We fancy. It's high tea at THE Peninsula, and the Living Room didn't disappoint. They have all the trappings of an upscale tea salon, with comfy couches and cozy booths for lounging with your pinky up.
The price reflects the service as well as the quality of the food, though I don't love that it requires a glass of champagne. It's a good champagne and goes great with the starter of Strawberries & Cream, but it'd be nice if they offered to take it off the tab for those who either don't drink or simply don't want to drink at 11 AM.
Choose one tea for your afternoon service. They carry a suitable selection, and all of them seem lovely. I had my Earl Grey with lemon, and hubby opted for a smoother Oolong.
The 3-tiered service arrives not a moment too soon, and it is spectacular. Make no mistake, each offering is exquisite, as delicately rendered as they are heavily buttered and covered in cream.
The bottom boasts of so many sandwiches, the silkiest house smoked salmon with a dab of caviar and a slice of citrus. English cucumber sliced fresh and thin tempers a bold pumpernickel . Egg salad is creamy and smooth, soothing the only rye bread I've ever liked. Chicken salad is a sweet surprise, elevated by honey, raisins, and mascarpone. Charred zucchini is a dreamy summer squash, sun-sweet on a bed of bright tomato.
That middle tier weighs heavy on your middle, impossible to finish if you don't want to leave more than full. A pumpkin spice latte mousse celebrates the season, and a pretty pecan tart is not-so-ideally enriched with two layers of cream on top. Battenberg Cake is a checkerboard of almond and a slim line of raspberry, a cinnamon hazelnut financier is the cousin of a pound cake, and an apple pie square is a gooey caramel apple that doesn't stick to your teeth.
The top tier holds top-tier scones, one studded with cranberry, and one that's buttery and plain. They're still warm from the oven, and they dissolve into buttery bits on your tongue when spread with curd and clotted cream.
A signature Peninsula Cap Cake concludes your meal. Discard the stiff white chocolate cover - it's just too much sugar to enjoy. There's a moist, danish-looking cake beneath, with strawberry in the middle.
I can never finish my afternoon tea because it's always too rich and too much, but I've always admired the efficiency. Each bite is exquisite because no bites are wasted, every tiny sandwich and cake is made with the utmost care and maximum flavor. It's a beautiful experience at The Peninsula, but be prepared to pay up to enjoy it. Worth it...but only if it's what you're looking for.
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