French/Italian Style Afternoon Tea

Review of Provence Mediterranean Grill, 4473 West 10 Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Provence Mediterranean Grill Restaurant is situated in the cozy neighborhood of Point Grey, specializing in French and Italian cuisine with a modern touch. Provence has another restaurant located in Yaletown called Provence Marinaside also offering Grand Thè (afternoon tea) from 2PM to 5PM priced at $20. After a disappointing experience at Tracycakes, I contemplated whether a meal costing $5 more would make much difference in terms of the food quality, service and ambiance. So I decided to give Provence at 10th a try and see if the outcome was more or less comparable as that of Tracycakes.


No doubt, I enjoyed my visit at Provence much more than Tracycakes. The ambiance had a warm, casual and friendly neighborhood feel. There was no specific theme decor at this place. The main focal point was the food. Service was second to none. As soon as my guest and I arrived with a reservation, the hostess escorted us to our table set for afternoon tea with a menu. When we were ready to choose our tea, our server promptly attended to our table. She was courteous, attentive and patient. Despite a small tea selection, I was indecisive between 3 flavours -- Tropical Green Tea, Camomile Citrus and Organic African Nectar. Our server patiently described what was in each tea and I finally settled with the latter of the three. Food delivery was as speedy as a fast food restaurant. The wait time for the food was unbelievably short, like 5 minutes. The kitchen had an open window and you could see the staff working hastily and efficiently. I was impressed at the kitchen staff for being very organized preparing our food upon our arrival. The white plate on each tier tray showcased the food with vibrant colours –- red and green and garnished with fresh herbs and fruits. Simplicity in the layout worked well in the presentation.

Like Tracycakes, Provence served Might Leaf loose tea leaves in a satin mesh pouch. The differences were we each had our own teapots with the tea pouch brewed inside (instead of sharing one pot) and a teapot cover was used to keep the tea insulated. My African Nectar tea had a delightful taste – a rooibos blend of tropical fruits and blossoms with soothing qualities –- calm and relaxation. The food was fused with French and Italian styles substituting the traditional sandwiches and cakes with brochette, crostini, madeleines and biscotti. The savouries and sweets were served on a 2 tiered tray with much larger plates. We noticed that some of the food and tea selections listed on the menu were different from the one online. Despite the change of menu, the alternatives did not disappoint. The bottom tier displayed a selection of savouries including prosciutto and goat cheese crostini, smoked salmon and cucumber, sundried tomato and spinach crostini and tomato & bocconcini brochette. The top tier showcased a variety of sweets including Provence biscotti (chocolate and craisin), parisian macarons, madeleines, lemon tartelette, deux scones accompanied by crème fraiche and Bonne Maman preserves from France. I liked all the selections -- simple, fresh and tasty. The chocolate/craisin biscotti were amongst my favourites. These delights were so addictive that it made me crave for more. The portions were enough for 2 people, neither too little nor too much, leaving us feeling happily full and satisfied.








What is the verdict? I rate Provence a 4 for fabulous food and service. The afternoon tea experience was unique, embarking you on a journey to the French/Italian Mediterranean offering you different flavourful delights. The tea selection, however, could have been better if they served loose leave teas rather than pouches. Of course, we should not have high expectations considering the price was only $20. Was it worth the visit paying the extra $5? Absolutely! I would definitely return to Provence and try the one in Yaletown for the magnificent view of Coal Harbour.

Homemade Style Afternoon Tea

Review of Tracycakes Bakery Cafe
15015 Marine Drive, White Rock, BC


Tracycakes currently has 3 locations in the Lower Mainland -- Abbotsford, White Rock and the newest location -- Fort Langley. The grand opening celebration at Fort Langley is happening this Saturday, June 12th and the first 100 customers will receive free mini cupcakes and have a chance to win cupcakes for a year. Don't miss it! The cafe serves not only afternoon tea but also offers an a la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner including sandwiches, salads, soups, quiche, chili, pot pie and dessert. Their specialty cupcakes have a variety of over 40 flavours in 2 sizes - mini and regular.

