Trixie Navarre

Is it love or an obsession? I may be obsessed with my love for afternoon tea, or I may be in love with my obsession. At this point in the game, I doubt it matters.

I have always delighted in the whole experience; the formality and the deliciousness that comes with a proper tea service. There are many interpretations of afternoon tea from a casual café setting, to the opulence of a Palm Court. I take pleasure in it so much that I have done afternoon tea solo while traveling; as well as sharing tea time with good friends and my daughter. Afternoon tea has also been special for my adult daughter and I. We have been partaking in afternoon tea since she was an early teen, and still enjoy this fanciful experience to this day.

A journal of nine Afternoon Tea experiences in 2019 and 2020, on both sides of the pond.

This is PART TWO, there are more!

☕ For the Love of Afternoon Tea – Part One

☕ For the Love of Afternoon Tea – Las Vegas Style

☕ Afternoon Tea 101 – Basics on the ritual called ‘Afternoon Tea’

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— The Winter Palace in Luxor Egypt – 2019—

My trip to Egypt was remarkable, and I felt fortunate that I had spent it with a couple of longtime friends. Life is fun and occasionally does mind blowing things like escorting you and two friends, that you have known since childhood to Luxor, Egypt, and have afternoon tea at the Winter Palace.

The afternoon tea service was very elegant, but I was not expecting anything less. Placed on top of a classic coffee table were delicate embroidered napkins, fine linen, and monogramed china. It was very magnificent, and I know all of us ladies felt special to have tea here.

👩🏻‍💻➡For my complete review and more information: Cocktails & Afternoon Tea at Winter Palace in Luxor, Egypt

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OXO Tower Restaurant in London, England – 2019

I made a reservation for one, which is not uncommon for me as a solo traveler. I rarely wait for others especially if I want to try a place out or travel somewhere. Having afternoon tea at OXO was one of those places. Although I would have loved to been here with my adult daughter, or one of my tea loving friends. It was just me, and I really do enjoy my own company.

I started off with a Champagne Cocktail, which always sets the pace well of an afternoon tea. For the tea selections, they offered Harvey Nichols tea sachets, and I selected the Early Gray.

The first course of OXO’s tea service made its appearance on a traditional tiered platter, with the condiment assortment on the top. Then the appetizing savories in the middle, and last but not least, the classic finger sandwiches.

Then came the sweets and the scones. In this tea service the scones were served along with the sweets. Typically, the scones are served prior, or with the whole service. Afternoon tea presents itself differently from place to place, and it is always good to be flexible.

Once again, my gastronomic affair with afternoon tea and travel continues. This is a lifestyle, and a very good one indeed.

To experience OXO Tower’s afternoon tea, please visit their website for information: OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar & Brasserie

For my Yelp Review- Read Trixie N.‘s review of OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar And Brasserie on Yelp

👩🏻‍💻➡For my complete review and more information: Afternoon Tea at the OXO Tower Restaurant | London, England

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Palm Court at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, NY – 2019

I am a fan of a ‘Palm Court’ for afternoon tea. There are not many left in the world besides the two I had been to in London and Edinburgh, as well as The Plaza in Manhattan. Choosing to have afternoon tea inside the Palm Court at The Plaza was a win-win situation. I could experience one of New York’s grandest afternoon teas, as well as checking off a visit to another beloved Palm Court.

As for the afternoon tea delicacies, every bite was heavenly. Everything was served at once on a multiple tiered serving tray. The colorful array of savories and sweets, plus the delicious scones were thoroughly enjoyed.

This was a special afternoon tea because it was a Congratulations Tea for my daughter, as she had just graduated from University. Afternoon tea has been a personal experience that I have shared with her for a decade or so. What a better way to celebrate this milestone with an experience that we love to share.

For afternoon tea information and reservations, please visit their website: The Palm Court The Plaza Hotel

For my complete YELP review– Read Trixie N.‘s review of The Palm Court on Yelp

👩🏻‍💻➡For my complete review and more information: A Festive Holiday Afternoon Tea | The Plaza in New York City

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Veranda at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas – 2019

Within the last few years, Las Vegas has been booming with afternoon tea hot spots. There are two in the city though that I would consider the most classic and posh. The first would be the Tea Lounge, and the second would be afternoon tea at the Veranda.

I have enjoyed afternoon tea at the Veranda inside the Four Seasons twice, and it has always been a graceful tea service. The Veranda is the Four Seasons main restaurant, and offers a very sumptuous champagne afternoon tea, as well as all day dining.

Delicate and delectable savories and sweets.

For restaurant information, please visit- Veranda Four Seasons

For my Gold Elite Yelp Review- Read Trixie N.‘s review of Veranda on Yelp

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Waldorf Astoria in Las Vegas, Nevada – 2020

Several Las Vegas friends of mine decided to kick of 2020 with an afternoon tea inside the Waldorf Astoria. We were also celebrating three January birthdays, including mine. What we did not know was that this would be one of our last big get together for awhile due to Covid. It worked out fine because we ended the year with Holiday Afternoon Tea, again at the Waldorf Astoria, but socially distanced.

