Sweet place to take tea

Tea for two? How about six? That was my strategy as I set off to experience the Sweet Chari-Tea Tea Room in Burbank. I brought with me a panel of five high-tea veterans ? my wife and four of our female friends. To my surprise, not one arrived wearing a fabulous hat.

Sweet Chari-Tea occupies two rooms of a converted storefront next to an auto-repair shop. Not an ideal location, but owner Mary Brodsky has done a nice job of making the space warm and welcoming. Peach walls, delicate decorations, framed art and a faux fireplace, above which hangs a picture of her mother, Thelma. Paint and decorations are for the eyes ? what drew me in was the aroma of fresh-baked scones. They had me at "hello."

The service was attentive and pleasant. Naturally, the first order of business was to order tea. Eighteen different teas are on the menu and each of us got our own pot. (I thought we'd have to share!) Going with the flow, I had black tea flavored with peach and cinnamon. In just minutes, our table was ringed with half a dozen teapots, each with it's own soothing brew. There is just something about sipping warm tea that makes you slump in your chair and sigh.

Food selections are offered a la carte or in various combinations. From the basic tea with scones to the Thelma Mae ? a combination featuring fruit, soup, salad, tea sandwiches, and sweets. Sounds like a meal. But, in a true tip of the hat to people of my gender, they also offer Jake's Manwich. Two "man-sized" tea sandwiches, soup or salad, scones and dessert.

The first to come out was a large plate of scones -- plain, cranberry and chocolate chip. Only moments went by before six hands reached to the middle to claim their prize. And a prize they were -- golden brown on the outside, moist and light on the inside. They were served with lemon curd, jam and clotted cream (lightly whipped cream). Delicious! The panel all gave the scones high marks. While they were busy judging, I snuck an extra one.

The soup of the day was potato cheese.

While it was thick and buttery, we all agreed it was a little too close to mashed potatoes to appreciate as soup. The salad, however, was delightful. Fresh greens, goat cheese, dried cranberries and walnuts in light vinaigrette.