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| - Taking high tea, to me, is a little like how I think women must think of going to the spa: it's indulgence and luxury, oh, but how nice it is to sit back, relax and enjoy a couple hours pampering yourself.
In this regard, the Windsor Arms Hotel team room didn't disappoint. Guests can actually choose from two different but adjoining rooms to take their tea; the first is Edwardian-styled while the second is more contemporary, with dark purple walls giving the impression of lushness and passion.
There are about a dozen teas to choose from, ranging from darjeeling, to Earl Grey with different blossoms to something they call a dessert tea, Tibetan Tiger, which is creamy in texture and had notes of butterscotch and caramel. Choose this if you want to be reminded of warm hugs and intimate conversation.
It was too early in the day, I thought, for the Complete Tea which finishes with a glass of Sherry or sparkling wine, so we chose the Full Tea, which includes scones, sandwiches and desserts.
The quality of the food was excellent, especially the delicately-made sandwiches of which there were three types, my favourite of which was the grilled chicken with citrus essence, though my tea partner enjoyed the smoked salmon and salmon caviar with roasted tomato cream cheese best. These weren't just your run-of-the-mill tea time sandwiches, mind you. They were made from very thinly sliced pieces of bread and then rolled up into something resembling maki rolls, enfolding wonderful flavours in these small packages.
Oh, but don't forget about the scones with a healthy dot of Devon cream. Indulgence indeed.
Needlessly to say, we thoroughly enjoyed our tea time. The hotel itself is full of charm and it's worth taking a short stroll around to take a look--it isn't a very big space to begin with. It's also nestled in an oasis just off of busy Bloor Street, a nice place to visit just to enjoy a respite from your hectic schedule.
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