The Lake House 勻淨湖

Last weekend after our lunch at Chateau in the air, we visited the lake house. We enjoyed a coffee and tea outside a restaurant beside the lake which was located on the edge of a Mingde Reservoir in the hidden valley. This is by far the most amazing restaurant with the view in Miaoli County.

The Lake House is a French restaurant and B&B guest house. The decor inside the house is contemporary. Behind the glass windows allows the customer to dine comfortably and yet be close to nature. The outdoor garden is definitely the place to sit for afternoon tea. We were given the menu and we was surprised to see that only one afternoon set meal for NT$450. So we almost have the same order. However the les desserts theme already include a small portion of snack. If you are coming here for lunch and  dinner there are some several  dishes to choose from.

 We were stuffed when an assortment of desserts arrived at our table was a mousse cake, pates de fruits, madeleine cake, fruit cake and chocolate. They were absolutely looks delicious!

The next plate arrives was a 3 hors d’oeuvres with chicken salad served in tiny glass.

Our drinks finally arrive, I'm opted for the hot cafe au lait lately, the robust flavors being brewed it's very fine and divine.

For my daughter was a refreshing fruits tea.

The other drinks it seems to enjoy my boys was a iced cafe au lait as it’s rich and creamy! Overall, we like this place it’s always nice to discover new places and as it has what we need to take a break and be close in nature. If you want charm, atmosphere, amazing service and above all is the food. I recommended this place in Miaoli and is best tackled by car. Definitely we will back again for lunch meal after I recover in something that I might not able to spent time eating outside for a months.

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 The Lake House 勻淨湖
No 112 Shipin Li, Joulan Town Miaoli County
苗栗縣卓蘭鎮西坪里112號
Tel No: 04-25899900
Website:
http://www.lakehouse.tw/

Jean-Paul Hèvin Taipei 101

Located at 4-5 floor of Taipei 101 Mall, Jean Paul Hèvin Chocolatier is a French manufacturer of high-end chocolate in Paris. The small restaurant and shop is decorated with a modern blend of dark wood tables, cabinetry and leathers sofas. An open area ideal for those who want to see and be seen sorrounded by expensive premium luxury brand.

Arranged in an elegant tiered tray, the special set for 2 person include tea of your choice.

Top tier: We were served a 2 chocolate cake, 2 macarons, 2 fruit salads that is refreshing & looks beautiful in a mini glass.

The middle layer of sweets was a millefeuille, mont blanc, 2 canele and another piece of cake and it was almost too nice to eat.

The last level of the three-tiered was a egg, chicken and cucumber sandwiches with a touch of mustard, soft creamy cheese and fresh thinly sliced tomatoes.

The black tea it was incredibly fragrant and simultaneously soothing for a sensation.

They give us a free sample with this piece of chocolate.

My husband favorite part is the chocolate macaron with chocolate ganache inside was just magnificent. Over all, the experience at Jean-Paul Hèvin is quite good, but a little bit expensive being told that their macarons in store are imported from Paris.

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Jean Paul Hèvin Chocolatier

Taipei 101 Mall, 4-5 floor Xinyi District Taipei.
CLOSED

The Terrace Bar Harrod's London

We had the pleasure of visiting Harrods I was just blown away, Harrod's has opened a branch in Taiwan as we have nothing like this in Taipei or in other major cities in Taiwan. We had a lot of computers, ipod, solar cell or advanced hi-technology but we don't have like this (Harrods) here, that you can find-buy anything as in everything or you can get what you want or not want at the time in one place. They also have many laptop computers, mobile phones are made in Taiwan. Quite frankly, the food hall is amazing. But the interior of the department store is,,,,,, for me Taipei 101 is much more elegance and well organized inside. We don't shop that much in Harrod's as we done it already in Paris. Just bought something as a gifts back home and some good stuff for my kids. Then we arranged a special afternoon tea at Georgian Restaurant before watching the night show of Phantom of the Opera.

