Tea time: 5 places for an afternoon break
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Monday, November 09, 2009
Ava Jansma, 5, of Chicago, enjoys tea at the Peninsula Hotel.
Decisions, decisions...Ava Jansma, 5, of Chicago, picks out a treat at high tea at the Peninsula Hotel.
Missed a spot! Ava Jansma, 5, of Chicago, enjoys tea at the Peninsula Hotel.
The Peninsula Hotel is one of many places in Chicago offering high tea -- the perfect treat for a winter afternoon.
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This holiday season, what better way to beat cabin fever and
keep warm than by enjoying afternoon tea with your family? A
relaxing break from the chaos of the holidays, afternoon tea is
quickly becoming an annual tradition for many families in the
Chicago area.
Originating in Britain, afternoon tea can replace lunch or dinner,
and includes finger sandwiches, scones and pastries along with a
steaming pot of your choice of tea (or coffee if you don't drink
tea). For caffeine-free alternatives, ask for herbal teas, steamed
milk, hot chocolate or hot apple cider.
The Peninsula Hotel offers a quiet refuge from North Michigan
Avenue shopping. Understated yet elegant, the airy lobby is modeled
after the original Peninsula in Hong Kong and serves afternoon tea
daily ($36 per person or $18 per person for the children's
menu).
Down the street, the stately Drake Hotel is another
family-friendly venue for afternoon tea ($29 per person or $15 per
person for the children's menu). During the holidays, a Christmas
tree and model train offer a nice distraction for kids who need to
get up and stretch. What better way to enjoy five star hotels
without paying five star prices?
If you don't want the pomp and circumstance of the hotels, head
over to one of several Julius Meinl locations in the city-in
Lakeview, Lincoln Square and on Irving Park Boulevard-for à la
carte afternoon tea. Be sure to check out the special holiday
pastry menu. In the suburbs, Jolane's (in the Abt shopping plaza in
Glenview) is owned by Julius Meinl and offers the same
kid-friendly, Viennese café setting and extensive loose-leaf tea
and pastry selection.
Farther north, in Antioch, infini-tea is offering a special tea
($12 per person), including sweets and savories, with Mrs. Potts
and other characters from Beauty and the Beast Sunday, Nov. 8, 15
and 22 at 5:30 p.m., after they perform at the PM & L Theatre.
Reservations are required for tea with Mrs. Potts and strongly
suggested for afternoon tea at other venues.
Tea Time Add OnsBy Marianne Shymanik on Monday, November 28, 2011 I enjoyed your article about tea time, however, I must disagree with you regarding the Drake Hotel. The last time we visited the Drake for Tea Time, their food was terrible, their was fair, only their atmosphere was pleasant. You missed some very nice places for tea, my favorite, of course, is the Ritz Carlton. Their atomosphere is extremely pleasant, their food is wonderful, and they make everyone feel special. Another great place for Tea is the Four Seasons. I hope more and more people investigate tea time, especially during the holidays. It is a great experience. |
It's not High Tea!
By Jon Velazquez on Monday, November 28, 2011
Hello, It is not High Tea! High tea is a working man's supper served at the high table (i.e. dinner table). High tea involves meal cakes, beans, potatoes, and tea, not fancy sandwiches and petits fours. The Drake, Peninsula, etc... serve Afternoon Tea. Even if they call it "High Tea" they're wrong.