Like Ladies-in-waiting

On a lovely midsummer's day, three ladies-in-waiting (LIW) had the wonderful opportunity for some afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress, Victoria. Lady Susanna (aka Mum) and Lady Sara had decided to visit Lady Miranda at the island, where she very hospitably took her guests around and invited them to stay the night in her cosy and lovely abode. Lady Sara was absolutely delighted at seeing Lady Miranda for the first time in months! She was even more thrilled at sharing this enchanting experience with a good friend who shared a similar passion for food! Adorned in Lace-lined, poofy dresses and parasols in hand (no less), the three LIW made their way to the majestic Empress Hotel.

The beautiful Lady Miranda Iddon.

The Empress, cresting regally on the banks of Victoria's Inner Harbour and restored in all its orginal grandeur with antique furniture and luxurious Edwardian style decor, was the perfect setting for elegant afternoon tea in true British tradition. Lady Sara was absolutely delighted at being in a hotel where a whole host of celebrities (including Shirley Temple!) have passed through its halls. She savoured every moment of the peaceful afternoon of conversation and dainty dishes, while overlooking the sparkling Inner Harbour and rainbow of flowers in the glorious sunshine beyond the walls of The Empress.

Upon arrival, they were seated almost immediately in a grand room adorned with portraits of regal looking individuals. They were lavished with impeccable service-- their serveur, Paz, tucked them into their seats, placed napkins on their laps...the works. Fresh strawberries with chantilly cream followed soon after as they contempleted on their choice on tea. The contrast of the fluffy white cream against the fresh red strawberries was so visually inviting; the taste--ever so simple-- did not let the Ladies down. Eventually, Lady Susanna settled for the Very Berry Tea and Lady Sara being not at all well-versed with teas, went with the Empress Blend, as recommended by their serveur.

Soon enough teas were brought forth and the LIW were caught terribly off-guard with their serveur's questions. Being accustomed to preparing tea themselves, they were speechless at their serveur's first question of their desire to take milk with their tea, which was followed by a cube of sugar (or two). They were very thankful for a lack of faux pas during the rest of the meal.

Next came the three-tiered stand of dainty high tea dishes (which was what Lady Sara was anticipating most!!).

To her, food presentation, after taste, is paramount. This little tiered piece, with an exhibition of gorgeous hors d'oeuvres hit all the right spots :)

The LIW started off with the bottom tier of savoury finger sandwiches.

The variety included (forground left, in a clockwise direction): mango and curried chicken, cucumber with light horseradish mayo, smoked salmon pinwheel, carrot and ginger cream cheese, and Lady Sara's personal favourite, multigrain crostini topped with mixed mushroom pate, drizzled with truffle oil :) Even the description sounds delicious! Save for the cucumber number, which was a little ordinary, Lady Sara found the rest amazing. Being the typical foodie, Lady Sara was the slowest eater as she tried to savour every little bite.

The LIW then worked their way up to the raisin scones served with strawberry jam and heavy cream--this too was a dream. The scones, not like mass manufactured and often rock-hard ones, were a little flaky on the outside and perfectly moist on the inside-- just the way Lady Sara likes it. They were sweet and delightful.

And finally, saving the best for last, were the pastries. Being an absolute sweet tooth, this had to be Lady Sara's favourite part of the meal!

Starting from the middle foreground and working through a clockwise direction: Shortbread-Earl Grey Tea, Lemon Tart- Lemon curd with Berry Garnish, Marble Chocolate Tulip- a cherry hidden under Milk and White Chocolate in a Chocolate Tulip Cup, Chocolate Cake- Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Buttercream, topped with ganache and in the middle, Battenburg-Vanilla and Chocolate Sponge Checkerboard wrapped in Marzipan.

Lady Sara started with the Shortbread. Lightly sweet, it was a wise start to warm-up the palate. Although frill-free in taste, she liked its simplicity very much. Next she had the Lemon Tart, where the lemony-curd centre added perfect zing to the otherwise sweet pastry crust and berry garnish. Tangy and interesting in taste, it was a refreshing break from the shortbread and scone that she had enjoyed before. Lady Sara then proceeded to have a taste of the Battenburg, in an attempt to work through the increasing levels of sweetness. This was the only way to maximise her pastry experience! The battenburg too was highly enjoyable, although she found the yellowish-green marzipan a little too overpowering for her liking. Thankfully, this was balanced by the more muted sponge centre. With chocolate being Lady Sara's archilles' heel, the chocolate-based pastries were saved for last to provide an excellent finish to the meal. The chocolate tulip was next in line for this chocolate monster to devour. It was absolutely divine! The taste of the etheral melt-in-your-mouth chocolate filling was elevated by a dark cherry which provided a delightful peek-a-boo surprise, as Lady Sara's delicate bites worked through the dainty tulipcup. This had to be her absolute favourite of the lot! Finally, she set her senses on the chocolate cake. This, although less exquisite than the chocolate tulip, was still very delectable.

After the LIW cleaned the tiered stand of its bite-sized delights (with grace but without any trouble at all ), easy conversation continued to flow while they basked in the old-world grandeur and elegance of The Empress. Before they knew it, two hours had flown by and they succumbed to the inviting sunshine "over yonder" (as Lady Miranda has so famously coined). They blissfully sojourned to the cobbled streets and whimsical charm of downtown Victoria, leaving with a nice little gift of The Empress Blend, complimentary of the hotel in hand.

And that was the delightful day of the three ladies-in-waiting.

Verdict: 4.5/5

Afternoon Tea at The Fairmont Empress

721 Government Street

Victoria, BC

$55 per person

Reservations required

P.S. Stay Tuned for Lady Miranda's upcoming Guest Entry!