Good Morning Darlings!

After a week of zombie wrangling (see: Atlanta Movie Tours), I had the chance to immerse myself in delicious girly goodness at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead.

Alice In Wonderland and our friends across the pond, the Brits, have popularized afternoon tea.

The Ritz-Carlton perfected it.

Located in the lobby of Atlanta’s iconic hotel, four ladies enjoyed the most lovely afternoon of tea and treats.

There is nothing so delicious as enjoying cocktails(!) and girl talk on a gorgeous spring day.

The cocktails we were greeted with were nothing less than a breath of fresh air. And I’ve got the recipes for you!

Magnolia Cocktail
1 1/2 oz Hendricks Gin
1/2 oz St. Germaine Elderflower Liqueur
1/2 oz Agave Nectar
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
1 oz House-made Double Steeped Lavender-Infused Tropical Green Tea
Egg White

Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and shake without ice approximately five times. Add ice and shake again. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a flamed lemon twist.

Buckhead Blackberry Fizz
2 oz Makers Mark Bourbon
1 oz House-made Blackberry Syrup
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
5 to 8 Mint Leaves
Splash of soda water

Add mint leaves to a mixing glass. Muddle twice, add blackberry syrup and muddle twice again.
Add lemon juice, bitters, bourbon and ice; shake all ingredients. Strain over ice into a rocks glass, top with soda water and garnish with a mint sprig.

And now on to the food. Seriously, if you want to treat yourself, or someone you love, you must visit the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead for tea. This was the loveliest afternoon, and the food is divine. And there’s a lot of it.

Tea Sandwiches

Pink Salmon Tartar, Lemon Cream
Cucumber Sandwich, Caviar, Mint Cream
Roasted Turkey and Corn Salad, Tarragon
Egg Salad, Truffle, Mini Brioche
Prosciutto Ham, Dried Fig, Port Fig Cream

And now for the sweets.

Tea Pastries
French Style Macaroons
Lemon Shortbread Tea Cookie
Vanilla and Chocolate Cupcakes
Raspberry Fruit Tart
Red Fruit Star Anise Opera
Chocolate Almond Flourless Cake
Chocolate Coconut Cake
Chef’s Selection of Seasonal Scones, Housemade Whipped Cream and Strawberries

It truly is the most incredible of afternoons. Take your best girlfriends, your daughter, your mother or your gram. The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead Tea is an exquisite way to treat yourself to a mini vacation.

The details:
spring celebrations awaits guests at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead throughout April and May.

Butterflies and Blossoms Afternoon Tea
Seasonally-inspired pastries add springtime joie de vivre to our time-honored Afternoon Tea.

Premium loose leaf teas are steeped in individual English bone china teapots and poured through sterling silver strainers into bone china teacups. Thursday through Sunday until April 29. Seatings at 2:30 and 3 pm. $34 per adult, $21 per child.

If someone ever takes you on a surprise visit and you are not sure where you are, peek around – do you spot the lion? You are at The Ritz-Carlton, and in the best of care.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Flower Drum – I Enjoy Being A Girl