The tea offerings were excellent, and there was a type of tea for everyone. The fluffy scones were delicious, with the traditional lemon curd and clotted cream.

As for the savories served, everything was wonderful. My favorite was the Coronation Chicken sandwiches, which were so very British. I have always enjoyed Coronation Chicken Salad sandwiches when I visited the UK, and it was nice to have them offered here. The colorful pastries were divine, every one of them. They were beautiful in detail, and tasted just as nice.

At the end of our tea, the servers brought out cupcakes for three of the ladies, including myself, since we were celebrating our birthday month.

For my Gold Yelp Elite Review- Read Trixie N.‘s review of Twist by Pierre Gagnaire on Yelp

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Coffee Religion in Las Vegas – 2020

Coffee Religion was one of the newer Las Vegas locations that started their afternoon tea service during 2020. My lovely set of Las Vegas friends and I, who enjoy noshing around town, decided to try out their afternoon tea. This was a fun and tasty tea service that was in a casual coffee house.

The selection of scones, savories, and sweets were appetizing, and there were so much. I ended up bringing home a Take-Away box of many leftover sweets. The scones were scrumptious, and were served with butter, jam, and their version of a house made clotted cream.

The next move was on to the savories, and everything tasted delightful. We enjoyed it all from the two types of toasts: Mascarpone & Pear, and the Avocado & Egg. We could not get enough of their delicious egg salad finger sandwiches, and mentioned that we would by their Asian inspired egg salad by the tub.

We had an assortment of wonderful sweets from biscuits (cookies), lemon bars, chocolate covered strawberries, and tea cakes.

The tea selection was impressive, and we were offered two types for our sitting. The House Blend to start, which was a blend of jasmine, green tea, and rose. After the House Blend, we had our choice of about six different teas. The three of us decided on the Chrysanthemum and Rose, which was light and tasteful.

For café information, please visit COFFEE RELIGION

For my complete Gold Elite Yelp Review- Read Trixie N.‘s review of Coffee Religion on Yelp

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Queen of Hearts in Henderson, Nevada – 2020

Another afternoon tea location to open in 2020 was Chef Angela Sweetser’s, Queen of Hearts, in Henderson. I attended a ‘Mad Tea Party’ here with several other fun characters. My friends were having a birthday party, and what other way to party than with an afternoon tea. Chef Angela Sweetser was the perfect hostess as she whipped up a sweet display of scones, tea sandwiches, and pastries.

As for the little bites, everything was so lovely and delicious. There were two different scones that were freshly baked and flavorful. The savories and tea sandwiches were my favorite, as they have always been my favorite when it comes to an afternoon tea. The Basque egg salad was very tasty, and I loved the sprinkling of the Basque paprika, it made such a difference. All the sweets and pastries were fun and creative too. The sweet little lemon curd white rabbit was the hit of the table, it was adorable.

Chef Angela puts together one great “Mad Tea Party’! It was whimsical, enjoyable, and scrumptious.

For reservations, please visit Queen of Hearts

For my Gold Elite Yelp Review- Read Trixie N.‘s review of Queen of Hearts on Yelp

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Mg Patisserie in Las Vegas, Nevada – 2020

Since Mg Patisserie & Café opened on my side of Las Vegas, I have become one of their pastry devotees. Chef Michael Gillet is a Two Michelin Star Pastry Chef with over two decades of experience, and he creates some of the most indulgent desserts in Vegas.

When there was word that he would be hosting afternoon tea once a month, I cannot tell you how excited my friends and I became. There was reason for excitement because when tea day came, we indulged in a decedent array of pastries and savories.

There were definite table favorites including the Rum and Vanilla Canele, Caramel Cheesecake, Lemon Méringue Raspberry Tarts, and the Mint Chocolate Crisps. Tea was presented in a clever style, on various height pedestals to play with the term of “High Tea”.

For café information, please visit Mg Patisserie and Café

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Holiday Tea at Waldorf Astoria, Las Vegas – 2020

We kicked off the 2020 year with an afternoon tea at the Waldorf Astoria, and we ended the year with the same. Although this year has been out of the norm, a couple of my friends who originally joined me for tea at the Waldorf Astoria back in January, decided to end the year with their Holiday Afternoon Tea.

The Tea Lounge did a magnificent execution of a Holiday Afternoon Tea with deliciously themed tea sandwiches and desserts. It was a very festive afternoon with friends, as we noshed on little bites while sipping delightful tea and bellinis.

Out of all the afternoon tea spots in Las Vegas, the Tea Lounge has always been my favorite. The quality that goes into every detail of this tea service is exceptional; from the individual pots of top-notch tea choices, to the exceptional morsels served on whimsical plates. This is the swankiest afternoon tea in Sin City.

For reservations, please visit their website – Tea Lounge at Waldorf Astoria

👩🏻‍💻➡For food descriptions and my complete review: The Tea Lounge at Waldorf Astoria – The Swankiest Afternoon Tea in Sin City

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Cheers to Afternoon Tea!

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📸 All photos are taken by me and are my intellectual property – Trixie Navarre