Imperial Tea Court (Ferry Building)

GIRLS' TEA TIME: 05.03.12 @ 2:30 PM

Use your imagination and you will find yourself transported  in a tea court in China.You will find yourself seated at a glossy cherry dining table, with paper lanterns hanging from the ceilings and staring at jars of exotic teas.

This is exactly where my lovely friend Heather  and I wanted to be on a Thursday afternoon. Instead of sharing tea in Asia, we were at the Ferry Building in San Francisco. We have no complaints. This is one part of of the world where we would rather be on a rainy weekday afternoon.

TEA PRESENTATION:
Armed with a Living Social Deal for Tea Presentation for Two, we were treated to an elaborate tea ritual. It started with our friendly and knowledgable server showing us 6 kinds of tea leaves: puerh, oolong, chrysanthemum, black, green, etc. She allowed us to smell each tea.

We decided on the puerh and green tea. She explained that for the green tea it is recommended to hold it in your mouth for few seconds to savor its light and delicate taste; while the puerh belongs in your back palate. 

The tea presentation was a great tea experience. What we participated in was the Gaiwan Tea Presentation or China's classic covered teacup. It  represents the traditional way of sharing tea informally with friends.

It shows respect for the art of drinking tea with different vessels for seeping the tea, changing the water and the final enjoyment of the hot tea being poured for you. It was calming. It was Zen.

TEA ACCOMPANIMENTS:
Heather and I enjoyed our teas with a SNACK PLATTER of wasabi squash seeds, almonds. poppy seed cookies and prunes (similar to Filipino-Chinese snack "champoy.") We enjoyed the sweet-savory flavors and variety of textures of our snacks. (Included in the package.)

We ordered an extra plate of DIMSUM PLATTER $12: 1 fried eggrolls, shrimp sui mai, pork sui mai, bean dumpling, mustard greens dumplings. Skip it!  Not only the platter too skimpy for the price, everything was either very greasy or dry. The dumplings tasted like they were microwaved -- came out very dry and inedible.

PRICE: The regular price for the Introductory to Tea (which we participated in) was $30 for 2. With Living Social I paid $24 with a free book "The Great Teas of China."
Was it worth it? As educational and wonderful our tea experience was, I am glad that I did not pay full price.

RECOMMEND:
-Go for the tea. They were delicate, fresh and a wonderful treat for you and your friend.
-Skip the food. You are at the Ferry Building-- foodie haven. No excuse for eating mediocre food.
-If you are really craving dim sum, go to Chinatown, just one BART ride away.

Samovar Tea Lounge (Zen Valley on Page Street)

A cozy nook at Samovar is the perfect place to spend a rainy afternoon either solo or with a good friend. The place is not manicured or staged to the point where you will be walking on egg shells. It is a combination of shabby, new agey and contemporary. The place is quiet enough but conversations and a slightly active kid are tolerated. Instead of pretentious, Samovar on Page is mytical and homey.

There are two levels:
The long tea bar with an ample display of various tea from all the the world is located on the first level. Bistro style tables and chairs are also plenty.

The second level is cozier. A long communal table with floor cushions is available for grazing if you are up for taking off your shoes. A couple of regular tables by the window are available for those who do not want to strip down to their "lucky socks."

TEA:
Armed with a $50 Living Social Deal, it was like Christmas for me and my foodie pal, Heather.   We ordered the following:

JAPANESE SERVICE $22: Tofu Maki Bowl, Soup, Seaweed Salad with Miso Dressing, Seasoned Brown Rice, Steamed Kale with Sesame Dressing, Toasted Nori.
TEA: Ryokucha (Brown Rice Tea)

RUSSIAN SERVICE $24: Smoked Fish, Tarragon Beets, Horseradish, Devilled Egg with Caviar, Crackers, Fresh Fruit, Brownies
TEA: Zavarka with milk and sugar

As if we still haven't had enough food, I ordered the HANDMADE SQUASH DUMPLINGS WITH SESAME-SOY DIPPING SAUCE $7.

THE TEA EXPERIENCE:
It was Zen! Not because it was quiet in a meditative kind of way but the food was nourishing. Each item satisfied the belly and touched the soul. Aside from the generous portions, the food tasted delicious. They were filling but light.

I was nervous about the Russian Tea Service but it turned out to be a plate of good quality meal. The smoked fish were thick, generously cut, fresh and not fishy. The beet salad was refreshing.

The soup in the Japanese service wowed us--very tasty! The brown rice, tofu, nori combo filled us guilt-free and made us feel healthy. I patted myself on the back for eating healthy.

And the Squash Dumplings were worth the extra $$ despite having more than enough food. Light and delicious!

I stuck with the Russian tea which tasted medicinal at first but Heather and I actually ended up really enjoying it. It was smokey and spicy at the same time. A small pot of cinammony sugar complimented the tea. A cozy pot of tea.

SERVICE:
We had the most awesome, most attentive and most friendly server who took care of us yet let us be. They checked on us without ever rushing us.

CHECK: $57 before Living Social, tax and tip.

Ladies Who Lunch: Afternoon Tea at "The Rotunda" at Neiman Marcus

"Ladies who lunch is a phrase to describe slim, well-off, old-money, well-dressed women who meet for lunch socially, normally during the working week. Typically, the women involved are married and non-working. Normally the lunch is in a restaurant, perhaps in a department store during shopping. Sometimes there is the pretext of raising money for charity."

For an hour and a half, I pretended that my girlfriend and I were the "Ladies Who Lunch." Let me just speak for myself but I am far from meeting the "Ladies Who Lunch" qualifications.   I do not think I got the job!

 Despite the fact that I will not be considered one of the "Ladies Who Lunch" anytime soon, my girlfriend and I had a wonderful time! Over cups and cups of delicious hot tea, we only talked about food and shopping.

I had the PINEAPPLE GREEN TEA. This tea was so good and so exotic! My friend enjoyed the traditional BREAKFAST TEA (with milk and sugar, please!)

And we devoured:

Lobster Pie

Chicken Sandwich

Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich

Egg Salad Sandwich

Scones with Creme Fraiche, Honey, Lemon Curd and Jam

Brownies

Madeleines

Banana Bread

Strawberry Tarts

And Neiman Marcus is the place for feel fabulous. It is hard not to when towering above you is a glass ceiling crafted with such masterpiece, and you are being surrounded by fine old architecture.

It was a very enjoyable tea time for me and my girfriend.  A rare treat of afternoon off and so divine!

FOODIE GIRL'S RANKINGS: 4


SERVICE:      4       Friendly and attentive staff.
AMBIANCE:  5       One of the most beautiful lunch places in San Francisco!
FOOD:           3.75   I had better tea sandwiches and cakes at the Fairmont in Victoria, BC and Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.


Tab: $35 per girl before taxes and tip