Restaurant Week At M.Y. China

Teatime likes to participate in San Francisco's Restaurant Week 2016, and we were excited to see that M.Y. China was participating this year with a special lunch.

We were greeted by a dragon at the entrance to the Westfield Centre.

For starters, there was a choice of Dan Dan Noodle Bite (a salad, really, with seasoned pork, peanuts, and chili garlic sauce, served chilled) or Crispy Veggie Spring Rolls (toasted taro, wild seasonal mushrooms).

Dan Dan Noodle Bite

Crispy Veggie Spring Rolls

 The next course had three choices:

Wok Seared Beef Filet
sichuan peppercorns, arugula

Kung Pao Shrimp
huang fei chilies, jalapeño, peanuts

There was also a vegetarian option, Mushrooms with Spicy Sesame Soy (king oyster mushroom, jalapeño, carrots, onion, garlic, gluten-free soy sauce).

Dessert was a Sugar Puff Ice Cream Sandwich.

Restaurant week is still happening through the weekend, but if you're ready to celebrate Chinese New Year instead, M.Y. China is ready with special menu items. They include lobster recipes inspired by several provinces in China and dumplings. Ask at the restaurant for more details.  Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Cypress Grove Chevre at the 2016 Fancy Food Show

J.K. met one of the Cypress Grove ladies in the press room, setting out the party goats, and was promised a surprise if she brought the little goat to Cypress Grove's booth. We finally got there on Tuesday and were we ever surprised! 

The party goats came in several colors. J.K. chose blue.

We were EACH gifted with a canvas tote bag.

AND a one-pound round of their yummy Truffle Tremor.

They claimed that they had to shrink the goats to make the mini cheese, but we have our doubts about that...where did the glitter come from?

Their display was really a smorgasboard of cheese. We were also very impressed by their "cheese cakes."

    

cheese cake designed by Patisserie Angelica

We received the round on the right. It lives up to its hype, an Award Winner for sure.

Cypress Grove has beautiful packaging and thoughtful staging. The ladies at the booth were very nice and genuinely excited when Angela showed them her little glitter mini-goat. Next time we head up north to Humboldt County (maybe for their Oyster Fest??!) we'll stop in and see the goats that helped produce our cheese.

Happy National Cheese Lovers Day Everyone!!

Walker's Shortbread at the Fancy Food Show

Walkers seems to be competing with Churchill's to package their cookies in the coolest tins. These three are new this year. I bought the Santa, but would have gotten the Scotsman if I had seen him in a store. Actually I will still buy him if he appears on a shelf near me!

I like this guy a lot, too, but I already have the white dog, which Angela gave me for Christmas last year.

Unfortunately, the Outlander assortment is in a box, not a tin.

"Walkers is proud to present a shortbread assortment inspired by OUTLANDER, a series of books written by Diana Gabaldon which has sold 26 million copies worldwide and is now a successful epic television series.

OUTLANDER is set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, the home of Walkers Shortbread since 1898. A fitting tribute to the passion, beauty and drama of the OUTLANDER story, this boxed Shortbread Assortment features the OUTLANDER tartan and images of Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser on the package."

The Walkers booth is always a stunner, usually on the end of an aisle with a display of one of each little tin or flavor of cookies they have for sale. This year there were a lot of gluten–free options (and you wouldn't know if they didn't tell you!) which we hadn't seen (noticed?) prior to this event. So, if you're looking for cookies for a tea party you're hosting, check out your local store for Walkers! You might even get some decor in the bargain.

  However they're packaged and shaped, Walkers cookies are the best!

Chocolate Garage

Do you live in the South Bay? Are you looking for a place to get unique chocolates? Check out the Chocolate Garage! We ventured down the coast on Caltrain one day to host a Meetup event during their open tasting event. Several bars were available for try and the employees were happy to help curate the tastings. Plus guests could bring wine, turning the event into a Chocolate Happy Hour!

Light to darkest was the suggested tasting menu.

There wasn't a large group for our event, but the little garage bustled with guests making purchases and enjoying coversation. Currently the Chocolate Garage is open for general tasting on Saturday mornings, but you're welcome to call and schedule a private group tasting. A tasting event could be a lot of fun for a birthday or bridal shower. The Garage is a very easy walk from Caltrain, so no excuses from the SF contingent.

