THE LANGHAM HOTEL-AFTERNOON TEA WITH WEDGEWOOD (PASADENA, CA)

The Langham Hotel
Afternoon Tea with Wedgewood
1401 South Oak Knoll Ave
Pasadena, CA 91106
http://www.langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/pasadena/dining/afternoon-tea-with-wedgwood/
Tel: 626.585.6218
$$$$ ($50+)
Sun, 04/19/2015, 2:30pm reservation
    (4 Piglets)

What was once home to the Ritz Carlton now sits the beautiful Langham Hotel in Pasadena, California. Within the grounds of the hotel at the Lobby Lounge, afternoon tea is served Monday-Sunday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens are the essence to the room. Wedgewood teas as well as Wedgewood teaware are the core to the English tradition at this establishment.

The entrance to the Lobby Lounge

Traditional afternoon tea can be experienced during the weekdays while a special chocolate tea is served on Sundays. What's the difference? For fifty nine dollars, the chocolate afternoon tea includes a twist on tea sandwiches, unlimited tea, bottomless champagne as well as an unlimited dessert bar consisting of chocolate, macarons, and madelines. A chocolate fountain overflowing with melted chocolate leaves you breathless, excited, and diabetic all at the same time.  

The dessert bar

Table setting

TOWER OF TEA SANDWICHES AND SCONES ($59.00):
Dark Chocolate Mousse, Vanilla Marinated Shrimp -The shrimp is marinated in pesto. This sandwich was probably my least favorite.
Cucumber, White Chocolate Dill Mousse, Orange Supreme- The cucumber sandwich was light but it was missing a bit of tang that I so desperately needed.
Smoked Salmon, Roasted Shallot Mouse, Chocolate Mint- This was a good smoked salmon tea sandwich. Enough said.
Melon, Dark Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse, Prosciutto Chip-This was a refreshing tea sandwich. Different, yet satisfying.
MY FAVORITE DISH: Pink  Chocolate Mousse Profiterole, Raspberry Pearls- Out of all the tea sandwiches, this was my favorite one. It's unique and a bit on the sweeter end. It reminded me of a very delicate eclair.
Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Marble Scones-These were good and had a dense texture the way a scone should be. When spread with Devonshire cream and/or lemon curd, it brings the scones to a whole new level. 

A closer look at the sandwiches and tea

Bottomless Champagne for the table

Overall, the Langham Hotel offers one of the better afternoon tea locales in Southern California. The tea selection for the chocolate afternoon tea complements the sandwiches and desserts well. One of my favorites was the Mayan Truffle tea (a hint of spice and sweetness to create an infusion of flavors). The grounds to the hotel are beautiful and you can take a stroll in the garden afterwards to walk off the calories you just engulfed. As a former resident of London, I can vouch that this place is legit. 

Notable dishes: Pink Chocolate Mousse Profiterole with Raspberry Pearls and the Mayan Truffle Tea