And now on to the review. Black and white colours were used consistently throughout the exterior and interior of the bakery creating a classic and European feel. The interior was furnished with black and white table linens, wooden chairs, black cabinets and a white counter with a black countertop. White chinaware and serving platters were used. The clear crystal chandeliers were the focal point adding character and illumination to the room.






For the price that you are paying, do not expect excellent service. The hostess directed me and my guest to a table close to the door. The area was particularly cold so I requested to move to another table further inside but was rejected. There were several empty tables displaying reserved signs and I did make a reservation, did I not? Those empty tables were eventually occupied an hour and half later the same time we finished our meal. The hostess could have given one of those tables to us but chose not to. Despite making a reservation, we still had to wait half an hour for the food. Even the walk-in customers that came in after us for the a la carte lunch received their orders first. That made no sense! Later, we noticed the other tables did not need to wait long for their meal. The staff were not accommodating nor attentive. If we wanted a refill, we had to flag them every time. What great service!

The bakery cafe had an open kitchen where customers could watch the cooks prepare the meal. I watched 3 people working on our order and yet the outcome of the presentation was a disappointment. They rushed assembling the food and the presentation looked disorganized. The food was laid out on a 2 tiered tray. As the server described the food on each tier, she then realized the cupcakes were excluded by mistake. The jam, lemon curd and cream were placed in plastic cups which further cheapened the presentation of the food. As it turned out, other tables had their meals on much larger 3 tiered trays and the food was displayed nicely and neatly. Obviously, we were short changed on both the food presentation and the service.

The food was sumptuous but not quite scrumptious. The sandwiches (cucumber and cream cheese, egg salad and ham) definitely tasted homemade if you are used to making them plain and tasteless. There was nothing WOW about the dessert and pastries either. The sweets (tarts, brownies) and fresh fruits were average tasting. Not everything was bad. The blueberry scones, sausage rolls and cupcakes tasted decent. The tea selections were limited. Do not get deceived when you read on the website or the menu that they use loose tea leaves. They are actually loose tea leaves in silken mesh pouches by Mighty Leaf. I chose the organic spring jasmine tea which tasted more or less like Tazo or Stash green tea and was not as fragrant as the loose tea leaves. The traditional afternoon tea brew loose tea leaves as opposed to tea bags or pouches for better quality. What do you prefer?







If you never had afternoon tea, Tracycakes would be a good place to start for an inexpensive tea time. It will only set you back $15 for quite a filling meal. The atmosphere is intimate and cozy with European influences. You have an abundance of food but poor service and average food quality. You get what you paid for. The choice is yours. On a scale from 1 to 5, I rate this place a 2.

Not Your Typical Afternoon Tea

Review of The Urban Tea Merchant,
1070 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC

After perusing through the Urban Tea Merchant's website, their philosophy, "Every Sip of Tea is a Journey" sparked my interest in exploring the store at West Georgia Street, the largest of the two locations in the Lower Mainland. It was definitely not your typical traditional English tea shop and restaurant. As you entered the store, you felt like you journeyed to a contemporary European-South Asian tea emporium. The interior was decorated with hanging photographs of the world, Thai Buddha statues and bookshelves of colored canisters. The canisters contain a wide selection of high quality line of teas from The O dor. The rest of the shop were adorned with gifts including the world's collection of tea-wares and accessories, French bonbons (champagne/caramel truffles), aromatic preserves, fragrant incenses and much more. At the back, there was a cafe bar serving tea and coffee and a variety of treats. The tea salon was sectioned off for a more private and intimate afternoon tea or a la carte lunch. They had 3 different menus to choose from for afternoon tea pricing at $25-$29-$45. I selected the $29 West Coast menu which included aperitif, canapes, sweets and fruits garnished with edible flowers.



