I just took my third trip on the highly acclaimed and publicized Tea Around Town buses and I have to just say that it gets more exciting each time. Not only is the double decker pink bus the coolest vehicle on the Manhattan streets at the moment, but they keep updating the food and beverage selection. Prices range from $85 to $129 and you get more than your money’s worth–guests even get a collectible logo tumbler to take home with you! Price includes tip but if you want, you can add a little something extra to the basket for the whole staff at the end of each trip. TAT is the most fun way to not only enjoy a gorgeous tea but to take in all the famous sites in midtown, stretching from Kips Bay to Central Park South. Every host not only has a great knowledge of the city’s sites but they also have beautiful voices and sing a lot of classics from what is commonly known as the “Great American Songbook.”
Our talented host Jared Goodwin had a role in the recent off-Broadway show Brighter Than The Sun and he performed classics that everyone loved from “Sway” (made popular by Dean Martin) to “New York, New York” (made popular by Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli). His voice is gorgeous and you can see why he not only got acclaimed for his work in Brighter Than The Sun but how he also scored the role of Tony in an upcoming production of West Side Story at the Mac-Haydn Theater in Chatham, NY next month.
My guest, New York Times bestselling author Pamela Des Barres (of I’m With The Band fame) and I sampled some of the new Garden Party Pastries from the summer menu (by the way, everything is baked in TAT’s private kitchen not far from where the bus takes off directly across the street from 11 West 42nd Street)! The new Strawberry Cheesecake Annalise and Citrus Burst Tartlet are amazing and I love that I got to have six different teas! My favorites were the Peppermint and Lavender. The Mockberry Mint Delight mocktail that we had tasted like a combo of raspberry juice, lemon, seltzer and cinnamon (with a little bit of salt on the glass)!
The scones are amazing, too, and you can always count on two per guest on the bottom of your triple tiered tea tray! What is my favorite sandwich? I am a sucker for a great rare roast beef as well as a classic watercress and cream cheese sandwich, and the ones on TAT are super fresh and mouthwateringly delicious!
I have posted the six newest pastries above so that you can fantasize about eating them before you board your Tea Around Town bus! At the top left is Strawberry Cheesecake Anglaise, at the top right is the Citrus Burst Tartlet, at the middle left is the Fresh Baked Profiterole, at the middle right is the Decadent Chocolate Brownie, at the bottom left is the Tropical Paradise Carrot Cake and at the bottom right is the Raspberry Fields Forever Tart.
Did I mention that I love this takeaway tumbler that all the guests get? It is big enough to store four of the eight glasses of water that you need each day so I fill mine up twice per day and chug!
For more info on how to book your tickets, go here: Tea Around Town Official Site. There are both luxe and petite tours available–if you book a luxe tour, you get a mocktail, upgraded savory items and will get to sit on the bus’ upper level. Please note that as of last month, you can now book a tour in Philly!
