I have finally come to the age where long nights out with alcohol are no longer fruitful, and just leave me crumpled up like a dirty napkin for days after. To celebrate my 30th birthday, I decided to take a sharp turn into what I consider luxurious adulthood, and booked the prettiest Afternoon Tea experience I could find.
The Shangri-La Hotel has a beautiful lounge, where they offer only the best selection of foods and drinks to their guests. Their Afternoon Tea experience is very special due to their remarkable lounge, filled with iconic clothes and decor, but also for the ever-changing themes of their Afternoon Tea collections. Their current experience was a must-try, a Cirque Du Soleil theme, in partnership for their show KOOZA. I was informed that the savories and pastries were designed with the acts of the show in mind, which I thought was so fun and unique.
When I arrived for my reservation, my eyes instantly lit-up once I realized I was sitting right next to the Guo Pei gown that Rihanna had worn to the 2015 Met Gala. It was a great surprise that instantly won me over. Once seated our server, Al, introduced himself and our upcoming courses. He also instantly won me over. He patiently explained every course of our experience and was so light-hearted and kind. His presence definitely elevated our experience, and I really appreciate his efforts for that.
When it comes to the actual experience, it was wonderful. As we sat and drank our complimentary prosecco, we were given a selection of tea to choose from. I chose the house special, the Shangri-La Signature Blend black Tea, and enjoyed all 8 cups I drank of it. From there, Al brought out this adorable little 3-tier serving stand filled with goodies. The first platform had an array of mystery desserts only named by their color for a sweet surprise. The second platform had a lovely arrangement of savory pastries, mimicking elements of the KOOZA show. The final tier has Shangri-La’s signature scones, and the best god damn butter I have ever tried. Out of all the savories and pastries offered in this experience, my favorites were The Wheel of Death (soft egg with truffle and chive) and the sweet mystery boxes, White and Gold. The final pastry was easily the grand finale, named the The Silk Ribbon Entremet. It was made with KOOZA’s silk ribbon act in mind, and its bright color and flavor steals the show. I also had a cute little birthday candle on mine, to remind me that I am no longer young nor youthful. It's a simple gesture, but it made me feel very special.
I cannot wait to see what the next upcoming Afternoon Tea theme will be, as I think this would be a great experience for an upcoming Mother's Day, birthday or bridal shower.