Peter Rabbit is My Cup of *Tea*
Peter Rabbit is My Cup of *Tea*
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago
It is my son’s first Easter and I wanted to do something special with him. I scoured all the resources online to see what was being offered and Chicago had a lot of fun activities for the holiday. But it was the Peter Rabbit-themed Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel that enabled me to share two of my favorite things (high tea and reading) with my son. It’s never too early to introduce them to the finer things in life, am I right?
Select Peninsula hotels are offering the specialty themed tea on Fridays through Sundays through July 2 at 2:30 and 4:30pm.
The menu, which features such delightful bites as Carrot Cake with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese and Feuilletine Wafer Crunch and Organic “Lakes” Farm Eggs and Cress on Farmer’s Brown Bread draws inspiration from the beloved story of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, including his adventures in the Lake District, United Kingdom, and Mr. McGregor’s Garden.
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago
The Experience
The tea takes place in the Peninsula Hotel’s lobby with towering ceilings and beautiful views of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I debated bringing our stroller or just carrying Miles in his carseat, I often worry that the stroller will take up too much room if the space between tables is tight. But there was plenty of room between tables for a stroller to comfortably fit - we didn’t even have to move a chair. The wait staff doted on Miles complimenting his eyes and interacting with him when he was awake (he did sleep through part of it, which allowed us to eat without any fuss.) The tea service began with a glass of champagne for the adults, but I saw them bring a mocktail to a little girl seated near us and her face lit up when she saw it was in a champagne glass just like her mom’s. Following champagne, we had a choice of tea or herbal infusions. As much as I love the experience of high tea, I’m not much a fan of drinking tea so I opted for an herbal infusion called Forest, a blend of elderflower and raspberries. It was delicious. Keep reading for more about what was served.
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago
At the end of Afternoon Tea, the wait staff brought Miles a plush Peter Rabbit toy, which he adored. Want your own plush Peter Rabbit toy but can’t make it to the Peninsula Hotel for tea before July 2, 2023? Click below to purchase your own.
The Food
Savory
Brown Crab and Dublin Bay Prawn with Radishes and Marie Rose Sauce on Brioche
A taste of home for Beatrix Potter. Our crab and prawn sandwich pays homage to the 16 bodies of water in the Lake District, United Kingdom. It even has the radishes that Peter Rabbit loved so much.
This was my favorite savory bite.
Farmhouse “Torpenhow” Cheddar and Wiltshire Ham on White Bloomer
Only the best from Peter Rabbit’s Lake District. The Torpenhow cheddar originates from the Lake District in the County of Cumbria.
Organic “Lakes” Farm Eggs and Cress on Farmer’s Brown Bread
Peter and his friends went on an egg hunt and brought back some delicious eggs for this lovely little sandwich.
Heirloom Carrot Quiche with Pickled Carrots and Carrot Emulsion
We all know how much Peter loved the carrots in Mr. McGregor’s Garden. Enjoy a taste of the garden in our delightful quiche.
Cucumber Sandwich with Dill Cream Cheese on White Pullman
No stealing from Mr. McGregor’s Garden here. Our Cucumber Sandwich is for all to enjoy, guilt-free.
Scones
Traditional Vanilla Bean Scones and Cranberry Orange Scones
With clotted cream, lemon curd and blackberry jam
Sweet
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago
Miniature Carrot with Lemon Chiffon Cake, Lemon Cream, and Vanilla Mousse
Things aren’t always as they seem, as is the case with this carrot-shaped delight. Peter Rabbit will have quite the surprise once he takes a bite and discovers it is not a carrot at all, but rather a tart lemon-filled treat!
White Chocolate Bunny with Strawberry Compote, Chamomile Cream Mousse, and Coconut Flake
Peter loves to nibble on everything in Mr. McGregor’s Garden, including strawberries! This morsel is covered in white coconut and topped with bunny ears, just like Peter’s.
Blackberry Battenberg Cake with Almond Sponge, Blackberry Jam, and Marzipan (pictured bottom right)
The adventurous Peter Rabbit couldn’t help himself while on his way to pick blackberries with his siblings, and snuck off into Mr. McGregor’s Garden. His punishment once he arrived home? Peter was only given tea for dinner while his siblings enjoyed the fresh, sweet blackberries they worked so hard to collect.
This was my favorite sweet.
Chocolate Cream Puff with Dark Chocolate Cremeux, Whipped Chocolate Ganache, and Chocolate Tuile
While Peter and his siblings could never eat chocolate, we like to think he would enjoy this decadent treat almost as much as he loves radishes.
Carrot Cake with Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese and Feuilletine Wafer Crunch (pictured in the miniature dish)
Carrots? Carrots! Yes please, more Carrots!
Savor a delightful surprise inside this dainty cake embellished with carrots and roses on the vine.
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago
Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago
