Orange Pekoe

Well hello there! It's definately been more than a while! I have excuses...I've been travelling the globe and bumped into Matt Bomer on the streets of Paris. We've been in this crazy whirlwind romance since which can only likened to a story from a novel that has a grey tie on the front page! Okay maybe not, maybe this is my current fantasy. My real excuses are quite lame; laptop broke, attempts to save, focus on the day job. I'm pretty sure I'm not forgivable now.

Anyway, despite lame reason numero one still being the case, I still want to share the places I visit across London. They are too good to not share! 

So my tea room that has got me back into blogging is orange pekoe. It was meant to be. A random sunny afternoon, I couldn't decide where to go so I thought I'd hop on the train and make up my mind while I'm on it! Spontaneous eh?! I pulled up to Barnes which is still a little unfamilar to me despite living in this neck of the woods for a few years now. A kind lady directed from the streets on how to get to the high street and gushed I had to walk along the river to her favourite coffee shop. I thanked her and told her I had read up on the place in one of my many tearoom books. I had no idea it was only a hop skip and a walk along the river away :)

Once I found the place I was greeted by the friendly owner. He took one look at me and my samsung camera clicking away and said 'hey there girl, are you thinking of setting up a rival coffee shop?' Ahhhh one day I will you know. Not seeming to believe me he offered me his favourite ethopian coffee and a ridiculously indulgent cake to sit in the sun with. Happy Easter to moi!

Many tea options for my next visit.

 

Barnes is such a beautiful part of South London. Picturesque green and pond, boutiques, charity shops you know you will find some whistles number in, and row upon row of cottages adorned with roses. I'd recommend a picnic on the green opposite the pond, followed by a mooch down the high street towards the river. Head right along the thames to another cute hub of shops where Orange pekoe is nestled! For food you will have to try The White Hart looking over the river. I didn't have the time and was way too full up on chocolate genache so do tell me if you make it there!

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Mad Hatters Tea Party

So, I have to tell you firstly, how happy I was meeting these beautiful bloggers in the flesh! I have been reading their blogs for a few months now so it was ace to actually sit down with them and have a good old gossip about tea/cake/love and life! We had arranged it a while back and so I was worried that life might do its thing and get in the way. But we all amazingly pulled it off and enjoyed the most playful afternoon tea at The Sanderson in the most glorious weather! Result. 

Meet the ladies 

Ibbs, Emily, Katie B, Caroline, Katie M 

They are all just as lovely as they appear on their blogs. Yep. Get yourself over to their blogs (after reading mine!) and follow their lifestyle/baking blogs to show them some love.

The Mad Hatters theme taken from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland was evident from the china, cakes and even the staff! We had an awesome waiter who was a tad bit eccentric. Check him out...

Tea was very delicate. We opted for all flavours as we couldn't chose despite trying. The Sanderson offered Rhubarb and Custard (my fav), Mint chocolate, Strawberry and cream and Apple pie. Do you understand where our dilemma was now?

Cakes were worth every bite. We had strawberries and cream mushroom marshmellows (yum), melting mango cheesecake (yummier), green tea and white chocolate mouse in a popping candy chocolate cup (yummier than yummier). I was dead impressed with how everything was flavoursome and creamy but you never felt like you could say no to another :) 

The famous 'Drink Me' portion. I have seen this for a number of years now in photographs of the afternoon tea and finally managed to get a taste. It was split into different creamy and citrusy flavours which meant you had to drink really slowly to be able to taste them all. 

After deciding somehow that we'd had enough cake for one afternoon we read our individual riddles wrapped around our napkins which we all thought was really sweet. Mine read At night they come without being fetched. By day they are lost without being stolen. What are they? Err I seem to have forgotten the answer to this? Anyone want to guess? I think the answer is Stars!?

Here we are...

Thanks for coming! See you soon for the next meet up soon I hope.

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The Ritz

Well, sweeties, I had the pleasure of visiting the most renowned place in London today! I only went and dined at the Ritz!!!! Yep, there was little ole me in the fancy establishment actually finding myself critiquing the tea and sandwhiches! Shows I am visiting a lot of tearooms nowadays if I'm doing this at the Ritz! 

Well, here's my photos and opinions for all they're worth...

Getting ready to The Lighthouse Family - made me even more excited for the trip. How amazing are the Lighthouse family by the way - I had totally forgot about them until the other day. If you do one thing tomorrow listen to this in the sun! 

I usually hate it when the taxi's late - but today - who cares! Beautiful day to stand around taking some snaps with Anne. Anne is my neighbour by the way, who is the youngest bubbliest 87 year old going. The only difference between her and me is a number. She is so caring too and has this personality that I wish I had! On the journey as we chatted she said something that hit a chord with me. She said - If you want it, get it and don't ever regret it girl. Now this might seem like bad advice to some sensible folk out there, but me, I am an expert in convincing myself I deserve a treat so instantly nodded and grinned feeling a tad bit relieved after all the people in my life chanting ISA or STOP spending at me. Yesterday I needed that hot chocolate and croissant as it's a Friday and I need a pick me up at the end of the week. Last week, I was having a duvet day so needed to buy a million magazines. When in reality I don't need half of the things I purchase! But like Anne said, who cares! I couldn't agree more. 

I went for a rose tea and tucked into the selection of sandwiches. The nice thing about the Ritz is they are not stingey with their sandwiches. They just kept coming, and coming! Smocked salmon was my favourite. They are quite plain and traditional but this was ok with me. I'd rather not max out before I got to the cakes.

The chocolate cake was so rich and dark. It was loved by all and by far my favourite part of the tea. This was then followed by a trifle  and lemon drizzle cake! Total over load of puddings but we couldn't resist - the lemon drizzle was scrummy and sweet on the outside, a little on the dry side inside but still goooood. I wasn't a fan of the trifle but I must have been wrong as Anne and Francesca was up in arms protesting its the best they'd tried. 

After a few hours of fine dining we reluctantly left the premises and hopped in a taxi back to Waterloo. The journey passed Big Ben and Westminster Abbey - nice! I tried to get some good pics as we whizzed by them but may have failed there.

Unwilling to call it a night I relaxed with some wine at home. It was no good though. My stomach was about to pop and my pj bottoms was all I could think about. It was such a fun day and if your planning a hen do/special birthday I'd consider the Ritz as your venue for a memorable indulgent experience! Or if you just wanted to get your man in a suit and tie to drool over...? Suits are compulsory at the Ritz you know.

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