CCCLIII: Faubourg

Today I went to high tea with Bunny and Smeek at Faubourg, a new café in Kerrisdale. My friends had wanted to try somewhere other than The Secret Garden, and Smeek had walked by this place before and made this wonderful suggestion.

Faubourg opened in November 2010 and has a very new and clean feel. There are marble tables, bright walls, friendly and helpful waiters, and delicious pastries. Afternoon tea is served everyday (M-F 12-5p, Sat-Sun 2-5p) and brunch, which also looks delicious (I saw a Croque Monsieur on the menu!), is served Saturdays and Sundays from 9a-3p.

Bunny made us reservations for 2p as we know that these things fill up fast. There are two menus for afternoon tea: Pink for $25.50 (equivalent of high tea) and Purple for $16 (mini high tea). We chose the latter and everyone was full except me, mostly because this was my first/only meal of the day.

First the waiter brought out a long slab of about 6-7 Mariage Frères tea selections for us to smell, and he also said they had Earl Grey and French Breakfast in addition. Bunny chose the Vanilla Bourbon, a herbal tea, and I am definitely going to order that the next time I go since it was so fragrant and flavourful. I had the French Breakfast and Smeek had the Earl Grey. (On a sidenote, this is the same brand of tea that Nicky and RaeRae got me when they went to Paris, and the one I have at home is divine: Earl Grey French Blue.)

Then we each got to choose our two sandwiches and two pastries. I had:

• Chicken, apple, country ranch dressing - so yummy
• Cucumber, roast beef, coriander cream
• Mini lemon tart - amazing
• Mini opéra

We also each got their chocolate almond mini scone of the day, though it was accompanied with jam and whipped cream instead of Devonshire/clotted cream.

X cups of tea later, I was still hungry and with brunch closed, I had a half ham, cheese, and asparagus grilled panino. We were also told that pains au chocolat were just freshly baked and so we each ordered one to go. Except mine didn't end up leaving the place...since I ate it. So flaky, buttery, and perfect; and so you know what you should have when you come. Because if there's anything you should love about the French, it's their croissants and pastries.

We all really liked this place, but for me, I'd rather go here for brunch, lunch, or a snack and go to The Secret Garden for afternoon tea. But that Vanilla Bourbon tea is very tempting...and so is the baker and his French friends...