of course the classic cucumber.  After that, you move to the bottom layer where two light airy scones await, with fresh cream and strawberry jam……….all the while, those little beauties on the top layer are staring you right in the face.  It is clear that the cream portion is inadequate and I tell our waitress that it is barely half my wife’s daily allowance…….following the laughter, a second portion is delivered to the table, and we wipe out base layer in minutes.  Now for those beauties on top……what to eat first, and what to save for your last bite????……….it is all a blur now, but somehow I managed to finish a matcha tea chocolate dipped macaron, pistachio nut cake, coconut cream filled chocolate thingy, lime zest shortbread, and I saved the lemon meringue for last.  Fantastic experience and worth every penny………all 20,000 of them.

    
It is hard to rise from my chair, but somehow I manage, and we make our way outside to a still beautiful sunny day.  A walk of some sort is in order, and we head in the direction of the truck, allowing ourselves to get pulled onto side streets and down these charming alleys that are all over downtown.  We visit some great shops, a couple of galleries, check out some restaurants for future bookings, and eventually wind up back at the truck, more than ready to head home for the evening.  There are no dinner plans tonight…….I don’t think I could even look at food for the next 24 hrs.

Plan B is warm and welcoming……..holy crap, Sunday Night Football is on and its only 6 o’clock……we are not long for this world tonight, and very shortly cuddling in the duvet.  More news tomorrow.