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Throughout the vacation season I had the chance to expertise afternoon tea at The Bruce Resort situated in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. They kindly gifted me tickets to this particular occasion and I’ve been keen to jot down a overview ever since. Stratford, Ontario is Canada’s most famed theatre city. The Stratford Pageant presents every thing from basic Shakespeare productions, to trendy interpretations of Shakespearean works. The Bruce Resort is simply steps away from the theatre and so they placed on some fabulous culinary occasions of their very own that pair splendidly with a theatre crammed weekend.
About The Bruce Resort
Established in 2014, The Bruce Resort is a 25 room luxurious lodge sitting on six acres of land that’s by the Stratford Pageant.
Proprietor Jennifer Birmingham named this venue after her beloved late father. She owned two different award profitable Mattress and Breakfasts in Ontario earlier than her journey led her to creating The Bruce Resort.
Out of the 25 luxurious visitor rooms, 4 are suites that overlook the gardens and bee meadow. The opposite visitor rooms overlook the identical or have a beautiful view of the town.
Like the town it’s situated in, The Bruce Resort has a Shakespeare theme. The wings are named after Shakespearean performs and the rooms are named after characters. For instance, I stayed within the “Celia” room on the “As You Like It” wing. Different Shakespearean components will be discovered all through the lodge, too.
Visitor rooms are clear and thoughtfully embellished with glass chandeliers, pristine furnishings, premium mattresses and comfortable linens that may have you ever drifting off in a matter of no time.
In addition they come geared up with an electrical kettle and a french press with complimentary espresso, tea and water. Plus, there’s a actually cool characteristic that you simply’ll discover on the telephone in your room referred to as “Cookie Hotline”.
Merely press the button and also you’ll be directed to a employees member who will ask you what sort of cookies you’d like, plus tea or espresso. Earlier than you realize it, there’s a knock in your door and a tray of teapots, teacups and scrumptious cookies only for you!
Getting into The Bruce Resort
The journey begins on the entrance with the brown double doorways. Behind these doorways are excessive ceilings, giant home windows, hardwood flooring and greetings from the entrance desk employees.
The sort entrance desk employees directed us to The Restaurant location. However, not earlier than we may take a peek on the stunning decor within the lounge space which is situated to the precise from the doorway.
White and brown striped chairs offered seating within the house. The wall to the precise was lined in a world map, whereas the wall straight forward had a comfy fire.
Since Christmas was close to on the time of my go to, decorations have been positioned on the fireside mantle and occasional tables. A big Christmas tree was lit within the nook with gold and purple ornaments and ribbons.
Music might be heard from the infant grand piano situated within the lounge space, simply ready for company to bop their fingers on the keys.
Positioned to the left when coming into the constructing is a hallway that may result in The Restaurant at The Bruce.
Afternoon Tea in The Restaurant
Breakfast, lunch and formal dinners are served in The Restaurant at The Bruce. Along with these day by day eating choices, they maintain particular occasions like Afternoon Tea.
The hostess took our reservation info and directed us previous the bar and right into a brilliant room with a vaulted ceiling and ground to ceiling home windows. The partitions have been painted cream and clear white and the flooring was lined with a mixture of darkish and lightweight gray carpeting.
The tables have been set with white tablecloths and linens, silver cutlery, stemmed ingesting glasses, classic teacups and a pine cone centrepiece.
We took our seats within the white and gray cushioned chairs whereas our glasses have been crammed with water and we have been directed to the menu.
Tea Menu
The Bruce Resort presents a collection of unfastened leaf teas sourced from a neighborhood tea sommelier, Karen Hartwick. Karen is the proprietor of Stratford Tea Leaves.
The tea menu consisted of 1 white tea, 2 inexperienced teas, 2 black teas, 1 oolong and three natural teas. 4 of the teas have been pure whereas the remaining have been blends.
It’s all the time nice to see the nation of origin listed by the tea in addition to private tasting notes. The Bruce Resort even had their very own tea fanatic welcome the company and supply tea solutions.
Usually, I might have gone with a black tea for afternoon tea. However, I stayed at The Bruce Resort in a single day and loved their breakfast tea, The Bruce Mix, that morning. So, I made a decision to go together with a lighter tea and order the Natural White Peony. My husband did the identical.
This Chinese language white tea was described as “gentle physique, candy melon flavour, low caffeine”.
The unfastened leaf tea was served in a superb mesh infuser basket that sat completely inside a porcelain white tea pot. The server introduced this out together with a timer that consisted of three small hourglasses, meant to time the steep course of. The server prompt which hourglass to comply with based mostly on the steep time suggestion for a particular tea.
When the time was up, we eliminated the infuser basket from the teapot and positioned it on a small dish that was offered. This stored the desk mess free.
I appreciated that The Bruce Resort considered many little particulars to make steeping unfastened leaf tea stress-free and simple.
