Amid the hustle and bustle of Cowtown atbrChristmastime is a quiet, cozy spot to enjoy abrcup of tea. But not just any tea: afternoon tea, thebrEnglish custom that began in the 1840s. You canbrfind this ideal spot in the heart of downtown Ft.brWorth tucked inside The Ashton Hotel, knownbras the jewel on Main Street. Here, guests are in-brvited to take a respite from the busyness of thebrseason and take part in a sweet and civilized pas-brtime.br
Housed inside the The Ashton's upscale res-brtaurant, SIX 10 Grille, is a charming, intimate TeabrRoom. It's truly the perfect setting for afternoonbrtea with classical music drifting through the airbrand fine bone china from England resting atopbreach linen-bedecked table. A fireplace cracklingbrin the corner creates a warm, cozy ambience. Webrthink settling in for a cup of tea is just the waybrto relax after doing a little holiday shopping inbrSundance Square.br
The Ashton has hosted afternoon tea since the 39-room boutique hotel opened its doors abrcentury ago. It offers Fall Tea on Saturday after-brnoons along with a special Teddy Bear Tea forbrchildren under 12, but we suggest partaking inbrthe Holiday Tea.
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It runs from 2 to 4 p.m. every Friday, Saturdaybrand Sunday from November 27 through Decem-brber 27. Whether a formal tea is already part ofbryour family's holiday tradition or you're lookingbrto do something special this year, you're in for abrtreat at The Ashton.br
The four-course feast includes the requisitebrassortment of crustless finger sandwiches, an ar-brray of scones and yuletide sweets plus a selectionbrof some of Ft. Worth's finest loose-leaf teas. Thisbrisn't meant to be a quick break in your day; this isbra ceremonious experience.br
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The Holiday Tea begins with a flute of festivebrchampagne cocktail and the first course: RoastedbrChestnut Soup with Sweet Potato Ribbons. Whenbrpureed, chestnuts become rich and creamy with a subtle but distinctive flavor. The sweet potato gives this sooth-bring bowl of seasonal comfort food just the right balance of savorybrand sweet.
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With appetites officially warmed up, it's time for the secondbrcourse. The menu selections are many, ranging from Christmas teabrsandwiches such as Smoked Salmon and Capered Mascarpone tobrBaked Brie and Lobster Bouchée. Each dainty, two-bite sandwichbris soft and freshly baked. Although these sandwiches are small,brthey're satisfying.br
Part of the fun of tea time is the presentation, and at The Ash-brton, everything is served with all the pomp and circumstancebryou'd expect for English royalty. Food isn't just brought out andbrplaced in front of you; a server grandly presents a three-tiered cakebrstand. On this graceful culinary accouterment are china platesbrtopped with delicate tea sandwiches. Bread and ingredients havebrnever looked so dignified.br
While savoring the bites, you have your choice of teas to sip.brOptions include White Pomegranate, Orange Blossom Oolong andbrCherry Sencha among others, but the most-requested teas are thebrCoconut Assam and Vanilla Rose.br
The Coconut Assam tea is robust and uplifting, a balance ofbrbold black tea and subtly sweet coconut. It's amazing on its ownbrbut particularly delicious when sweetened and combined withbrmilk.br
The Vanilla Rose tea will have you feeling warm and content.brRich and flavorful, it's as invigorating as it is relaxing. Each cup isbrnicely brewed without any bitterness.br
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Because this is a feast, the experience continues with abrthird course of Buttermilk and Raspberry Scones. They're delicate,brfreshly baked and served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd and strawberry preserves. The scones are warm and perfect-brly portioned. Every single bite is delicious.
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The fourth course and final component of the HolidaybrTea is a fanciful display of confections including EggnogbrTruffles, Pistachio Macaroons and Chocolate Bon Bons. Thebrmost-favored sweets, though, are the Raspberry and Choco-brlate-Filled Shortbreads. These tasty gems consist of butterybrshortbread stuffed with rich chocolate ganache. They're anbrindulgence, but they're worth it.br
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If a visit to The Ashton's Holiday Tea feels like a fancybrurban escape, it's because it is. Ft. Worth definitely showsbrits refined side with this tea time. We recommend makingbrreservations early (spots fill up fast) and savoring the magicbrof the season with a spot of tea. Pinkies up!
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SIX 10 GRILLE, THEbrASHTON HOTEL
610 Main St., Ft. Worthbr
817.332.0100 TheAshtonHotel.com