The tea salon was small and intimate keeping the traditional style of white table linens and adding a bit of Asian flair to the decor were statues, fountains and tea-wares. The focal point was the Zen fountain. You would see and hear the sound of the water trickling down from teapot to teapot creating a sense of tranquility and peace. It was very appealing to one's eyes and soothing to one's ears. Each table had a centre piece consisting of a cast iron kettle, Japanese tea cup, vase of fresh flowers and colour canisters. The napkin was creatively folded long and narrow, resembling the Chada, a traditional headdress in Thai culture.




Do not expect to come with a big appetite. The West Coast menu had limited items and portions were small. I was a bit disappointed considering the price was $29. The food was not served on a tier tray but rather displayed on a long glass plate. The plate added a clean and simple modern twist to the traditional. You could see all the items laid out in front of you without having to stretch your neck far out and look up to what items were on the top tier. If the food was served on a tier tray, they could have added a few more items like scones, pastries and sweets for a more satisfying and fulfilling meal. The presentation was well crafted with bright coloured macaroons, toppings for canapes and edible flowers. Taste wise? The canapes' bread was a bit dry and bland. There was nothing special about them. The aperitif, a tea-infused elixir served in a champagne flute glass, was also a disappointment. It tasted like lukewarm bland tea and the strawberries were not sweet at all. Where was the whipped cream? In contrast, the tea that I chose (the cherry blossom green tea) and recommended by the hostess, tasted fresh and smooth with a sweet aroma simulating cherry blossoms which complemented the meal well.



Service in the shop and salon was top notch, professional, patient and courteous. The hostess/store clerk offered her assistance if needed in choosing my tea out of the 200+ selections and made a few recommendations to pair with my meal. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about the teas which I am quite amazed. On several occasions, the server and even the owner himself offered to take pictures for me with my guest. I did not have to ask. We paced ourselves with the food and tea and did not realize that 2 hours had past. Despite the fact we exceeded the seating time, they did not rush us to leave but instead asked us if we wanted a refill. How wonderful was that?

Overall, the afternoon tea experience at the Urban Tea Merchant was above satisfactory. Cost is quite pricey for the food quality and portion size that you are paying for. I could find better tearooms that cost me less while leaving my tummy fully satisfied. However, I must give them points for the service, ambiance and tea selections. It all depends on your preference. Are you willing to pay more for the service, ambiance and tea selections and give up on the food quality and portion size? Despite the pricey meal, I left the store smiling with a tin of cherry blossom green tea, a discounted bag of lemon meringue black tea and a matcha latte to go. I can now enjoy sipping the aromatic teas at home anytime. On a scale of 1 to 5, I rate my experience at the Urban Tea Merchant a 3.5.

Afternoon Tea vs High Tea

Afternoon Tea and High Tea are terms that are used interchangeably nowadays for a light meal taken place between noon to 2 o'clock or between 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock at restaurants, hotels and tea salons. A customary meal served in a tiered tray consists of sandwiches (egg salad, cucumber with cream cheese, smoked salmon), scones (with devonshire or clotted cream and jam), sweets (cakes, tarts, macaroons) and fruits (chocolate dipped strawberries) accompanied by loose tea leaves steeped in a teapot and glass of champagne (optional).

Afternoon Tea was originated in England during the Victorian era by Anna, the 7th Dutchess of Bedford to appease hunger as there were only two meals served in a day during that time - lunch and dinner. A variety of savories and sweets along with tea were served. This ritual later evolved into a social gathering of friends in formal attire among the high class. High Tea was a late afternoon/early evening meal or also known as Meat Tea consisting of meats, fish, dairy, sandwiches, cakes and other hot dishes among the working class. The meal was served on a high table (dining room table) accompanied by tea.

Today, High Tea is often mistaken for Afternoon Tea and is a term commonly used by hotels, restaurants and tearooms outside England for an elaborate and formal afternoon tea. Would you follow the British's proper term usage of High Tea or the American's?