scones. lots of scones.
I was in the UK for a total of 6 days. And I had afternoon tea every single one of those days.
The truth is that after scone number 3 I was sort of ready to move on to other things. But I knew my days in London were minimal. And with Ramadan looming right around the corner (emphasis on looming!) I decided to adopt a no-regrets policy while on holiday.
Which was great, because now I have no regrets. Except that my skin is currently paying the price of my indulgence.
And I also cannot look at or think about jam right now without cringing just a little bit.
The funny thing is that I sort of knew Ali was at his limit with the whole tea scene as well. But come 5:30 pm it was just understood that it was time to do a bit of research on Yelp to find a fabulous place for the whole overpriced set up.
So really, the remarkable thing about this whole situation isn’t how many scones I ate in 6 days. It also isn’t the fact that I managed to eat three meals a day on top of the afternoon tea.
What’s really remarkable is the fact that my husband and I? We were On The Same Page for a change.
Remarkable indeed.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
yeah!! i’m the first to comment!! fabulous foodie shots as usual…looked absolutely delic and of course am dying to have scones and clotted cream! maya is a doll, as usual! did u notice the zig zag navy and cream rug in your first pic…loved it! xx
Of course you’d notice a rug…I still can’t find one. In the first picture??
I never actually did the tea thing when I was in the UK, but then again I was there when I was 16 and then again when I was 20, so there was more time focused on shopping and hanging out with friends. I think next time I wind up there I will make sure to do the tea thing and enjoy some scones. There is a place here in Japan that I have heard makes good scones, so maybe I need to check that out.
One of my favorite teas was at the Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo. I highly recommend it Melinda!
When in Britain, do like the Brits! I LOVE high tea, there’s something so refined about the whole thing as opposed to grabbing a coffee/tea from Starbucks! Please tell me you went to Ritz and/or Fortnum & Mason? Despite living in London for 8 years, I’ve only ever actually had high tea in Mumbai…this shall be changing very soon though!
I didn’t get to the Ritz but I did go to Fortnum & Mason. Twice on this trip! Love that place.
Ah, feasting. The great unifier of humankind.
Yes, it really is!
I swear, every time I go to London, my relatives are always offering me tea! If I said yes to every offer, I’d be wasting my 90% of my time in London in the loo!
The Loo. I love it.
After a few days in London we started using words like “till” and “loo” and “lift.” Funny how that works.
I wouldn’t mind some now 🙂
I wouldn’t exactly turn them away either. Even though I’m sort of tired of them…its this weird addiction that I have…
I predict Maya’s modeling career starting in 5..4..3..2..
😛
PS. You should try curling your hair sometime! I think you would look gorgeous 🙂
Thank you my friend. I wish I had the energy and know-how to do something with my hair but aside from getting it straightened I’m sort of at a loss…
I don’t think I could possibly be in London and not take advantage of afternoon tea. Scones…yum! I have a great recipe I got from my sister…I should make some! The photos are great, Ameena!
Please share the recipe! I would love to make them one day. I think I attempted it once and it was a lot of work. I don’t recall the result being worth it. 🙂
When in Rome…er London! I love your no regrets attitude! It’s a must while on holiday, imo.
Maya is gorgeous and I can see where she gets it from! Have a great weekend!
Thanks Stacie…you are unbelievably kind!!
Sigh… scones… I really need to master those.
And vacations are good for such things. You deserve a treat every once in a while!
I wish I could permanently vacation…not just once in a while. 🙂
It’s vacation!!! Indulge!!! And never have regrets about that. Your attitude is right on. Looks like you guys had the best time! Happy weekend!
Thanks Heather. Happy weekend to you too!
Beautiful clicks! This must have been a great vacation.
Thanks Asmita. We had a great time!
Good for you!! Vacations are for indulging!
And indulge I did. 🙂
You shouldn’t regret anything you eat (or do) while you’re in vacation. That’s my motto 🙂
Love the photos, you and your skin look fabs, and Maya looks so chic. Have a safe trip home.
My skin looks “fab” because I chose a photo that didn’t highlight my lovely breakouts. But thank you for the compliment anyway!
Is that a sofra dinner?! had to delurk b/c I love that place SO much.
It is Sofra! But it was at lunch. It was really tasty. And their bread? So. Good.
Heading to London in a few weeks. I may just have to add afternoon tea to my to-do list.
Do you need suggestions? Let me know. I’d be happy to live vicariously through you!!
Good for you 🙂 It’s great to enjoy the moment. I love your pics !
Thanks Ayala!
I feel like I could never have too many scones. I love ’em!
I thought so too! But right now I feel a bit…over the top with the scones. 🙂
i love scones!!! when you’re ready to try again in LA…
I’ll definitely give you a call Lynn!
your family is beautiful Ameena. Enjoy the agreeed upon moments with Ali while you can 🙂
Thanks Dixya…so sweet of you!
I always eat tons more on vacations. That’s part of the point of travelling.
I agree. Eating is really the point of going on vacation!
That picture of Maya is adorable. She is such a pretty little thing.
And also, I don’t think I could ever get sick of scones. I love them so much. Tea on the other hand, I could do without.
On behalf of Maya…thank you! 🙂
Your hair is getting so long…I love it! Maya will probably be a model one day…mark my comment, ha! And last but not least, the food looks delicious! Have a great weekend!
I can’t imagine Maya being a model! I’m hoping she’ll be a dentist or something. A much safer industry. 🙂
I wish we had the afternoon tea ritual here in America. I love that!
Me too!
I’m curious if you eat gluten when you’re in a foreign country? Is that what you meant about your skin?
I am eating gluten more and more, both in America and abroad. Apparently I am not gluten-intolerant (although it doesn’t make me feel great or anything so I don’t eat it regularly).