Katia's Russian Tea Room

Second Sunday Tea at 3 met at Katia's Russian Tea Room for a very different afternoon tea. J.K. was worried about having to choose her savories from a totally tempting list, but fortunately that was taken care of in advance by the group's leader. Tea Time has enjoyed several outing with the SST@3 group and this time was a great experience as well.

The food was all delicious, and there was plenty of it. We started with bread and butter on the tables.

Russian Bread and Butter with a sprig of dill

The bread was quickly followed by Eggplant Caviar to spread on it.

Next we had Salmon Roe Blini.

Blini : delicate crepes, brushed lightly with sour cream
and filled with smoked salmon

The Blini were followed by Pel'meni.

Pel'meni : Tender, round, beef filled dumplings sauteed and 
served with a light curry sauce.

And of course there was tea, served in podstakanniki (silver glass holders). My Russian-born elders drank their Swee-Touch-Nee tea from glasses, without the holders. Herbal tea bags were available for those wanted a caffeine free beverage. Sugar, lemon and milk were ready to doctor up your drink as you desired. 

Our last savory was Potato Vareniki.

Potato vareniki : crescent shaped dumplings, filled with potatoes, 
steamed until they look like fat little pillows. Served with caramelized onions.

And then there was dessert! The first item was syrniki, fried cheese patties.

The Chocolate Walnut Meringue Torte was a big hit. Fresh fruit and mint were a lovely and tasty garnish on the dessert platters.

And of course Napoleons are always popular with any nationality. All the food was in perfect portions for family style sharing, and what our group didn't eat was available to be taken home! Our sweet waitress told us that Katia may consider retiring in the next year, so hurry up and make your reservations to try their tea offerings. Or if you're craving Pel'meni, stop in for dinner. Just make sure to try dessert!

Holiday Tea at Haas-Lilienthal House

Update 2022: Holiday tea at Haas-Lillenthal this season included tea sandwiches (chicken asparagus, salmon, cucumber and pear with stilton) catered from Lovejoy's. Tea choices included Numi's Mint, Earl Grey and Jasmine. For a $20 upgrade you could enjoy unlimited mimosas. 

Tea Time sat at a table with strangers and enjoyed a nice reminisce about Tal y Tara and other tea spots in SF. Scones were house baked ginger or cranberry served with lemon curd, Devon cream and a delicious berry jam. Desserts were Christmas cookies including gingerbread and macaroons. 

The tour was after the meal and everyone was encouraged to sit and enjoy themselves in the warm cozy atmosphere. 

---

Looking for a Holiday Tea? You may find that Crown and Crumpet has a delightful experience waiting for you. Either visit their Tea Stop Cafe in Japantown, or decide to splurge on their current Holiday treat. Tea Time chose to enjoy their offerings at the Haas-Lillenthal House. A posh venture with a set menu, but plenty of teas to choose from. It was a great chance to see this historical house and enjoy a spot of tea with company.

Lovely and classic table settings.

lemon curd, clotted cream and jam

Sconerific!

Savory tea sandwiches and treats

Can't resist sweets

Yummy cuppa

Our group enjoyed afternoon tea prior to the house tour. A few facts:
"William Haas entrusted Bavarian architect Peter R. Schmidt and contractors McCann & Biddell to build his home in 1886. Three generations of Haas and Lilienthal descendants lived at 2007 Franklin Street, after which the house was donated to Heritage. In keeping this house alive, Heritage is helping to educate people about the City’s architectural legacy and why it is important to preserve and protect it. The Haas-Lilienthal House was opened to the public for tours in 1972. It is the only intact private home of the period that is open regularly as a museum, complete with authentic furniture and artifacts."

A wide variety of personalities ready to relax and enjoy afternoon tea.

Our Hostess from Crown and Crumpet in her period finery!

exit through the gift shop

but only after you check out the preserved laundry room (with modern conveniences added in)

and the train room!

choo-choo!

The Haas-Lillenthal house is still hosting Holiday Tea this year, partnering with the SF Heritage club. There's plenty of time to make a reservation with Haas-Lillenthal, Crown and Crumpet, the Fairmont, the Palace or event in the Oak Room. Happy Holidays from Tea Time Adventures! We hope you enjoy many relaxing Holiday Teas during this festive season and let us know your favorite. Especially if we haven't been there yet to try it out.

Happy Holidays!