66215 Sun Jan 30 00:34:30 -0800 2005 19 2 Los Angeles Area 0 357607 Would love some suggestions for high tea in a lovely atmosphere. Reasonable prices would be good. Thanks! Sun Jan 30 00:34:30 -0800 2005 0 Julie 1 357612 Do you mean thai tea or is there really high tea? Sun Jan 30 01:58:48 -0800 2005 357607 0 Mme 2 357622 I mean the British version with tea, finger sandwiches and scones. Has anyone tried Jin Patisserie? Sun Jan 30 07:11:15 -0800 2005 357612 0 Julie 3 357628 The British afternoon meal with tea, little sandwiches and pastries is called "tea" or perhaps "formal tea". High tea is a meal more like our "supper" eaten when dad's home from work and the kids are home from school. It might include a casserole made from Sunday leftovers, tea and a gooey dessert. Most Americans use the term High Tea the way you do, but if you ask for High Tea in the UK, you will be surprised. Etymology aside, try Chado Tea Room in Pasadena, or the McCharles House in Tustin, or the tea room at the Huntington Library. Sun Jan 30 11:27:37 -0800 2005 357622 0 Dorothy 4 357634 The Huntington is lovely but the food's only adequate. Rose Tree Cottage has decent tea but it's cramped. The Bel-Air has a wonderful spread but it's not free, likewise the Peninsula. Sun Jan 30 12:22:26 -0800 2005 357628 0 Kitchenette 5 357638 Sorry, forgot to mention one thing about the Huntington. You first have to get in -- either by paying for admission, or by being a member or a member's guest. So if you're not a member and don't go with a member, that adds to the cost of their tea. I agree it's not fabulous, but I'd call it good. And when the roses are in bloom . . . . that alone is worth the price of admission even if you don't stop in to see the library or the art . . . Sun Jan 30 13:42:08 -0800 2005 357634 0 Dorothy 3 357643 Linked below is perceptor's report of Jin. Responses may give more info, too. Haven't been myself but have generally heard positive things. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/65074#350282 Sun Jan 30 14:23:29 -0800 2005 357622 0 Carb Lover 3 357647 Jin has great macaroons and some good cakes, but the tea was only so-so. Still, lovely ambiance and relatively inexpensive. Macaroons not part of the tea set tho. I prefer the Raffles L'ermitage although theirs will set you back $30. Sun Jan 30 15:01:00 -0800 2005 357622 0 vidia 4 357911 the cakes are delightful! we bought 6 different cakes last weekend and they were a hit at our dinner party. the green tea was a little flavorless or should i say subtle however the chocolate pyramid was wonderful! the packaging was quite unique as well! i can't wait to taste more of those gorgeous sweets! Wed Feb 02 02:01:51 -0800 2005 357647 0 sweet-t 1 357614 See link. The Peninsula was nice. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/65100#350518 Sun Jan 30 02:58:10 -0800 2005 357607 0 Sonia 1 357631 Thanks for explaining the distinction. Sun Jan 30 12:13:59 -0800 2005 357607 0 Julie 2 357670 LOL as soon as I saw your post I knew someone would straighten you out. Happens about once a month around here. It is probably one of the top 10 most corrected misconceptions on Chowhound. Sun Jan 30 21:01:35 -0800 2005 357631 0 snackish 1 357632 I've heard about this place recently in Pasadena but have never been. Their website makes it look very charming and inviting, and they've certainly been at it for a long time (20 years it says). If you go there, I'd really appreciate it if you'd post your review. Link: http://www.rosetreecottage.com/ Sun Jan 30 12:18:26 -0800 2005 357607 0 ThatPat 2 357706 Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena is very quaint. They are located in a courtyard of bungalows that were probably apartments at one time. Very good food and tea (however, they only offer one type of blend). Run by an Englishman and his wife. They were voted one of the top 10 teahouses in North America some years ago. I love to go there. They also have a shop where you can get all kinds of English items - including stoves!! I believe it is around $29 pp. Kinda pricey, but worth it in my opinion. Reservations necessary as it usually gets filled up. Mon Jan 31 11:39:24 -0800 2005 357632 0 WildSwede 1 357664 Chado on Third Street isn't quite as lovely as some of the other L.A. area options. Let's just say a guy would be comfortable there, whereas Rose Tree Cottage is pretty frilly. But they do a very good job. I like their chicken with lingonberry finger sandwiches, even though that isn't perhaps totally traditional. Oh, they have a location in Pasadena as well. But I have not been there. The Tudor House in Santa Monica is also kind of fun and very English. Sun Jan 30 20:01:59 -0800 2005 357607 0 passthesauce 2 357715 I like Chado for many thing but they do not use real Devonshire cream with their scones, which pretty much defeats the whole purpose of a scone. Mon Jan 31 12:24:59 -0800 2005 357664 0 JudiAU 1 357673 On 2nd street just South of Santa Monica Blvd (around the corner from Kingshead in Santa Monica)is a very pleasant English tea room, it is small and quaint. On the non tea room side there is an English market and small deli where you can pick up English delicacies to go. Sun Jan 30 21:11:46 -0800 2005 357607 0 tctc 1 357736 Also, you may want to consider doing it at home. We (mom's friend and I) threw my mom a lovely Queen's Tea for her 60th (this was to deter her from the huge surprise party I had planned for the next weekend) and it was wonderful. My mom made the scones (well, yes, it was her party, but she makes them best) and we got a wonderful selection of beautiful desserts from Porto's. Devonshire cream (Gelsons and Briston Farms carry it) and my hommeade jam as well as some storebought ones. Had many selections of tea and everyone got their own beautiful teapot. Made finger sandwiches and had a selection of fruit as well. Everyone had a grand time, and the nice thing about it is that you can linger as long as you want and not feel rushed. There were 7 of us. Mon Jan 31 14:02:17 -0800 2005 357607 0 WildSwede 1 357926 One suggestion that hasn't been mentioned is the Tea Room in the Huntington Gardens. It certainly isn't cheap but the location can't be beat and the food is pretty tasty. Wed Feb 02 21:02:15 -0800 2005 357607 0 oro3030 2 357936 Went a couple of weeks ago. Pretty good - they have a selection of 2 teas. One was described as an Earl Grey-type and the other was something orange - if they have the orange one - GET IT!! Fantastic! I have been to several tea houses, and this is the first one that is buffet style - you can go as many times as you want. Had about 9 different types of sandwiches (although the poor girl in front of me who was allergic to cheese could only eat one - the chicken salad). All were very good, although the one with horseradish had a little too much on it. Cut fruit with a sour cream type sauce and different types of desserts. The scones were good - we got 3 types, chocolate chip (my least favorite), ginger and almond (my fave). They brought more devonshire cream if requested. Service was pretty good as well. I think it was something like $19 (or maybe it was $15??) can't remember. However, one thing to keep in mind - you have to pay for admission to Huntington Gardens to get to the tea room. Also, at this time of year there was really nothing fantastic to look at in the gardens, unless you want to take a walk to work off some of that food you are eating! However, you do get to see Little Boy Blue and Pinkie in all their glory! Thu Feb 03 12:34:33 -0800 2005 357926 0 WildSwede