Afternoon tea in tony Boston's Back Bay (Aug 26)

I am a lover of afternoon/high tea since my college days. Since then, I have been a woman on a mission. When I was in the UK last, I went to many places to satisfy my afternoon fix for clotted cream, scones, a great cup of tea and maybe some finger sandwiches or petit fours if I was lucky.

From Bettys in York, England (a great value time) to the reasonably priced Sotheby's afternoon tea on uber chic Bond Street in London, England to the St. Regis (though pricey an excellent value, service and you can get seconds plus a personal consultation with a friendly tea sommelier, Takashimaya (nice inexpensive East meets West tea in the basement of this famous Japanese department store nestled within NYC's Fifth Avenue), Tea and Sympathy (Greenwich Village this hole in the wall has loads of character and the staff is friendly wiht generous portions for the full tea service) and Payard in New York (a great French restaurant and patisserie) or "M" on the Bund in Shanghai, China overlooking the lovely Huang Pu river opposite the famous landscape of the Pudong District.

Of course, I have done the Ritz Carlton (both new and old plus celebrated a bday at one of them), Boston Harbor Hotel, Cha-Fahn (cute tea place on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain), and the Four Seasons as a few places I have sampled afternoon tea within Boston.

Now a new crop of places have sprung up (or more so existing restaurants) have decided to start afternoon tea. One great occasion restaurant is L'Espelier (on 30 Gloucester Street, Boston T. 617-262-3023) nestled in the Back Bay by Newbury Street. The executive chef Frank McClelland is nationally renowned for his stellar work, their almost weekly wine tastings with some food is a great deal for $55 (though I went a few times when it started for a mere $30 a head years ago).

I was a little late on this warm but sunny Saturday afternoon ( I was hoofing it from Park Street "T" stop with only 10 minutes to move it). I made it within 12 minutes! Debbie was waiting for me outside the restaurant.

L'Espelier only serves afternoon tea on Saturdays from 2-3pm (so your window is very small). There is a range of choices for you to choose from but opted for the middle of the ground- Red Riding Hood's Basket ($32 a person). There were the more luxurious choices of The Golden Goose ($50 a person) with champagne and cavier or the more affordable Make Way for Ducklings (Petit Fours, pastries and tea for $23 a person). Add $15 for a glass of the Westport River's "Cuvee L'Espelier" with fresh raspberries or a Malinois Champagne cocktail.

We were greeted efficiently and walked up the stairs to the second floor to be seated in a very cozy dining room with crisp white linens and very attentive and solitious service. Splurging was great getting the champagne and Red Riding Hood's basket. Our tea choice was the Jasmine Pearl which was fragnant and delicate in flavor (the waitstaff kept pouring our tea for us---no need to use a tea kettle/teapot). At first it was weird, but I liked the attentiveness of the staff. Plus this method ensured that I NEVER had bitter tea. The did ask us if we were celebrating an occasion, I was mentioning Debbie's past bday.

We were started out with the tea sandwiches (one per person) each made on homemade bread (in-house)--cucumber and cream cheese next to a smoked salmon, red onion and petits greens , toasted Niman Ranch Ham and Comte and the Canapes were Maine lobster salad and citrus, Herbed goat cheese and pistachio truffles and a sizeable Foie gras Terrine.

The Foie gras terrine was perfect and luxurious. The Maine lobster salad was great with the citrus and not too much on the mayo which I loved. The breads were all wonderful.

Next came the petit fours and pastries: blueberry madeleines, Swans on the Boston Common pastries, Coconut truffles, Chocolate dipped strawberries, a big currant scone (great clotted cream, butter or jams to spread on it) and an excellent Valrhona chocolate fondant cake (just warm from the oven and divinely decadent with excellent chocolate that tastes delightful).

The thoughtful waitstaff put a candle to blow out. Also when I needed to find the wash room, the wait staff person escorted me to the wash room. When I returned to the table, my napkin was not merely folded up (as some places do) or ignored but freshly replaced. I thought it funny as we were done with our afternoon tea. But I found it a nice touch.

When we left after an hour half of great decandence and pampering we reluctantly decided to part ways (I had a graduation party to go to but first head back to my apartment). Once we left at the foyer, we were given a cute send off present of two cocount macaroons with a recipe how to make them too!

Then we walked to Hynes Convention to split off to enjoy the rest of our Saturday.