Celebrate spring at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City. Available for a fleeting few weeks, their Cherry Blossom Tea is a memorable outing in Arlington.
Whether you're going for a special occasion or taking someone from out of town, you can count on it being an elegant afternoon of delicious treats.
WHERE: fyve Restaurant in The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City | 1250 South Haynes Street | Arlington, VA
WHEN: April 6-7, April 13-14
RESERVATIONS: Call (703) 412-2762 to book
METRO: Directly in front of the Pentagon City Station
From the moment you arrive, everything is designed to make your day more enjoyable. Do yourself a favor and valet park right out front -- it doesn't get any easier than that.
A delightful menu of sweets and savories was created for this annual springtime event.
“All dishes have been given a floral twist to pay homage to the arrival of spring and the iconic cherry blossom.”– Executive Chef Sriram Hariharan
We were lucky enough to have the exclusive Table fyve, a comfortable nook by the lobby-level fireplace. Reservations at Table fyve ensure an elevated afternoon tea service complete with luxury place settings featuring Veuve Clicquot glassware, a sweet gift, and the legendary Ritz-Carlton individualized service.
Dewayne Wright, Director of Restaurants and Outlets, walked us through the experience and presented us with gifts from their event partners, Palais des Thés and Veuve Clicquot.
“One of our favorite times of the year here at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City is cherry blossom season," he explained. "The city truly comes to life as the Tidal Basin and its surroundings turn pink as the trees bloom. fyve has a tradition of creating a special cherry blossom menu: a unique afternoon tea, decadent desserts and elegantly crafted cocktails.”
Here is what we had with our Royal Cherry Blossom Tea:
Savories included beautiful little open-faced tea sandwiches including one with duck prosciutto, foie gras, and brandied cherry; another with sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella, and micro basil; yet another with smoked salmon and caviar on pumpernickel; and a quinoa tartlet filled with zesty curried chicken salad.
My favorite was the tomato and mozzarella combination. It was as if I were eating a delicious Caprese salad, all in that one perfect bite.
Sweets included their fluffy cranberry scones served with housemade lemon curd, berry jam, and Devon cream. The beautiful desserts looked almost too good to eat ... almost.
My favorite was the strawberry shortcake which managed to taste like a summer strawberry layer cake in a single square inch (I'm convinced they have Willy Wonka in their kitchen). The other pastries included a madeleine with pink frosting and a crunchy sugar pearl, a tender coconut macaroon, a rich pistachio cherry financier, and crisp white chocolate cherry biscotti.
Everything is bite-sized, except for the scones. If there is anything you really love, you can always order more à la carte. This tea is truly wonderful -- Book a reservation and take someone who deserves to be pampered. Your own pot of perfectly steeped tea? Lovely! Some Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé champagne while you wait? Yes, please!
I promise, you'll walk away wondering why you don't eat at the Ritz-Carlton more often. If you can't make it for the Cherry Blossom Tea, come for their weekend brunch or their Thursday night jazz and sushi events. Japanese whiskey flights, anyone?
For more information about fyve or the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, visit their website or Facebook page for event announcements. The Cherry Blossom Tea starts at $42 per person.
**All photos in this article are by Sarina Petrocelly.
Have you had tea at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City? What did you like best? Let us know in the comments below!