Destination Tea Notes: Every now and again we find the kind of afternoon tea that dreams are made of. We must use very strong language here: Chocolate Pi’s afternoon tea is in a league of its own, exquisite. We highly recommend that anyone in the Tampa area secure a Sunday reservation here, and we tried not to be jealous of the two locals at the next table, who come every month. For $50 per person, we were treated to an expertly crafted five-course afternoon tea, entirely homemade, that thoughtfully incorporated the current theme, from table setting to menu. This is what happens when a renowned pastry chef is herself an afternoon tea enthusiast. Kim Yelvington has been handcrafting cakes, pies, ice cream and other pastries for 24 years, settling into her current location in 2020, where she launched an afternoon tea service (thank goodness!!) in 2024. Our server Rachel pleasantly and efficiently served all the guests, and as we were finishing our afternoon tea, Kim came out from the back to say hello. She explained that she invites her guests on a tasting journey, including the one tea she’s paired with her themed menu, but guests could ask for a different tea from Chocolate Pi’s selection if they like. Given the creativity and artistry that has gone into the design of this afternoon tea, we were happy to put ourselves in Kim’s talented hands, aboard the RMS Titanic.
Chocolate Pi’s interior is a hodge-podge of salvaged materials and furniture, such as tables and chairs from British pubs, a church pew and vintage display cases.
A mix of tradition tables and high-tops balances the row of display cases where weekly customers shop Kim’s desserts.
A personal touch – namecards designate table reservations
Tables are decorated with Lifesavers, postcards and passenger booklet for the White Star Line’s “Queen of the Ocean,” the RMS Titanic. As guests wait for tea to be served, they can pass the time coloring (the reverse side of this poster is a coloring page of the Titanic’s grand staircase).
We are discouraged from participating in any games of chance.
Tea Selection
All heads turned as these fabulous friends entered in elegant period dress. (Note that gloves should be removed when sipping one’s tea).
The selected Coconut Cream White Tea was delicious, and we love that it is perfectly steeped behind the counter, decanted, and served in large silver teapots to each table. They will make you a different tea by request.
Scones & Spreads, Savories and Sweets
Of course, the meal must begin with an iceberg wedge salad.
Next comes a sweet if sad surprise – the Unsinkable Molly Brown tea float! Kim’s vanilla ice cream was the iceberg, homemade blue pineapple tea soda was the ocean, into which a coconut cream tea Titanic ice cube was sinking. Everyone was smiling over such a creative presentation, which honored true-life historical figure Margaret Brown who became a U.S. national heroine in 1912 after courageously assisting her fellow passengers and surviving the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
The tiered tray arrives with an entirely homemade line-up of treats. Savories include a bacon and cheese quiche, and four tea sandwiches: cucumber and chive, smoked salmon and two roast beef. We appreciated the uniform line-up of tea sandwiches that were the perfect two or three bites each.
We suggest saving some of this creamy quiche for later – it was half-a-meal in itself!
A marmalade glazed scone is perfectly baked.Delectable spreads include: whipped cream, peach marmalade, lemon curd and homemade clotted cream
Kim’s pastries are incredible: Coconut Cake, Chocolate Eclair, Iceberg Pavlova with Mango Passionfruit Cream, and our favorite – Rose Lemon Raspberry Macaron (divine!)
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