Kat's 9 Lives

On a sunny afternoon 3 friends decided to meet up and what better place than the Scarlet Tea Room for afternoon tea. The only things missing that day was a Jane Austen background setting, us in white Victorian gowns, and a nice white parasol to hold. Still it was a pleasant trip down the streets of Pasadena. Parking was a bit difficult to find but eventually we got a spot and strolled on over. The red doors, befitting their name, does no reflect what was inside. Once you step in, it feels like you are in a small ballroom or heavily decorated dining room. One immediate thing I noticed in the room was that it was a plethora of women. The only men that were around, few in its count, were the husbands.As you look around the room you will see many people with the decorative tower for the afternoon tea menu. Despite the fact that I don't even like tea, I had to apply the phrase "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." I am very open to trying new things or giving everything a chance, so I chose to follow the afternoon tea menu to get the full experience. With this option you get a Signature Sorbet, a Scone, 4 Finger Sandwiches of your choice, assorted Petit Desserts, Strawberries Romanoff for dessert, and a choice of Loose Tea. Note: Some of our menus were priced at $29 and some were more expensive. I took pictures just in case if anything went wrong to prove the pricing, but luckily they only charged us $29 per person or there would be heck to pay! LolOur afternoon tea began with a small bread basket with Sun-Dried Tomato Butter as spread. The breads were decent and the butter went well. I am actually not a huge tea fan but I am an adventurist so I decided to give the teas a try. Burumun and I saw 2 teas that we liked and decided to share since we each get a pot. She got the “Fiji” that’s flavored Green Tea with Papaya & Wild Pineapple. I ordered the “Once Upon A Tea” that’s an infusion of Chocolate Bits, Vanilla, Mint, and a Secret. Burumun really wanted what I ordered but I assured her that she can drink most of both pots lol. Ironically I liked hers better than mine. The light fruity flavor mixed with sugar cubes was very refreshing. My tea is reminiscent of the Moroccan Mint Teas but with an extra kick. Of course this tea can’t beat the teas I had in Marrakesh, Morocco but it was very nostalgic. They give small strainers to keep particles from falling into your tea but they were so loose that a lot of bits managed to get through. Hellobear ordered the “Amour” that’s an infusion of Strawberries and Hibiscus. The tea looked green in the photos but when poured it is a vibrant red, just like the door. O=9
Burumun and I both had the tea set and they brought us our Signature Fresh Strawberry Sorbet to start. Let’s just say that “scarlet” was a theme. I thought the sorbet was so-so because it was not very sweet. Strawberries must not be too ripe or in season because it was a bit sour and tangy for my taste. Still I am in it for the fun and ready for more.
Our friend Hellobear opted out of the afternoon tea set and ordered the Petite Filet Mignon Santa Fe Salad. It’s Mesclin Greens, Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Corn, Cotija Cheese, grilled Sweet Pepper on the side, and Hickory Citrus Vinaigrette. The filet mignon looked very tasty and nicely cooked. We couldn't figure out what kind of cheese was in the salad but luckily I took a picture of the menu and just flipped back to find out. ^_- It was presented beautifully, full of color and different components to add texture.
We received our tower of goodies, literally. I loved the delightful presentation of the afternoon tea set. The scones were on top, followed by the finger sandwiches, and finishing the bottom of were petit desserts. To accompany our scones they brought out Lemon Whey/Curd, Fresh Cream, and Imported Strawberry Jelly. My favorite was the cream because it was so light and airy with an elegant sweet aftertaste. The scones of the day were Cinnamon and Blueberry, which Burumun and I had to share. I felt the scones were very tasty but could be a little bit more moist. No worries, I smothered them with delicious cream to compensate and I was a happy camper. Too bad I had to share the scones or I’d eat them both. O=)
Luckily we didn't have to share the middle tower since we each get to choose 4 types of finger sandwiches. I chose the Chicken Tahini, Smoked Salmon, Roast Beef, and Mozzarella. The Chicken Tahini with shredded Chicken, Pine nuts, Chives, and seasoned Tahini Sauce was decent. It is like a Mediterranean Chicken Salad in a small finger sandwich. The flavor was very light and I really can’t tell the difference from other chicken salad sandwiches… I thought the Smoked Salmon with Chive Spread, Fresh Dill, and Capers looked very pretty in presentation with a Roe and Capers sitting atop the sandwich. Alas, a beautiful outer appearance does not reflect what is within. I thought the sandwich was plain and something you can easily make at home. The Roast Beef with Danish Blue Cheese with Arugula, Roast Beef, Shaved Red Onion, and Dijonaise was alright. It was mostly a thick creamy and cheesy flavor with a minuscule piece of meat inside. Again, you can definitely make this at home and load it with more meat along with some ripe Vine Tomatoes that would taste a whole lot better. The Mozzarella with fresh Mozzarella Cheese and Basil with Sun-Dried Tomato Spread. This was actually one of the more flavorful sandwiches and refreshing. The combination of flavors was well done and tasty. Burumun noted that she really enjoyed the Olive Tapenade sandwich.
There were only 4 "petit" desserts and when they say petite they seriously mean it. Burumun and I had to share it when they are one bite morsels or less. The Chocolate Eclair/Profiterole type dessert was the best one in the bunch but nothing you can't make at home. I didn't enjoy the Raspberry dessert that reminded me of a bad Trifle. The other 2 chocolate petit desserts was just alright as well. The last plate was definitely nothing special. =*(
Don't worry we still had a dessert coming at the end, the Strawberries Romanoff. It was just fresh Strawberries and liqueur. I think they used Grand Marnier? Not too sure, but the cream was the best part. They do make a wonderful pair and bring out the sweetness of each other. I have to say that overall the desserts were unimpressive.
Hellobear decided to order the Chef's special and it was much better than what we had. It was a Chocolate Tart with Honey. The presentation and portion was nice. I thought it was very rich, sweet, and heavy. This was much better than the dessert our tea set came with. At least we all got to try different things and share a wonderful luncheon experience.
All in all it was very entertaining and you feel like you have stepped back in time or space away from the crowded streets and the roar of the cars passing by. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of grace and leisure by catching up with one another as well as trading X-mas gifts. This was definitely a whole new experience and a fun one once in a while with the girls. Men are also welcome any time, but maybe they should snack on some goodies before coming here. I left feeling I needed some more meaty substance! O=)

