So many chilly, gray afternoons. One method for combatting midwinter malaise is to play England: I Have a Stiff Upper Lip About These Gray/Grey Days and a Platter Full of Scones as Well. Just when our primal need for carbs an cozy beverages is peaking, Duck and Bunny has introduced a twist to its usual giddy afternoon tea: After School Tea.
Like Duck and Bunny’s standard fabulous tea, After School Tea includes finger sandwiches, sweets, and cup after cup of tea. After School Tea tea selections are all caffeine-free (bedtime’s coming up, you know) with tantalizing names: Chocolate Chai Rooibos, Vanilla Chamomile, and Pomegranate Pear–a gorgeous, bright pink tea–were our group’s selections. Hot cocoa is also possible, but the astonishingly wise adults at our table kept that on the down low.
Finger sandwiches in kid-friendly-but-still-interesting combinations: banana with peanut butter and honey, cream cheese and jam with fresh strawberries, and ham and cheese with caramel mustard are sized right for sampling multiples. Although each sandwich is gone in a few dainty bites, taken together it’s a lot of food. Only someone with the metabolism of a third grader could be hungry enough at 3:00PM to taste it all.
Scones presented with chocolate-raspberry jam and soft butter for slathering (rather than Devonshire cream, as in the adult tea) were my favorite. Shortbread cookies edged in rainbow nonpariels were gobbled up before some of us knew they’d arrived. At the end of our tea came cupcakes. Darling mini cupcakes. Flavors vary by day; for our party, choices included carrot and red velvet.
Duck and Bunny remains fancy and hip, with ceilings trimmed in lengths of white feather boa, sparkly silver ornaments, dangling milk glass chandeliers and plump white pillows–somehow managing to be both cozy and LaToya Jackson-ready at the same time. These surroundings transform a delicious, giant snack into a complete sensory experience.
The details:
Duck and Bunny’s After School Tea
$15 per child
Tuesdays through Friday, 3:00-5:00PM
312 Wickenden Street, Providence
(401) 270-3300
Editor’s note: Duck and Bunny invited Kidoinfo to preview After School Tea. Kidoinfo never accepts payment for reviews and we only publish information about things we’ve tried and liked.
Ooh…duck and bunny…I still want to meet you!! Great review, K!
sounds wonderful, katy. especially love the writing of your last paragraph. awesome!
A lovely, and dainty (but not too) and delicious afternoon was had by all! Thank you KK!
I have taken my boys there after school for mini cupcakes or to split a crepe. I have always found service prompt and wait staff friendly. Maybe it was an off day. I bet they would like to know if someone did give bad/horrendous service.
I really love the menu at Duck and Bunny, but last time I went there – a while ago, I just had to walk out after I sat myself and waited for over 30 minutes for someone to come take our order or even greet us! I can’t imagine taking my kid there if the service is still the same…
My mouth is watering–and I’m hours away from afternoon tea. Thanks for reminding me of this neighborhood treasure. I can’t think of anything more civilized and soul-soothing than a pot of tea and treats.