Just What the Mother Ordered
Bar Marilou spills the tea about launching their new French-inspired afternoon tea service—not to be confused with High Tea—beginning this Saturday May 11, just in time to impress your favorite mom on Mother's Day weekend. The tea time runs from noon to 4 p.m. weekly, but is oh-so-much more than downing a warm British bevy on a steamy New Orleans summer day.
The genteel seatings are a luxuriant experience offering far more than a cup of Earl Grey. Bar Marilou's staff warmly greet guests with multi-page menus for this prix fixe three-course culinary over-indulgence, which includes specialty teas, savory and sweet eats, and one glass of Cremant.
The long leafy green arbor leading to Bar Marilou itself builds anticipation for patrons as they enter the elegantly eclectic venue. Sofas and chaise lounges surround low coffee tables, as well as cafe tables, with classic chairs to evoke a casual and comfortable space more akin to a large living room than a restaurant. Space for live music and subdued daylight streaming in curtained windows belie an otherwise intimate atmosphere.
Attentive servers check on guests' preparedness for tea and course servings, or perhaps a cocktail. Multi-tiered trays showcase each course selections, with the bites explained in detail. The order of treats are not as random as they seem, however. Eating from top to bottom is a journey for the palate and gently satiates as the tastes skillfully bounce from sweet to savory and back again, pairing well with the teas.
The teas from Paris tea company Palais des Thés are all wonderful, but the selection is subject to change so it's really difficult to make a bad choice.
The service is prix fixe for $65 per person, but the sparkling wine can be upgraded to champagne for an additional $10. Beyond a special list of cocktails, there is an additional caviar service offered additionally a la carte.
Bar Marilou Afternoon Tea Menu
(Guests will receive all of the following dishes along with a glass of Cremant)
Montagne Bleue - black tea
Honey, lavender, strawberries and rhubarb, on a black tea base.
A L'Origne - black tea
Second flush from Puttabong, the oldest tea estate in Darjeeling. This powerful and aromatic tea is perfect for black tea lovers.
Caramel - black tea
Black teas, which the Chinese call red tea due to the coppery color of the infusion, with caramel pieces.
Thé des Moines - black & green tea
This blend of black and green tea with jasmine and marigold was inspired by an ancient recipe developed in a Tibetan monastery.
Vive le Thé! - green tea
This citrus bouquet, delicately flavored with ginger and lemon, celebrates a sunny zest for life.
Les Torsades - green tea
A tea with strong vegetal, fruity, and mineral notes. Its smooth texture gives way to a fine astringency that lingers in the mouth.
Les Perles Rares - jasmine tea
The tea leaves are rolled into pearls individually by hand. The tea is then stored until the jasmine flowers are picked in August, when the flavoring process begins.
Le Papillon de Taiwan - wu long tea
A gorgeous wu long tea from Taiwan. Well known for it's typical Taiwanese honeyed and mellowed notes.
Blanc de Blanc - white tea
Bai Mu Dan white tea organic. White tea buds, leaves and stems.
Sous le Soleil - caffeine free
The Rooibos bush is a unique plant distinct from the tea plant, which yields a delightful beverage that is naturally caffeine-free and low in tannins.
*Thé du Jour - ask your server
Courses
Course 1 / Breads and Pastries
- Mini croissant
- Mini pain au chocolat
- Mini seasonal savory croissant (currently: asparagus, prosciutto, brie); served with assorted whipped butter, seasonal housemade jam
Course 2 / Sandwiches
- Jambon beurre / shaved ham, whole grain mustard, European-style butter
- "Deux oeufs" / egg salad tartine with Cajun caviar
- Vadouvan chicken salad / French-style curry, cauliflower, duck fat brioche
- Steak tartare crostini / quail egg
- Oeufs farcis / deviled egg, smoked trout roe
Course 3 / Desserts
- Seasonal canelé
- Herbs de provence sugared shortbread
- Mousse au chocolat
- Mille-feuille
- Seasonal eclair
- Madeleine
Indulgent additions may not be necessary, but Bar Marilou keeps a high quality menu across a wide range of price-point options to meet guests' budgets. Wine and Champagne options range from $25-$1,200 while caviars range from $45-$160. Cocktails are consistently around $16, and many agreed the Menthe et Peche, consisting of bourbon, peach liqueur, lemon juice, mint tea served with a large whiskey ice cube and mint sprig, was as appropriate as it was delicious.
Reservations are highly recommended, not only because the seating is limited to allow for an uncrowded experience for patrons, but because many will not want to leave Bar Marilou's tea service once they settle in. Happily, if you do not get in this week, you have every Saturday to treat your favorite teatotaller—or not—going forward.
Especially your mother.
