French for "very happy," I tell you what: Devonshire creamon fresh baked, melt in your mouth scones. Whole-berry jams. Sweet ham and gruere make a Monte Cristo between flaky layers of croissant, hot pressed rather than fried. A fragrant pot of Summer in New York tea all to myself. And desserts from my bakery to top it all of! This is heaven. I actually wrote a review on this spot for my food writing class, and that was after having only been there a couple times. Now that I've been back more, my love affair has grown, and if I don't get my clotted cream fix again soon...it could get ugly. Please enjoy the review I wrote, my professor gave it high marks.
High (Priced) Tea
Dainty doilies, little ladies in flowery hats and gloves, crustless sandwiches, clinking China… Visions of a tea party may put your brain in Grandma territory, unless you’re at Tres Jolie. This place is your sassy but classy aunt, the one who isn’t afraid to really eat and wash it down with a flute of champagne. If there were a female version of the He-Man Woman Hater’s Club, they would meet at this tea and champagne lounge. All it’s missing is a handwritten sign warning “No boys allowed!”
The three generations of women who own Tres Jolie take every tea party cliché and put their own twist on it to make your experience whimsy and modern, from the twisted handles of the flatware to the gifts they offer in their boutique section. Purple lucite chandeliers twinkle and accent the crisp white walls and clean lines. Dark wood floors and a vintage burnt orange couch round out the funky, fresh ambiance.
Visiting Tres Jolie will require a drive to Littleton. Really, everyone should get out of the city once in a while for a breath of fresh air in the ‘burbs, and the unique little shops also located along Main Street would appropriately round out a day of feminine sophistication. You may also want to pass on the new pair of shoes, because this outing will not be easy on the pocketbook.
To get the full tea party experience, make reservations for high tea. This charming spread includes fresh scones, hearty sandwiches, colorful petit fours from Gateaux, and your choice of two varieties of tea from their collection of nearly 100. The ladies-who-lunch option: An effervescent champagne float with peach sorbet, and a chewy croissant inlaid with thinly sliced turkey, provolone, fresh veggies and pesto, accompanied by a cup of velvety Tomato Basil Bisque that will provoke bowl scraping. Tea for two starts at $22, with the lunch option running about the same for one person.
But you must not forget dessert! Tres Jolie wisely purchases most of their individually portioned desserts from the highly acclaimed *** Bakery of Denver. A decadent chocolate mousse torte, moist carrot cake, and a choice of five uniquely decorated cupcakes are hard to pass up, but will cost you $6.50 each. The frugal gal can opt for the chewy, caramel mixed nut bar for $4.25, which is made in-house and takes cashews to a whole new level.
Tres Jolie may cost you some moo-la la, but for the next meeting of the Men Are Pigs Coalition, make sure you’re toasting here.
The Short List
**1/2 Two and a Half Stars
Tres Jolie
www.tresjoliestyle.com
Open: Sunday 11-3, Monday – Wednesday 9-3, Thursday – Saturday 9-5
Price: $$
Reservations? Necessary for high tea on the weekends
Parking: Behind the shop, usually spots available
Atmosphere: Quiet to moderate noise levels, depending on the day, cheerful service
Where to sit: At a table in the middle of the room with your gal pals
Do try: A croissant sandwich, Tomato Basil Bisque, dessert, tea, champagne, everything!
Pass on: Sablé (shortbread) cookies, which are dry and flavorless
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