Afternoon Tea is something I adore.  It means catching up with friends and enjoy a pot of tea, savories and sweets.  Who doesn’t enjoy little tea sandwiches, cupcakes or variations of depending on who is hosting the tea and what the theme is; there are endless possibilities.

After The Sutton Place Grande Hotels Group bought The Meridian Hotel (now the Sutton Place Hotel Vancouver), the management implemented new events to increase local traffic to the dining areas, and afternoon tea at the Fleuri Restaurant was born.  The tea is served daily from 2:30pm until 5:00pm, except Sundays, when it’s served from 3:00pm until 5:00pm.

The custom of drinking tea originated in England when Catherine of Bragança married Charles II in 1661 and brought the practice of drinking tea in the afternoon with her from Portugal. While living in Woburn Abbey, Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford is credited as the first person to have transformed afternoon tea in England into a late-afternoon meal rather than simple refreshment.  I thank them both.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Fleuri you’ll choose your tea from the selections from Tea Leaves loose tea selection.  Sandwiches are made to order and therefore incredibly fresh.  There’s plenty of them, this is a generous tea service, priced at $28.

Green Pea Shoots, Endive, Cucumber & Cream Cheese

Smoked Salmon Pinwheel with Capers

Black Forest Ham & Brie with Mini Croissant – a buttery little number

Raspberry Chicken Brioche

Strawberries in Sabayon

Orange Cupcakes 

Chocolate Pecan Caramel Dome

Smores Spoon

Blueberry Scones with Devonshire Cream and Assorted Preserves