Tea at Clementine - report
I stopped by Clementine last week for afternoon tea, mentioned by someone on this board. Unlike the normal casual, fend-for-yourself atmosphere, they had two servers assigned to the upper seating area, and white cloths on the tables.
First up: a trio of finger sandwiches, smallish triangles. Of the first, I can only say that it was egg salad... I devoured it before remembering that I was supposed to be taking notes. Oops. Well, I normally hate egg salad, so make of that what you will. Second sandwich was gravlax with shallot creme fraiche. The cured salmon was silky and luscious, a nice and simple combination with good white bread. Lastly, chicken salad with grapes on pecan raisin bread - a great combination of flavors and textures.
Second: the scone. MARVELOUS. I love scones, and am often saddened by things that are too doughy, too moist, too much like a muffin in disguise. This was just right, buttery and almost flaky. They have scones in their bakery case normally, but this one was HOT. Studded with currants, and unfortunately on the small side. Moreover, the clotted cream it came with was the real deal - like the love child of cream and butter.
Finally: a plate of cookies and little cakes. Thumbprint cookie was almost purely ground pecan. The sweet, nutty flavor made me forget about gnawing my way to the dab of jam (usual method). My petit four was a tiny, tender cake holding a sliver of pungent apricot jam, topped with a creamy, not particularly sweet frosting. Chocolate macaroon (or macaron, for the nitpicky) was a fine exemplar. My only disappointment was a nut-studded crescent cookie that was appropriately crisp-tender (all the pastries were wonderfully fresh) but tasted of little but sweetness. Oh well.
So here's the thing. I had a lovely light meal - tea should be refreshing, and often they give you so much you just want to end your day right there - but the tab was $19! For four tiny cookies, one smallish scone and three mini-sandwiches. And a pot of tea - the only generous thing, it was big enough for three cups. I love Clementine, especially for breakfast or an afternoon snack, but I just don't think that's right.
But that scone!! Yes, I'm glad I went. Month of March only, Weds-Fri. Definitely reserve; when I called to do so (day of), the woman told me just to walk in. When I did, the good tables were "reserved" and I was proposed a table in the back, toward the loo. No way! I had to insist a bit, but got a "reserved" window seat in the end.
Cicely
Mar 22, 2005 03:20AM
I had mentioned it previously when I heard their recorded message on their voice mail. They aren't inexpensive, but they do have good food so the trade off is fair to me. Don't forget about April being grilled cheese month with a different sandwich offered every day during the month.
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maybe i'm off a bit, but that sounds fair for afternoon tea. i think its even more expensive at chado, and definitely at the beverly hills hotel.
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Had tea at Chado in Pasadena on Saturday; it was $15. Four sandwich triangles: egg salad made with tea smoked egg, smoked salmon on pumpernickel with cream cheese, chicken-cranberry salad, and goat cheese w/ greens (I think it was arugula). Delicious scones with clotted cream (tasted more like heavy whipped cream than Devon cream) and jam, and dessert was a linzer torte type cookie (very crumbly and not too sweet) amd a slice of custard filled bundt cake (in our party of four there was an assortment of chocolate, lemon, and banana-nut). Very enjoyable, good service, and the best part is Chado's 35 page booklet which thoroughly explains teas, and the selection they offer. Chado is definitely on my recommended list.
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Chado does not use real clotted cream although they say they do. They make some sort of cream themselves. That alone would account for the difference in price.
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yes, Chado is a prime example of clotted cream fakery! Although I do love them for not being stuffy and having a 35-page tea menu.
Chado's afternoon tea costs less, and I imagine BH hotel and other swanky joints cost more (about $25 I think), but I've never gotten so little for tea! It was mostly excellent (and I forgot to mention the farewell truffle that I tucked in my purse for later and found and ate the next day - yummy), but so tiny. Sigh.
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If I recall correctly, some of the expensive tea places are more like $27-35.
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Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena is something like $29. It is the real deal!
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I don't remember anything on the menu saying "clotted cream", but whatever it was, it was delicious, and good with the scone and jam (and for dipping the sliced strawberry garnish!). But yes, true clotted cream would have been better.