Scarlet Tea Room

With all the better choices of food in Orange County, Ms. Lin had to pick Red Lobster of all places. I have been trying to avoid these huge American chains that are seriously lacking in taste, but somehow I was dragged out to Garden Grove for another lesson on why I don't frequent these joints. The main reason I agreed to go with Ms. Lin was that she had a $10 coupon and it was asking to be used. Also I do love the cheesy biscuits that they give there and I thought why not. See the love for Ms. Lin and what I must go through for her. =9 **another warning: I have drastically increased my editing and photography skills of late so do not be fooled by the pictures! Never judge a book by its cover. I enhance the photos to make everything look better and appetizing.**
The best thing is their Cheesy Biscuits that are freshly baked and brought to the table. They are globs buttery salty goodness. Can't get enough of them! Of course you can make these at home, but it's just easier to enjoy them here where they make it best!
We decided to start off with a Lobster, Artichoke, and Seafood Dip as an appetizer. I was very torn because I really wanted the clam strips but this sounded good too so why not. The dip claims to be a creamy 3-Cheese blend with Artichokes, Spinach, Maine, & Langostino Lobster, and Seafood. It's served with Tortilla Chips and Pico de Gallo. I will give them credit that they do put a generous amount of seafood in there or objects that looks like seafood! lol The taste was so-so but nothing special.
Ms. Lin's lunch came with a Caesar Salad and I ate a lot of it because I actually like their Caesar dressing. Yes, I know it is a shocker for a carnivore like me to eat vegetables. The sauce is super heavy and flavorful. You can see globs on ones side because it is not usually tossed well so be sure to mix the sauce more evenly or else some pieces will be super salty but still good. It is simple and good once in a while.
For our main course Ms. Lin chose the Chef's Signature Lobster and Shrimp Pasta. It's Maine Lobster, Tender Shrimp, Fresh Asparagus, and Tomatoes in a White Wine & Lobster Butter Sauce over Linguini. The flavor was decent and definitely very buttery... in other words, I can feel my heart clogging. O=9 They do give a decent amount of shrimp with bits of lobster throughout. I will give them some credit not overcooking the shrimp.
I chose the Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo because it was cheap. There really isn't a point to picking an expensive dish here since it won't be that impressive. My dish was spicy Chicken Breast tossed in a Garlic Parmesan Cream Sauce on a bed of Linguini. The portion size was decent. I didn't like it at first bite, but got use to it after a while. It didn't taste like Cajun and I just sat there bemused. What was I really eating and why do I always end up choosing a bad dish when I am with Ms. Lin? I just picked at the 2 pasta dishes and took the rest home. Not really worth my time or effort to eat. I substituted my salad for a Lobster Mashed Potato at an extra fee of $3.99 or so the menu said. When I asked the server he couldn't give me an answer of how much extra it would be. He confused me by saying that it might be more. This took the longest to arrive and by that time I wasn't too interested in eating it anymore. The mashed potato is slobbed full of butter gravy and a bunch of langostinos. I don't think they were real lobster meat but more like fake meat again. lol What can you expect for a $3.99 extra charge. =P
All in all the food was just plain and nothing special. The best part of the meal is the free biscuits! Free is good but at what cost! That coupon trick was what reeled us in and it's not like we saved much. With the excuse of a coupon we ordered more than what we might have without it. Heck, without a coupon we'd save all the money because we wouldn't come. The coupon basically saved us the appetizer. Is it really that great of a deal? Oh well... C'est la vie! Hopefully Ms. Lin has got this craving out of her system for a few more years now! lol

Red Lobster

I have seriously been up in San Gabriel/Alhambra/Monterey Park way to often these few months. People at a lot of places up there recognize me! That is how often I have been going in a short period. O=9 Keep in mind I live over an hour away! lol D@rn the addicting and cheap food they serve out there! I keep driving pass Bánh Mì Chè Cali on the way to Half & Half Tea House and it was finally time that I checked them out! I was wondering if it was the same chain in Garden Grove and if they offered the same deals. Luckily it is even BETTER! lol The only downside is that they don't offer fresh sugar cane juice =*(
The Sandwiches are $2 and Buy 2 Get 1 Free, which is $1 cheaper than Garden Grove where they are $2.50 and B2G1F. I noticed a difference in taste between the ones sold here and near home. Brace yourself... the ones in SG are much more meatier than the ones in GG despite being cheaper... and here comes the real shocker... I don't like the meatier ones as much as the ones in GG! lol I know it is blasphemy for me to say that I want less meat but I just felt that they lacked a bit in flavoring and seasoning. It could be just the person who made it that day or something, but don't worry I will definitely be back to pick up some more! For the price, it is still great! ^_-
Another deal I noticed as I walked in was that they offered Buy 1 Get 1 Free Milk Tea or Green Tea with the option of Boba, Jelly, Pudding, and more for $2. So it is basically $1 a drink. I have to say that is one of the best deals in town! To top it off, it's actually not that bad in taste! I thought the Milk Tea was decent and sweet. Little did I know that the Green Tea was only tea and no milk when I asked for pudding. I brought it home for my Aunt and she really liked it. Is it the best tea in the world? No. Is it worth the price? Heck YAH! Will I be back? You can bet on it! ^_-

Bánh Mì Chè Cali
135 San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 286-8728