Tea by the Sea at the Getty Villa - Malibu

At some point in her life, every girl throws a tea party for her dolls. And one of them is always Malibu Barbie because let's face it, what little girl doesn't try to look like Malibu Barbie?

Well this girl didn't end up looking like Malibu Barbie, and I'm too old to be dining with dolls, but don't think for a moment that it stopped me from having a grown-up tea party with Tea by the Sea. 

Even my most luxurious childhood tea parties were held over a low, plastic ottoman, and the Getty Villa's linen-lined formal setting in a glass-paneled dining area made my pinky reflexively curl. And I knew my days of sipping water from the chipped saucers and teacups were over when I smelled a fragrant and elegant Lavender Tea. 

Some of the best scones I've ever had were plastic, but I suppose these will do. Crumbly Cranberry Scones go great with layers of jelly and mascarpone. The Tea Bread, a denser, sweeter poundcake, softens with a sip of tea.

The bread is great, but the bread pudding is even better. The classy-chic ramekin holds a warm, unexpectedly salty and savory Pumpkin Bread Pudding with buttered-pumpkin and rich gruyere.

You can't have the savory without the sweet, and the Warm Fig Tartlet takes care of that with a crumbly crust, soft, sugary figs, and a creamy, blue-cheese edge.

The tiered serving-dish is gorgeous, but I barely noticed the beautiful sandwiches against the breathtaking view of Malibu. And the only thing better than delicate bites of Seared Albacore Tuna and Shaved Tenderloin of Beef with juicy wild mushrooms was delicate bites of seared albacore tuna and shaved tenderloin of beef against a beachy backdrop.

Tuna and tenderloin make for some choice bites, but it's the Muscovy Duck Breast sandwich that really shines. The fatty duck basks in the radiating rays of afternoon sun, offset by tangy-sweet cranberry and woodsy smoked cheddar.

With entrees that taste like a dream-come-true, it's too tempting to just drink tea all day. But count on the Poppy Seed Strassburger Cookies to bring you back to earth with a polished, gently-sweetened shortbread-y crunch. The Carrot Cake is covered with a sugary icing that give you a burst of energy, and the Devil's Food Cake is happy, definitive ending with rich, moist chocolate covered with a dense vanilla ganache.

If tea parties had a queen, the Getty Villa's Tea by the Sea would wear the crown. The view is unbeatable, the munch-able morsels are bite-sized marvels, and the portion size is just enough to let you feel full without falling into a food coma halfway through the museum. 

I love the villa and I love the tea, but it'll be a while before I can treat myself again. The experience justifies the cost, but one too many teas at $36 per person will turn any princess into a pauper.