About The Peter Rabbit Tea

As if afternoon tea alone wouldn’t tempt the children sufficiently, the genius team at the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner have created a Peter Rabbit Tea, just for our younger friends. Served on Friday – Sundays 12pm-4pm, the under 12’s can delight in a selection of sandwiches: nutella, peanut butter and jelly and turkey and American cheese. This is followed by our personal favorite – chocolate dipped strawberries, brownie, teddy bear cookie and fruit tart, all served on Peter Rabbit plates.

The Food

This feast didn’t stop them dipping into the adult’s tea, not through any suggestion of hunger, just pure unadulterated gluttony! There’s something for every age at the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner tea service. Adults enjoy more sophisticated tastes of poached asparagus and sun-dried tomato confit, smoked salmon and herb cream cheese tea sandwiches.

The finest French patisserie couldn’t beat their cinnamon palmier and lemon berry tart, so delicate in flavor yet light enough to leave you wanting more. Sadly for me, the tiramisu mousse was too much for tiny fingers to resist! I am reliably informed that they tasted something like “heaven!”

The Sweet Life

The beautifully dressed table at the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner tea room hinted at the treats to come. Small pots of lemon curd, cream and jelly were placed temptingly on display. The currant scones were sugar-coated and baked to perfection – fluffy on the inside with a slightly toasted exterior. With the indulgent whipped cream and jelly they were ‘melt in the mouth’ delicious. The kind of treat you don’t want to eat too quickly for fear that then it’s gone!

Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner Tea Service: The Verdict

As you’d expect at the Ritz Carlton, the service is so much more than a smile. Utter graciousness, in an ambiance of sophistication. This is a great opportunity to exercise those fine table manners we wax lyrical to our children about, and a wonderful moment to feast on all the treats we try to resist the rest of the year. This tea comes highly recommended!
Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner tea service: $36 per Person (for our guests under age 12) / $46 per adult. Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, 1700 Tysons Blvd, McLean, Virginia. Website. 

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The Rosé Garden Menu

While there is a list of roses by the glass, as well as a lovely sparkling Rosé flight, the beverage menu goes way beyond just Rosé wine. The restaurant’s resident mixologist has come up with a series of Rosé-inspired cocktails, all of which are quintessential spring beverages.

The Cocktails

My favorite cocktail at the Ritz Rosé Garden was the ‘Rosie’s 75, a twist on the classic French 75. Made with lavender infused gin, St. Germain, lemon sherbert (which is actually just muddles lemon peel, not sorbet) and sparkling wine, it is super refreshing. I may be biased because I love sparkling wine, but it is a great cocktail to kick off your evening.

More Rosé Cocktails

Another one I enjoyed immensely was the Petals and Peaches. Not too sweet, with just the right amount of tartness, this cocktail is made with Lillet Rosé, Giffard Crème de Peche, grapefruit juice, grapefruit bitters and sparkling rosé. Adorned with a flower, it is tastes just as good as it looks.

Finally, if you want something really cool and crisp get the Pimms and Proper, which is served over ice and features Pimms No. 1, sparkling wine, ginger syrup, orange sherbert, fresh lemon juice, and cucumber water. The cucumber water has a cooling effect, and the drink is very smooth and easy to imbibe.

The Food

Of course, it’s not all about drinks at this Rosé garden; there is a menu of snacks created by Chef Alvin Dela Cruz to enhance your Westend rose garden experience. My favorite was the baked goat cheese, which comes with warm figs and a pile of crunchy crostini for dipping. It comes in a beautiful glassware with a lid and is optimal for sharing with your friends.

The Verdict

Check out West End’s Rosé garden this Friday from 4:30-7pm, before everyone else hears about it and it becomes impossible to get a seat on their cozy patio!

Ritz Carlton Washington, DC,  1150 22nd St NW, Washington, DC, Website

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The Scene:  The Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner is tucked away in McLean, Virginia.  You can feel the calming vibe upon arrival with the warm palette of the lobby décor and beautiful fresh flowers everywhere.  There is also a discreet entrance to Tyson’s Galleria, the epitome of luxury shopping of the Washington, DC metro area.

The Rooms:  The rooms are spacious with a classic décor.  I enjoyed the separate sitting area to the bedroom.  Given that I work remotely, it is important to me to have a comfortable working space. The room design makes it perfect for that.  The only disappointment I found was Wi-Fi for a fee.  For a luxury property with so many extras, free Wi-Fi should be a must, especially with so many business travelers.  Free Wi-Fi is provided in the lobby and lounge area.

The Location:  With the new silver line, getting to Tysons Corner has never been easier if you want to avoid the traffic from Washington, DC.  The hotel is equidistant to Washington, DC and Dulles Airport and there are plenty of shopping areas and restaurants to choose from.

The Spa:  After two intense weeks of travel, a spa treatment was happily welcomed! Love how the Spa at the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner is a little oasis in the city. I received a Moroccan Oil scalp treatment with my massage… amazing! After my treatment, I was greeted in the spa lounge with champagne.  There, I started chatting with a lovely woman who was indulging in a whole spa day with her friend. She was telling me how this had become a yearly tradition for them.  It included multiple treatments, access to the pool, gym, and lunch.  She said the quality of the services always made them come back.  Dining Traveler Tip: The Spa offers complimentary valet parking if you’re not a hotel guest.

The Food:  Any hotel with a Jose Andres restaurant gets my seal of approval.  I had lunch at America Eats Tavern which has a unique take on American food using a variety of locally sourced ingredients. My watermelon salad followed by their signature coconut cake was to die for.   I also recommend going for a cocktail. Their bar and lounge area is great to catch up with friends.

We also dined at ENTYSE, the wine bar and lounge at the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner.  Don’t be fooled by the title “wine bar”.  ENTYSE has an eclectic but delicious full dining menu.  Our hostess recommended the pad Thai, which I was hesitant about ordering since the restaurant is not Thai. However, I was surprised, it was absolutely delicious.  Another standout were the Korean shrimp tacos. This is another proof not to overlook hotel restaurants!!!

The verdict:  Whether you are looking for a staycation or a quiet luxury thirty minutes from Washington, DC, the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner is a great pick.  You can never go wrong with the Ritz Carlton brand (about my Ritz experience in San Juan). Not staying overnight?  Definitely take advantage of the spa and dining options!

Disclaimer: I was hosted by the Ritz Carlton Tysons Corner, as always opinions are my own! 

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