With regards to my skin I meant that it’s totally breaking out from all the sugar and butter and jam and chocolate…I could go on and on!
I know how remarkable it when you and your spouse actually on the same page. Coz even I get that same feeling when me and S agree on something. As for the Scones, sigh!! how I crave for those right now!!
It’s so rare to be on the same page, isn’t it?
Cream tea is the best but I’m impressed you managed one each day. Sounds like a good foodie trip, great picture of Maya. GG
Thanks GG. Cream tea is the best!
Yeah, So glad you are having an awesome vacation. I have no idea what that comment about your face meant though…. Anyway can you bring me that last plate it looks amazing, Is it a british version of a greek plate?
With regards to my face, I meant that my skin is totally breaking out from all the crap I’m eating. 😦
That meal was from a Lebanese/Turkish restaurant in London. So good!
Ramadan already. Please tell me you aren’t going to get up at 3:00 a.m. and exercise again this year. Sleep contributes greatly to a good complexion and will be far more vital in the quest for skin/scone recovery than exercise. At least that’s my story and I am sticking to it!
I am definitely going to get up at 3 am and exercise…it’s the only way I can get through it without feeling totally disgusting!
As a foodie, I am SO jealous! That last pic of the food platter looks amazing. What’s on it? (apart from the obvious samosa, pakoda and hummus).
Actually, none of those items are Indian. They were all Lebanese/Turkish foods. Not sure what the “samosa” thing was called but it had cheese in it. So good.
I’ve never done a propa Tea. I have this really bad feeling that I’m going to gain about 20 lbs when we take our trip to Europe.
And every pound would be worth it, trust me!
Not going to lie. I would’ve had high tea every day as well.
So glad that someone would do the same thing! Makes me feel less gluttonous about my choices…
Afternoon tea can be quite addictive! I usually just drink tea or a cup of coffee at home, but when I visit my grandparents there is always a proper sit down tea session, and sometimes with snacks that are homemade. Maya is quite the poser! Love the yellow pants and her navy flats. Oh, and that hummus looks yummy!!!
I love the proper tea sessions…I think that this would be my favorite part of visiting India!
I’m not a fan of tea so I guess I wouldnt make it in the UK 😉
Glad you enjoyed! Maya is a little princess!
Katie
There are lots of non-tea drinkers in London! You’ll be just fine. 🙂
so glad you enjoyed your mini vacation! Scones at tea time are the best. Maybe I should bake some.
I think you should…and feel free to send some my way!!
sooo so jealous. i wanna go for high tea in europe so bad. so what is the best place for HT in London? Do you still believe it is Fortnum and Mason? It’s on my list. It’s nice to be on the same page in marriage, especially on vacation. I’m such a foodie, my husband is not. Maya looks so cute in her yellow skinnies. 🙂
Fortnum and Mason is my favorite. From start to finish their food/decor/service is the best. For a more casual tea I like The Wolseley but beware of their “dining room surcharge.” I also hear the tea at the London Ritz is amazing but I haven’t done it yet!
–The last tray looks Delecatable! WOW.
One of my fave things about England is Afternoon Tea & Lots of Sweets & Milky Coffee….
Do you sight see when you are there? We are going back in April & I want to see THE TOWER OF LONDON again. Xx
We don’t really sight see anymore because we’ve seen most of the attractions. Instead we just hit up our favorite places/restaurants/stores/parks.
That sampler plate in the last shot just looks like it’s to die for. As one who is professional at obligatory eating on vacation (if they do it best and you can’t get it here, down the hatch it goes), I feel your pain. Skin problems may come and go, but memories of the best scone I’ve ever had will last forever.
My skin problems appear to be here to stay. So at least I have my memories… 🙂
Considering all the time I have spent in London (lived there for 2 years) I never went for high tea. Would kill for one of those scones…
You lived there for 2 years? So envious! You get to live in the best places. 🙂
U know I love High Tea thingiii… yes thingiiii…lol
My grandmom use to do it with a flair I must say, my mom not so much.. she was more like rebel in her era…LOL
Love the chocolate cake in the pic..
Maya is looking so cute and beautiful…
About Ramdan… I am a bad gal and need to be more discipline … what else can I say!!
Some people just have that knack for putting on a good tea. I don’t!!
Ah, the “too much of a good thing” trap. Happens to me all the time on vacation. Like when I go to New Orleans and eat a huge muffaletta every. single. day. But, hey, no regrets! And hey, if it got you on the same page then it was a success. 😉
Now I have to go Google Muffaletta…I have no idea what that is?
It’s amazing- meat, cheese, olive spread and giardiniera on a round sesame semolina bread. (and I didn’t google that- I’m just completely obsessed) They’re popular in New Orleans! 🙂
Can you please crop me out of the top picture? I am in the background on the right. Do not want my husband to see! Thanks
Hi Chloe – I cropped the picture for you…so curious though, how did you find it / my blog? Truly, I am beside myself with curiosity.
I could almost taste the tea and scones from the first pic, lovely 🙂 Tradition, Food, Husband ….seems like they do have a connection.
Wishing you a blessed time during Ramadan in advance.
I am guessing you all had a very late dinner with a 5:30 tea time, so European. Around here we eat dinner at 5:30, so boring. But then we put the kids down to bed a few hours later 🙂 🙂 🙂
aaww how adorable 🙂 why worry about what to eat and what not to when you are on a vacation that too for just 6 days. I easily put on weight every single time I on a vacation, even if for 2 days!
I love these photos, especially maya in front of the glittery flag!.
Food is love….which is why I think we get hooked on so many of those first dates.
Better scones to unite than fish and chips
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