Stopped by Bulldog the other day for a lovely coffee experience.

Since the weather has gotten a bit cooler recently, it is officially Autumn now and all, I’ve been revisiting my tea stash and thought I’d share some of my favorites. Which also just happen to be from my favorite city.

1. Mariage Frères

Really the most amazing tea shop. The staff (all men?) meticulously dressed, black canisters fill the walls up to the ceiling; the selection is unmatched. The last time I visited, I picked up some green tea with cherry blossoms, and a little white tin to store my jasmine pearls. A friend of mine came over once and thought the tea container was a perfume bottle! Their packaging truly superb. And the cherry blossom tea smells like candy. So good. In the summer, I often make iced tea with it and it is amazing. Amazing.

2. Kusmi

My mom and I visited here together and I think this might have been her favorite. Much more casual, Kusmi has a colourful tea shop in Paris, though the company originated in St Petersburg. Though I got their green tea sampler some time ago, I am still slowly working my way through it. There is such a great variation among green teas – I was surprised at their selection, which includes an Almond green tea, as well as a Buffalo Grass green tea. I also picked up a pink anniversary London tin filled with their Anastasia tea: Earl Grey, Lemon, and orange blossom. It was my go-to tea last winter.

The clerk in the shop was very nice. When he found out we were visiting from Canada, he gave us a few I heart Kusmi buttons – mine currently lives here.

3. Le Palais des Thés

I did not visit in person, though we did walk by it in Paris. Truth be told, I had already amassed a large quantity of tea, and could not face going into another shop! Months later, back in Toronto, I bought the lovely Thé du Hammam at La Merceria as a gift. It is a green tea with flower petals in it (rose, sunflower, mallow). It smells beautiful, tastes great, and comes in a special blue tin.

These last two shops are more bakery than exclusively tea, but they do have lovely tea and so I’ve included them.

4. Fauchon

Airport security didn’t love this loose tea so much, but did let me through after examining the sealed hot pink tin to establish that it was indeed just tea – thanks! The suspect was Célébration (Birthday) tea, which is a black tea, with vanilla, orange, and mandarin. It will be perfect for this winter – with cake, as recommended (by them – not just me!).

5. Ladurée

Ladurée is a completely beautiful and very French place to go for tea while in Paris – a definite must! I am still working my way through their trio of cocoa, herbal tea, and special blend (earl grey with orange, cinnamon, caramel, blackcurrent, bramble leaves, rose, bergamot, and vanilla) – all so good! I am very curious to try the Thé Marie Antoinette. If you happen to be visiting anytime soon, let me know so I can put in an order! xo

Yesterday I met up with some friends for some free coffee at Sam James Coffee Bar. It was their 1 year anniversary and all day they were giving out free coffee!

We also enjoyed some Russian candy that my friend Natalie brought – it had the most awesome packaging!

Isn’t this chocolate hedgehog lovely? He and two of his buddies who have since ceased to, well, anyways, were a super tasty west coast treat from Roz – thanks lady!

Two delicious tarts from Frangipane: one savory and one sweet.

A little local shop is closing quietly on Saturday. I first visited Finn a few years ago after missing a flight to Paris. And it made me feel a bit better. Owner, Amalie Bruun, was having a sample sale for some Scandinavian designers and I picked up a white collarless pinstripe shirt with unusual detailing by Resteröds.

This week I had to visit and say goodbye, and couldn’t leave without this amazing yellow hand-printed silk tank from California-based designer Jesse Kamm. It is so beautiful in person and is perfect for this weather. With a cardigan it will easily take me through to next season.

When I complimented Amalie on the white bird earring stand in the shop, she took the earrings off and gave it to me. Isn’t it sweet?

Amalie was also the one to tell me about Dessert Lady, who in addition to making beautiful cakes (and selling gorgeous sugar-based orchids – upcoming wedding cakes anyone?), make lovely all natural ice creams – including honey lavender.

If you’re in the neighborhood on Saturday, stop by Finn to wish Amalie luck in her new ventures, and if you’re feeling sad about discovering this special shop too late, then you can always drown your sorrows with ice cream a few steps away at Dessert Lady!

Whenever I visit Ottawa, I always go out for coffee with my dad.

Bridgehead is nice if you can find a spot to sit – very popular. Personally, I always love Ideal. It’s way more relaxed.

Had a delicious brunch on the weekend, and yes, there was food – I just had to document the Ayala champagne properly, as well as the white sangria with cinnamon and mint…alongside these, we had lots of berries and mangoes with maple syrup on crepes made with an interesting pancake pan from Iceland.

Then it was off to Jonathan+Olivia for the Top Shop opening, and then along Queen to Preloved and Heel Boy (serious audio on the site). A really nice and sunny day to be out!

My first visit to the newly renovated Big Chill in Little Italy (and the flowers I encountered on the way home).

It’s nice that there is an indoor space now, and no longer the awkward doorway, though I still think pre-reno spot was charming.

This great weekend of homemade pizzas and crème brulée (thanks K&P!), cake, and karaoke, ended with a lovely picnic in the park. As you can tell from the pictures, it was overcast most of the day, but at least it didn’t rain!

We tasted a variety of different lemonades, almost every fancy cupcake Whole Foods bakery makes, and my lovely friend Willa MADE macarons! They were so amazing!

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