My New Favorite Place

This was today's find, a place called "Time for Tea." It sits on Hope Square, right outside the door of the malting houses where we hope to rent an apartment starting in September. There are several pubs, cafes, and tea houses in that area, but for some reason this one called my name. When I went in, the first thing I noticed was the music; it was Charles Trenet, a famous French crooner to whom my friend Ruth Kaye had introduced me years ago. Then, looking at the menu, I found that everything was written in French first, with the English translations below. It's a small place with a simple menu. They're only open from 9:30 in the morning until 5:30 in the afternoon, so the offerings are on the light side. Looking around the room, I spotted a sideboard where a half dozen cakes were on display: tall, double layer cakes sitting high on pedestals. One had two layers of filling, one creamy, one raspberry. Another was mocha with walnuts on top. Another was the deepest, darkest chocolate. I asked my server which was her favorite and without hesitation she said the Dorset apple cake. Now, I've been really trying not to go overboard on the sweets while we're here, so I chose the salmon and leek tart with a side of lightly dressed salad and a pot of Earl Gray tea. But while I sat there enjoying it, I could not help noticing that everybody else was having cake or maybe scones with clotted cream. So here's the plan: When Dwight and I move to that neighborhood, we'll go to Time for Tea every Saturday afternoon. Each of us will choose a different dessert and we'll share bites. Then we'll walk all the way around to the far end of the promenade and come home the long way. And anyone who has clotted cream has to go around twice.