Meals Menu
The meals menu is just not obtainable forward of time, a minimum of not that I observed. Additionally, remember this was throughout the Christmas holidays, so this specific menu had a vacation theme to it.
I assume the afternoon tea menu might change relying on the time of yr the occasion is held at The Bruce Resort.
The meals menu is identical for everybody. Nevertheless, with superior discover, The Bruce Resort can accommodate any allergic reactions or dietary restrictions. They offered my husband with vegetarian choices.
Brandon Clemens is The Bruce Resort’s Govt Chef. Earlier than becoming a member of the group in 2020, Clemens gained expertise in Europe, England and even on the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.
The final afternoon tea overview I wrote was truly from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. So, I used to be very a lot trying ahead to seeing how this one in contrast.
After our tea had a while to steep, the employees introduced us a 3-tier stand with savouries, scones and sweets. In addition they took the time to level out and clarify every merchandise on the tiers.
Being a day tea nerd, The Bruce Resort acquired bonus factors from me for presenting the meals in the right order for a conventional afternoon tea service.
Savouries
The savoury portion of the menu was listed as Sandwiches. It consisted of 4 finger sandwiches.
This included Snow Crab with Celery and Shallot, Brie with Apple and Honey, Flat Iron with Horseradish and Cheddar and Turkey with Quince and Rosemary.
The finger sandwiches have been made with quite a lot of breads. I believe the employees might have talked about the kinds of breads used for every one when going by way of the 3-tier stand. Nevertheless, it will have been useful to see it listed on the menu as properly.
Every was introduced fantastically, and I loved each chew. My favorite from the savoury portion of the menu although was the Turkey with Quince and Rosemary sandwich.
My husband had a pair completely different sandwiches for vegetarian choices that have been simply as pleasant. This included cucumbers and beets.
Scones
I all the time get so excited after I see a day tea menu checklist 2 kinds of scones per visitor. The very last thing I need to do is make the troublesome resolution of which scone to order!
On this case, the scone portion of the menu consisted of a 1 candy and 1 savoury scone. A Cranberry White Chocolate scone and a Crimson Pepper Goat Cheese scone.
Since we have been every given 2 scones, I used to be very stunned by the dimensions! Normally when extra scones are on the menu it means they’re smaller. That wasn’t the case at The Bruce Resort.
Every scone was fairly giant, however a bit flat in form. Nevertheless, the flavours have been nonetheless on level and that crumbly texture was there.
Each chew of the Cranberry White Chocolate scone was crammed with tart and creamy flavours. Whereas the Crimson Pepper Goat Cheese scone was pungent, salty and simply downright superb!
No doubt, the Crimson Pepper Goat Cheese scone was my favorite of the 2. Actually, I felt just like the floral notes and honey-like sweetness from the Natural White Peony tea I used to be sipping paired greatest with this scone, too.
The scones have been served with clotted cream and jam. I loved these accoutrements on the candy scone, however didn’t use them on the savoury scone.
Sweets
The candy portion of the menu consisted of 4 bite-sized desserts that appeared to be excellent for the vacation season, too. This included Gingerbread Cheesecake, Black Forest Cake, Choux au Craquelin and Peppermint Bark.
I’m not an enormous fan of Black Forest Cake. Additionally, I used to be a bit stunned to see Peppermint Bark on the menu as I’ve by no means seen items of chocolate served at afternoon tea earlier than, except it was an additional merchandise. However, I used to be very excited for the opposite sweets.
The Gingerbread Cheesecake was my favorite from this portion of the afternoon tea menu.
Value
Afternoon Tea at The Bruce Resort in Stratford, Ontario prices $55 per particular person plus relevant taxes and gratuities.
This occasion is usually provided as soon as a month. View their occasion calendar to find out about upcoming Afternoon Tea dates.
Total Ideas
The Bruce Resort did a wonderful job placing collectively their afternoon tea service. It was evident that they put plenty of analysis and thought into the tea choice, menu and even additional little particulars like a Sugar Plum Fairy Ballerina efficiency.
Close to the tip of my afternoon tea seating and the beginning of the following, there was a couple of 5 minute efficiency for company to take pleasure in with their sips and bites. It was a stunning vacation contact to an already spectacular occasion.
Afternoon Tea at The Bruce Resort will make you are feeling at dwelling, comfy and like royalty.
Watch my video reel of this occasion right here.
Pin this afternoon tea room overview for later right here → https://bit.ly/3AuBqON
Go to The Bruce Resort:
89 Parkview Drive
Stratford, Ontario, Canada
https://www.thebruce.ca/
*Go to The Bruce Resort’s occasion web page to know when their subsequent Afternoon Tea occasion is held. Tickets needs to be bought upfront.
**Costs and tea/meals choices might change. All have been correct on the date of this tea room overview.
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