High Tea, Feeling High

I've dreamt of doing a proper English high tea for many years. I used to hold tea parties with my Care Bears and My Little Ponies where I served tea (aka water) in plastic teacups and we conversed in very civilized British accents about the queen and jewelry.

Nearly twenty years after I served Funshine and Grumpy bears my special brand of tea, I found myself enjoying a true English experience in one of the most famous places in the world: Harrods. Becky and I chose the location because of it's prestige and the great reviews we had heard about their high tea.

When we arrived it was later in the afternoon, yet many people still packed the sunny, sundeck-like area, sipping tea and chattering. We were escorted to a table by a window, which showed us a view of the cloudy skies and rooftops of the Knightsbridge area of London. The menu was packed with many tea choices, which both delighted and scared me. Why, oh why wasn't I a tea connoisseur? There were mint teas, fruity teas, potent teas, spicey teas--something for every palette. I figured that since I was at such a prestigious place, I should try the Harrods Afternoon Tea. It couldn't disappoint, could it?

Becky and I decided to do tea and pastries, but there was a menu full of options. A full tea option consisted of tea, sandwiches, crumpets and pastries, but you could opt to have just tea or tea and one of those categories. Minutes after we placed our order, our waiter came back with a tray brimming with shining silver items. Each tea pot was brilliantly polished, as were the strainers, silverwear and saucers of milk. Each piece glinted in the afternoon sun and made for an enchanting scene. I was charmed.

Charm turned to delight when our server presented us with the platter of pastries. Each of the six tiny desserts was brightly colored and salivatingly gorgeous. The pink on the fruit eclairs was nearly neon. Plump pecans and nuts filled another shortcake-like bar. Slivers of cheesecake were adorned with white chocolate discs that boasted the name of the restaurant in gold writing. The display was stunning. As we looked on in delight the waiter winked at us, "we upgraded your dessert option. Enjoy, ladies!"

As my tea seeped and I mixed it with cream and sugar I gazed at the pastries. They looked too good to eat! This was art, not food! How could I eat art? I wouldn't dare! Becky would, though. She grabbed one of the bite-sized pieces and tentatively bit it. Her eyes immediately closed and I could tell she was transported to Food Heaven. "This is incredible! You have to try it."

A moral dilemma. How could I eat something so beautiful? I wanted to smuggle them home and schelak them and show them to every one of my friends and ask them: have you ever seen anything this gorgeous? Have you? As the war waged in my mind Becky stopped talking and simply made an "mmMMM" sound as she chewed. I could no longer resist. I grabbed the fruity bar closest to me and nibbled on it. My mouth filled with the taste of exotic fruits and chewy cookie. The mix of the two things was perfect. It was sweet but not overly so. I took another bite, my passport officially stamped to Food Heaven.

We spent a few minutes in bliss, taking in the flavors of our desserts. My tea cooled and I took my first sips. It was strong, but sweet. I was on the top floor of Harrods, sipping an amazing tea while the taste of a fruity dessert lingered on my lips. I was in London, one of the greatest places in the world with a good friend. We were enjoying great conversation and soaking in an enchanting atmosphere. I was in more than heaven. I was in love. In love with a moment. A moment that I know will linger in my memory as one of the best because at that one point in time everything aligned, everything was so simple, so uncomplicated, so enjoyable, so charming. This was the reason I traveled. This was the reason I sought out new opportunities and tried to live life to the fullest: so I could find nirvana, if only for a brief time. On that top floor, with that cup of tea and my good friend, I had that. I even purchased some of Harrod's tea so that when I sip it in my living room I can relive it over again. I didn't expect to find bliss when I set out for our tea date, I just wanted to check this off my life's to-do list. I am so delighted when these simple moments occur, though. They remind why I'm here and what I live to do, both personally and professsionally.