The ambiance and decor created a really intimate vibe that will definitely leave the guests amazed of how glamour and style, classy sipping on tea can be, is where the aristocracy used to dine.

Upon the time we make reservation, the staff she so kindly to suggest and recommend to us that we were seated at the Terrace Bar. Where most British people spent their tea outside or patio's is the way to enjoy a truly traditional afternoon tea experience.

Of course, being afternoon tea, the first thing that came is this oozing bubbling glass of champagne for me and for my husband and cheers for us, that we made our journey in Paris and London by ourselves without any tour guide. The champagne was great, but were not really a champagne lovers. I prefer sweet ice wine. The taste of champagne described as mingled with refreshing I love the fragrance. However if you let it taste on your tongue for too long it gets a litter bitter.

Shortly after the champagne flute, the platter of sandwiches and assortment of sweets came in 3 tier presentation. Everything looked delicious and pretty, and this is a platter for 4 people.

So how was the food, let's do it layer by layer. First layer, Harrod's freshly made sandwiches which was a food finger sandwiches: Goat's cheese mousse on pumpernickel, ham and pickle sandwich, smoked salmon-spinach and cream cheese wrap, cucumber dill and yogurt shooter, coronation chicken sandwich were good but not spectacular. We found it disappointing relative to the other Afternoon Teas we have experienced in Taiwan. The cucumber dill and yogurt shooter it taste like grass!

Second layer, the home-baked English scones served with clotted cream, Harrod's rose petal jelly and strawberry preserves. I love how the scones were still warm when served. The clotted cream and jam it's was perfect with the scones.

Third or top layer is the selection of tea pastries from the Harrod's Patisserie: We had fresh fruit tart, green apple macaroon, afternoon tea fruit cake, chocolate delice slice, raspberry fragipan etc. The fruit tart shell was very hard, macaroon was delicious, fruit cake was overly sweet but were good too. The chocolate delice slice was absolutely sweet heaven.

Back to the tea, the desserts, scones and sandwiches are missed without steaming tea pots. There were four of us so we got to choose tea flavors. The first thing that came is the tea, I chose blackcurrant and hibiscus tea.

For my husband and kids they chose a kind of tea that can add sugar and milk. A steaming silver pot of afternoon special- a combine medium elevations teas from pristine Dimbula region in Sri Lanka. Georgian blend tea- combine darjeeling, assam and chinese tea for its fragrance. Earl grey tea-lightly scented with oil bergamot. This is the real deal milk tea lovers, we’re not talking about the ordinary tea.

Accompanied by white and brown sugar cubes, a real authentic English style milk tea, not too sweet and not too bland. But probably not of the best milk teas we have had. Overall, I personally loved the experience, sitting there sipping a cup of hot tea and chatting with family for what we have done on this vacation. For the price £26 per person and £33 with champagne flute it was enjoyable tea time with them. The food it wasn't spectacular but delicious nevertheless, surroundings were beautiful, and the staff were so attentive. Highly recommend for Mother's Day or just a romantic tea party for you and your lover. We had a lovely time and plan on returning again in the UK but not very soon. I would definitely do it again, but will try a new restaurant.

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Terrace Bar Harrod's London
87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge London,
United Kingdom
Website:
Harrod's Restaurant

French Crepes Paris France

Brasserie La Girandole is located in the gardens near the Grand Canal of Chateau Versailles. This is the right place where you can stop for a break, lunch or simply something tasty for your stomach.

As we walking down the gardens in the mid's of afternoon the weather it didn't improved sometimes it was rainy and it won't stopped! almost unwilling adventure we found ourselves on this cafe and most of the tourist where gone. Half of the restaurant is really cozy with a European atmosphere and the other half feels more like an American ice cream parlour, with lots soda's chips n' snack, even hotdogs and pizza on display.

