Tea Around Town, NYC

If you're looking for a new tea time adventure, you might consider one of the Tea Around Town excursions that are taking place in NYC, Philly, DC, and Atlanta. We recently toured NYC while enjoying an afternoon tea aboard the traveling pink bus. The pink theme is carried out throughout the bus from the napkins to the floral décor to the keepsake pink travel mugs. It was a fun experience, and we had the opportunity to take tea with family all the while enjoying some of the New York sites. There are two options for the tea service; petite or luxe. We opted for the slightly less expensive petite and enjoyed all that was offered.

Although hot teas are listed on the website, we were only offered a variety of iced tea flavors. Since we were there in August, the iced tea was perfect. The host/hostess pour a small amount of tea in your mug, but come around frequently with different flavors to try.

As the bus travels the busy streets of the city, a narration of the sites you are passing is provided all the while another host snaps pictures of each table. There is a bit of singing by the hostess also.

For a brief moment we thought we missed the bus due to the Dominican Day Parade, but fortunately for us, the bus was also tied up in traffic. It was a relief to see the bus pull up and boarding began. Seating is on the top tier of the bus referred to as 'sky deck seating', with a bathroom and kitchen on the lower level. The tiered trays are already plated and on each table as you board the bus. 

The golden utensils are unusually large for tea.

Cucumber Sandwich, Egg Salad Sandwich, and a Deviled Egg

Cinnamon Chip Scone with Cream and Preserves

Lemon Tart, Brownie, Cream Puff

The hustle and bustle of the city is constant and leaving the driving to someone else while enjoying tea is a pleasure. This was certainly an adventure, and I'm happy we were able to enjoy this unique experience with family.

 

Florrie Kaye's Tea Room, Carmel, NY

A journey to Carmel, NY and a visit to Florrie Kaye's Tea Room was cause for a family gathering and a chance to celebrate a summer birthday. Family from NY, PA and CT converged at this charming tea room nestled in the quaint town of Carmel, NY in the Hudson Valley.

 The English atmosphere of the tea room transports you to a faraway destination without having to cross the pond. The menu offers a wide variety of options, from luncheon specialties to British specialties to American burgers to Afternoon Tea. Thinking that everyone will be satisfied with the variety of menu options, the family group surprised me as they all opted for the Afternoon Tea. Tiered trays marched down the center of the table along with a variety of tea pots. We were each able to select our own tea flavors, hot or iced.

The tiered trays were laden with a variety of tea sandwiches including a traditional cucumber on white bread, roasted veggies with balsamic glaze on whole wheat rounds nestled on a fresh bed of mixed leafy greens. 

The Classic British Scones are served with fresh whipped cream, jam, and butter. They boast that their scones are made in small batches created from a family recipe. 

The top tier featured a wide variety of miniature yummy pastries and fresh seasonal fruit. From chocolate brownies to lemon squares to petite tartlets, they offered a delightful combination of sweet treats.

There is a gift shop in the back, and a stairwell decorated with a variety of ladies hats. The front desk has an area where you can purchase the teas that they offer in the shop, and decorative teapots adorn the shelves throughout the tea room. Reservations are recommended for this popular destination.