Afternoon Tea, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Jerusalem/Yaniv Garnot
A slow and measured walk in Jerusalem's Mamilla pedestrian zone never provides just shopping in storefronts, but also a glimpse of everything that is currently happening in the capital, and beyond.
So, naturally for these days, you get a decent amount of uniformed security forces there, a large amount of armed civilians (without uniforms of course, but with all the other manners), and a mixture of languages that jumps quickly and sharply between Hebrew, English, Arabic and French.
Jerusalemite, in short.
This pedestrian street, with its multitude of shops and the combination of luxury and the everyday inherent in it, cuts off the visitors a little from what is happening outside the stone walls, but does not provide the absolute escapism that we are all looking for now, more than usual, probably.
For such a path, more than end-of-season sales are required.
For such a purpose, a foreigner is needed, even if he is an Israeli foreigner.
Absolute escapism.
Waldorf Astoria/Walla! system, Yaniv Garnot
The Waldorf Astoria's decade celebrations have not yet fully kicked off, but a celebratory cloak is being put on every afternoon, with the happy comeback of high tea.
This Afternoon Tea ceremony, so British and so removed from our routine, is in fact everything our routine craves now - a royal drink of dukes and people with suits and titles, hours that are neither lunch nor dinner, non-local decor and manners that might make us laugh , if we didn't long for them so much.
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Manners are required.
The Waldorf Astoria tea dinner/Walla! system, Yaniv Garnot
Tea, being the focus of this show, offers nine possible infusions, divided into three categories - black, green and decaffeinated herbal teas.
The first ranges between classic Earl Gray (a black tea blend perfumed with Italian bergamot extract with a touch of lavender flowers and blue leaves), an Indian chai that beautifully combines light sweetness and an equally light spiciness, and Darjeeling from the subcontinent.
The greens provide options of Sancha (a mixture of steamed tea leaves that characterizes the Makinohara region of Japan), Oolong, and a more yellowish Mao Jin.
Alongside them, pours of red-purple and sweet-sour berry infusion stand out, as well as lemon and conventional Louisa and its moments, as well as chamomile with a delicate castor of mint.
These and these get an additional envelope of flavor when they are poured from a bright and beautiful carafe, through a designed strainer into an elegant porcelain cup.
A ceremony, as mentioned, with all its rules.
Ceremony, with all its rules.
The Waldorf Astoria tea dinner/Walla! system, Yaniv Garnot
On the side, and in every other sense completely in the center, the food arrives in the configuration of a three-tiered tray that guides you wordlessly to surrender to detachment and dream in imperial English.
It starts with three sandwiches (doubles, meaning two of each kind) in the form of sourdough bread with smoked salmon, cream cheese and lemon zest, whole country bread with cucumber and cream cheese with dill, and also country walnut bread with tom cheese and tomato chutney.
These sandwiches, which correspond with the tradition of the foreign high tea, were tasty and fresh and provided the necessary base course before the next step (although they would do well here if they went for even more decadent options, from buttery and soft brioche to white bread. Fruity and sourdough is fun, but We came to disconnect completely, as mentioned), and did so also with the help of a great tart, crispy and the ideal size of two bites, with egg salad and smoked salmon on top.
Showcase.
The Waldorf Astoria tea dinner/Walla! system, Yaniv Garnot
From there, you find yourself naturally climbing to the tray's mezzanine, which features a purposeful display that brings together five local patisserie hits, but Francophile in nature.
There is a creamy "Rocher" (chocolate crunch, praline mousse, chocolate coating and hazelnut pieces), an almond financier with berries that goes a step to the side with the sips of tea, honey and lemon madeleine cookies that complete this duet, a great chocolate and cheese brownie, and a coated caramel eclair Chocolate, bittersweet-sweet.
The penthouse of this tower serves you four large scones - a pair of classic ones and a pair rich in raisins - which are arranged on another plate that is placed on the table, with butter, winter strawberry jam, good orange jam and whipped cream (if it's more for me to go smaller again, and more for me, it's better here too Stick to the original, perhaps, and convert the creamy sweetness to the English clotted cream, which is more neutral in taste and definitely goes better with this sweet).
A thick piece of the warm and fresh scones, buttery and juicy spreads, more whipped cream on top because why not, actually, and you're there.
far from here.
Besiege the queen, from bottom to top.
The Waldorf Astoria/Noa Arad tea party
The aforementioned deal, which is served these days (15:30-18:30) at the hotel's King's Court restaurant, requires planning and ordering in advance (the trays are not prepared ahead of time, but based on those orders) and costs NIS 380 per couple.
Bubbly and the like - increasing corruption this afternoon - will add a charge to you if you want it.
This price does not come close to the amounts that you will have to spend (and spend) in London and its surroundings, and reflects the happy accessibility of a slightly different, certainly unusual experience (for now, it is also the only tea ceremony held in Israel).
Given that we still try to visit the value-for-money districts, it's safe to say that the pricing is fair, and above.
You can come hungry and leave full, although it is doubtful that this is indeed the main goal.
Instead, you should think about two hours of contentment and peace, interrupted only by the sound of silverware mixing in cups, and try to gauge in your head how much they are worth to you.
Now put a little salty and a little sweet on them, a layer of butter and jam, and God forbid, and go besiege the queen.
No passport required.
Afternoon tea, Sunday-Thursday 3:30-6:30 p.m., Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Jerusalem
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