Although we were not hungry at all, we just had a late lunch near the cafe in train station before going inside the Versailles, and because your not allowing not to order anything while waiting for a nice weather again. We ordered 2 fabulous dessert, that sounded so delicious to us. The apple tart itself is a very thin pastry filled with huge sliced apples. It’s drizzled with berries sauce and whipped cream, the apple it was too sour for my liking. I prefer my home-baked apple tart from Rachel Allen recipe. However we shared, but we fought over every last bite

We quickly graduated to crepe which is basically a crepe that is not for dessert, and sprinkled with white dusted sugar over the entire plate. The outer edges of the crepe had the perfect crispness and a delicious creation involving ice cream and some kind of peach jam spread it was melt-in-your-mouth delightful.

While sitting enjoying that  cafe au lait.

Kids got a Viennois hot chocolate which was also delicious and perfect on this chilly heavy rainy day! Walking inside the Versailles area will make you hungry or maybe simply thirsty. It is an ideal stop for, try the Brasserie de la Girandole.

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Brasserie La Girandole
Parc Du Chateau 78000 Versailles.

This delightful resto/cafe is named after Esmeralda which was very close to Notre Dame Catheral. One Sunday afternoon after visiting the Notre Dame as we was about to walk back to underground train station and headed to Montmartre. We was seduced and stopped and tracks by a sweet, sweet smell jolt in the late afternoon. I thought that this cafe is probably a very touristy place and they were sitting in the corner.

Her stained glass portrait is in place of the cafe.

This cafe has a wide selection of coffee. We ordered these types of coffee; cappuccino, cafe au lait which we tried many times in other coffee shop and earl grey tea pot for my kids.

This cafe au lait it taste very nice

This time I went with a trio movenpick ice cream of half-scoops: Strawberry, vanilla and chocolate chips flavor.

And of course we had to stop for crepes. This crepe came loaded with apricot jam and other sugary goodness. You can also opt to add a scoop of ice cream for good measure and its good to shared for 2 people.

We had the signature crepe the nutella banana. The restaurant was surprisingly quiet and our bill with tax and tip came to just 45euro, which is very reasonable considering how tasty and generously filled the crepes were.

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Esmeralda

75004 Paris France

Old Smithy Restaurant & Bistro Pierre

After our short days in Scotland and drove back to the England, we stopped in The Blacksmiths Shop at Gretna Green Scotland for afternoon break. Then visited the shops which had lots of lovely souvenir gifts, then we asked to the staff where we can find a place to eat, they told us this Old Smithy Restaurant.

It has a self-service here for the most part so you have to physically go and select your cakes and sandwich had on display in the fridge and get your coffee on the machine or a pot of tea and pay at the counter. Me and daughter we picked out the scones filled with cream and jam and it was huge. I wasn't surprised that the scones were not warm here, as they have been in the fridge but still delicious.

We also had a huge sliced of classic Victoria sponge cake a rich butter cream filling and delicious jam was brilliant.

A horn shaped puff pastry topped with sugar, filled with whipped pastry cream, such a big size!

Then we had both a glass of cappuccino to enjoy the afternoon. Nothing very spectacular about the restaurant, the ambience was nice, but it sure is an ideal place to stop-off. The scones with cream and jam were recommend, and they were good, they also have a light snack to cooked meals.

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The Old Smithy Restaurant

Gretna Green in Scotland.

Located in the heart of button street, in the core of Liverpool’s cavern quarter next to Matthew Street, and is a bustling French restaurant that is both casual, chic, formal and informal. Serving delectable traditional French cuisine. The bistro has a rustic decor, let say is cozy and romantic; enhanced by subdued lighting, soft french classic music, simple wooden furniture and candle -lit in each dinning tables. But too much chairs and tables are scattered around inside the restaurant that makes you feel hot and crowd.

This time for the main course had a complimentary of toasted bread with cheese . These french bread was burned to a crisp with this gooey melted mozarella cheese rests on top.

We really appreciated eating this English style beef steak with this savory and delicious french sauce. I will tell you, this steak was one of the toughest, hardest to chew pieces of meat. When we asked to the staff how come the steak was so tough and they said that's the way they cooked in England.