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Tea in Pasadena is all about the Huntington in my book. For Westside, I love me some afternoon tea at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. My god is everything so good. The biggest challenge is trying to tune out all the tables of annoyingly giggling ladies at baby and wedding showers. "Pretty Woman" tourists in the lobby are sort of amusing, though.
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Does Chado have a pretty atmosphere and/or patio? It can be worth paying somewhat inflated prices if you're in a lovely atmosphere. Clementine would not be that atmosphere for me, though it is fine for breakfast or lunch.
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I did not see a patio at Chado in Pasadena. I don't know how to describe the atmosphere other than to say it's a tea house with tables on one side of the room, and shelves of teapots, accessories, and teas on the other. It's a pleasant space, even on a rainy afternoon, but charming it is not.
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Ok - for sake of reference.....
If one were to envision a spectrum and on one end would be afternoon teas that were inexpensive and informal, and on the other end more expensive and more formal - it would look like this
informal/inexpensive - Chado
Clementine
formal/expensive -
BH Hotel
Huntington Library
Chado and Clementine are more like cafes, while the BH Hotel and Huntington Library come with formal settings and a heavier price tag (BH Hotel tea is close to 30 a person I believe).
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Actually, I think it would look more like this:
informal/inexpensive - Chado
Cosy but not formal/expensive -
Rose Tree Cottage Pasadena
Huntington Library
Formal/Expensive
BH Hotel
Pasadena Ritz
Formal/Expensive/Delicous
Hotel Bel Air
Regent Wilshire Beverly
I don't think the tea at the Huntington Library could be described as formal and the food is certainly not up to the standards of the hotel. It is serve yourself and there is always a kid screaming in the background.
I am not including Clementine because I haven't had their afternoon tea. Based on the quality of their baked goods, I would guess that I would much prefer it to Chado and consider it a cheap alternative to the high end places. The food at Chado as always been so-so and I hate fake cream.
Finally, I find the tea at the Hotel Bel Air and the Regent Beverly Wilshire far, far superior to the Huntington Ritz and BH Hotel.
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i like your version better. thanks for the added detail. =)
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I really don't think the description "informal/ inexpensive" fits Clementine or Chado. That category might more nearly suit Tudor House in Santa Monica, for example. (Last I heard, the Tudor House afternoon tea was about $14.)
As Cicely's posts make clear, while there are many good things to be said about Clementine and Chado, "inexpensive" is not one of them, especially when you consider the small servings. They may be cheaper than the Peninsula, but that don't make 'em cheap.
Just as well, because imagine how bad the parking situation would be on Ensley Ave. if Clementine were reasonably priced in addition to being so good!
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Just for purposes of comparison, I thought portions at Chado were pretty generous. We took home the leftovers. I do think, though, that the pricier teas have higher food quality (e.g., better grade of smoked salmon, gourmet breads v. toasted Peppridge Farm, that sort of thing). It all boils down to "you get what you pay for."
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point taken (and i agree) - my description of inexpensive was in relation to other prices for tea at other locations.
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I believe the Huntington is $15 and is all you can eat so I would not put this in the "expensive" category. But it is not particularly formal as compared to the Peninsula or BH hotel.
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however if you're not a member of the museum, tack on another $15 for admission onto the grounds-now you're at $30/per person (but as you say, it's all you can eat).
i get what jaydee is saying in terms of the total experience. while the service is not formal, on a good day, when the roses are in bloom and you stroll around the property, the estate setting & atmosphere can perhaps feel more grand than a hotel setting. i seem to hit it on quiet days when it's mostly older women in hats & the ladies who lunch. *freeday* would be hell on earth.
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Oh yeah, forgot about the admission!
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Thanks for the tip and the report. I'll definitely try to go. Listen, given what I've spent on gas trying to find a good scone this may actually be a bargain.
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Nice report. Thanks.
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Love child of cream and butter! Instant classic. Now I have to stick the Supremes in my CD-ROM and reread the post for full effect.
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Can you just get the scones (and clotted cream) to go or to eat there without the whole rigmarole of afternoon tea?
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