by Annie Greenslade

Afternoon Tea definitely takes fine dining to the next level for this spectacular, traditional English event held every Saturday from 11:30am-1:30pm. Arrive at the main entrance of the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, and have your car whisked away by valet to make your experience easy breezy from the start. If you have never laid eyes upon the Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, prioritize making a reservation now. Reservations are required for the tea, but it is not required that you are a hotel guest.

Check in with the host table to be sat in the gilded Tea Room. Upon entry, you are greeted by friendly staff and grandiose vases of orchids and hydrangeas in the most beautiful fresh arrangements, while modern and timeless luxury décor and lighting abound. 

The table and tea setting is fit for royalty, with the menu adorned in hand-tied ribbon featuring three tea service options.  You are welcomed with an orchestra of friendly staff who fill your champagne flutes immediately, explain how the sequence of the tea experience will unfold, and cater to your every whim. For this day we were offered three set choices: “Uptown Tea” with tea sandwiches of Ancho Chicken Salad, Smoked Salmon and Crème Fraîche, Egg Soufflé with Black Truffle, and the classic tea sandwich – Cucumber and Chive Cream Cheese; served with Champagne.

If you upgrade to the “Ritz-Carlton Tea Experience,” it also features a Lobster Roll and a single Blini with Caviar. The last option is The Ritz-Carlton Kids Tea, which offers tea sandwiches of Ham and Cheddar, Peanut Butter and Strawberry Preserves, and the classic Cucumber and Cream Cheese, suitable for even the pickiest of princesses. For an upcharge, you may add caviar service to any tea service, choosing from Hackleback Caviar or Royal Ostara Caviar. 

The waitstaff brings a beautiful wooden box of jarred tea samples with descriptions and photos. You are encouraged to open the jars and experience each heavenly aroma, from white, to green, to black, to herbal. My choice of the Fleur de Geisha was a subtle blend of green tea with cherry blossom that whisked me back to Asia. I would have to say that my inner princess was giddy. While you enjoy your bubbles, the staff watches from a distance and times the steeping of your tea to perfection, so you neither have to worry nor lift a finger.

The sandwich plate consists of tea sandwiches expertly sliced into exact rectangles arranged in a colorful array of artwork upon your fine China serveware. The menu may look like an overabundance of food and flair, but each portion and flavor profile were mouthwatering. My favorite was the Ancho Chicken, which was packed with spices, but not too much heat.

The caviar service was classic, traditional, immaculate, and worth “going all out.” Being a chef, my eyes were drawn to the perfectly executed brunoise cuts of shallots, egg white, egg yolks, and chives. The blinis were some of the best I have had! We were pampered with the Royal Ossetra sturgeon caviar, which I highly recommend. 

Last, but certainly not least, the dessert tower was a feast for the eyes and made my pastry chef heart sing with joy. There is only one set option of desserts for all three choices of tea services, which came with Madagascar Vanilla Scones with Devonshire Cream and Fruit Preserves; The Ritz-Carlton Cake, which is a fudgy chocolate cake with candied orange peel; Lavender and Blueberry Macaron; Hazelnut Praline Choux Puff; Raspberry Silk Bar; Lychee and Rose Pate de Fruit; and Strawberry-Pistachio Tart. It had been a long while since I had eaten a perfect Pate de Fruit, and the Ritz nailed it.

I will remember this experience forever. Please, go now, alone—to treat yourself like a queen—or with a special someone to make cherished lifetime memories. Savor the tea, sip the bubbles, eat the cake, and take the photos while you are “Putting on the Ritz!”

Ritz-Carlton Afternoon Tea every Saturday from 11:30am-1:30pm. Patrons can indulge in the beauty, deliciousness and timeless tradition of Afternoon Tea.  It features a wide selection of delicate teas, delectable finger sandwiches and decadent pastries, served with unparalleled hospitality in the Forbes Five-Star hotel’s luxurious surroundings. 

Chef Annie Greenslade was the winner of Texas Pastry Chef of the Year for the American Culinary Federation. She owns and operates The Sweet Life Chef, which specializes in private cooking lessons and high-end private chef events. Her degree is in Culinary Arts, but she is incredibly passionate and well versed in Pastry Arts as well. She has taught at the collegiate level for Culinary and Pastry Arts. She also served in the US Army and is a combat veteran.