We also had a plate of steamed vegetables loaded with beans, beetroot, potatoes, carrots and cauliflower that had zero flavor because basically they boiled and unseasoned. It tasted not so fresh, though the beetroot was acceptable.

Now for the sweet tooth! We had a cream puffs filled with chocolate sauce drizzled over the top. This is disaster, the cream puffs was too cold and very soft it wasn't flaky or crunchy in the outside. This is a perfect example when we expect too much about eating french food. It was bland unexciting experience, we were very disappointed unfortunately not that expensive.

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Pierre Bistro
14 Button Street
Liverpool, Merseyside L2 6PS, United Kingdom
Website:
http://www.bistropierre.com/

Madam Rose Coffee & Tea Salon

We came upon this place after seeing about it from magazine while having lunch at Aunt Stella a few months ago. Since we loved afternoon tea, we just made our way on this elegant place tea house. Madam Rose is design fully inherited the characteristic of European palace style, showing some ornaments, classical music, high ceiling are hand detailed in gold. every detail of the architecture and decor, and the best marbles. This sensual elegance and classical design is very French and you either love it or hate it. With its fine fabric, textures and colors combined in the extravagant classical Victorian style.

As you enter the lobby has a wow factor, you’ll admire the lofty space with its elegant staircase. Like I said the elegant art deco interior is stunning and makes you feel so glamorous to be there.

When you walk in, the place itself is a really pretty, comfortable furnishings and lavish displays of tea product including varieties of the French brands Mariage Frères, Dammann Freres and finebone porcelain. Straight ahead you can see the tea room with its marble floor.

We make a reservation before coming here and they are kindly enough to give us a very nice seating area. Specially when they know that your not from Taipei. We were greeted at the door by the staff and shown to our seats. We were seated at a table next to the window, with lovely views of the garden and the fountain. Its comfortable enough to indulge the afternoon tea.

Madam Rose offers classic dining amidst the grandeur of European ambiance. Even coffee-tea pots and tableware come with Versace China porcelain. So if you are addicted brand of Versace this is a place for you. There is an extensive menu with deluxe afternoon tea set, as well as a la carte items such as a waffle, sandwiches and cakes.

We began our visit by enjoying a 2 fantastic French High Tea for includes a three tiered set selection of sweet and savoury delicacies, serviced with tea and fresh coffee and tempting those with a sweet tooth.

The top plate was a freshly sliced of watermelon, pineapple, manzinitas or tiny green apple and peach.

The middle plate had a white roll cake, canelli, macaroon, fruit jelly and fruits tart on it.

The bottom plate held mini bacon and cheese tart, tuna burger, raisin scone and small vegetable sandwiches or canape, rose jelly jam and butter.

 A light refreshing mini fruit jelly.

The second three tiered  is similar with the first one.

The second layer had a almond chiffon and confections on it.

The third layer almost similar on our first order of three tiered featured sandwich and pastries.

We also try their ice cream and fruit waffle for my son, they were so moist and delicious.

As usual, we have our tea and coffee. The earl grey milk tea being served in a gorgeous Versace Le Jardin tea set. And like always, it was top notch.

Then I’ll have that, a cup of espresso macchiato is pretty simple, espresso beverages and outstandingly delicious.

Marco Polo tea it came with Versace Medusa Blue and Red tea set.

Assam Superior G.F.O.P. Tea has a nice, strong malty aroma and taste.

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The service standard is high with a very calm atmosphere, it was clear that presentation is important. We were not harassed to leave and so we don't stay for that long. A good value high tea offering a generous serving of both sweet and savoury treats. Everything melted in our mouths as we emptied the plates. We like this place and plan to go again to try the full set meal course for a very special occasion. I highly recommend Madam Rose as this is a perfect execution. Worth to visit as we enjoy the Saturday afternoon.

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Madam Rose Coffee &Tea Salon-玫瑰夫人
台北市104南京東路三段77號
No. 77, Section 3, Nanjing (Nanking) East Road, Taipei City
Contact No: 026608-1333
Website:
http://www.madamrose.com.tw/