Yorkville – the Rodeo Drive of Toronto – warm memories for a cold day

The weather today was not as warm as the 17-19 degree weather we have been experiencing. in March. So, the day before Spring officially arrives, temperatures here (we live about 1 ½ hours north of Toronto) are hovering around 4 degrees. As, I let our little Yorkie out for some fresh air, our outing is cut short by a shower of light freezing rain. Once back inside, my thoughts drifted to Afternoon Tea.

When I was living in the city one of my favorite cold weather indulgences on week-ends was to visit some of the Boutiques along Bloor Street in Yorkville, with my girl friends. Just the anticipation of being surround by beautiful fabrics, styles, and the possibility that we may actually find that elusive missing wardrobe item (you know the one - you don’t need, don’t know exists – but the minute you see it, try it on – you know you must have it ), kept us warm – as we navigated our way along. My friend Janice, her two must stop at shops were Hermès and Tiffany’s; for me it was Holt’s and L’Occitane. Our final stop on these outings would be the Windsor Arms Hotel (WAH), for Afternoon Tea.

Walking into the WAH you feel like you have just stepped into a European Boutique Hotel. The WAH has drawn on the chic elegance of Paris for their interpretation of Afternoon Tea. As you are seated in the French-Style room or the Majestic Purple room with the original(1927) fireplace and an enormous chandelier that looks as if it could have once graced Marie Antoinette's Salon, you know you are about to experience something magnifique.

Once your tea is served, all there is left to do is, sit back relax and let the warmth of the hot tea work its magic. Of course, we always started off with a glass of sparkly and finished with the most delectable strawberries and whipped cream! In between our taste buds tingled with each bite of the savory finger sandwiches. My favorite -the smoked salmon & caviar with an oven roasted tomato cream – the way the caviar would burst in my mouth, always made me giggle. We would coat our warm scones with Devonshire cream and preserves. By the time we reached the petit fours, our palettes were quite satisfied.

Just recalling these fond memories has warmed up my insides and my day. To make it even grandeur I’m going to make myself a cup of tea; while my tea is steeping I’ll bring to room temperature a couple of Lavish Cupcakes (I’ll share this location another time – cupcakes deserve their own posting after all), and I do believe we have a small bottle of Veuve Clicquot (we usually keep a small bottle chilling) for such spontaneous occasions. Not exactly Afternoon Tea at WAH, but it will do.

I hope my stroll down memory lane has inspired you to take a moment for yourself and to enjoy a cup tea or a glass of bubbly.