It’s that time – it’s holiday time. Most of us either visit family or have family in town. But what to do to entertain the people that you love dearly but may drive you to crazy-town over the holidays? Soothe your nerves (and likely theirs) and head over to the Shangri-La Toronto for their limited-time-only Nutcracker High Tea. Inspired by the Nutcracker Ballet, this is a great way to enjoy a cultural culinary experience.

Running five days a week from 2pm to 5pm until January 4, 2015, this experience at the Shangri-La is as exceptional as any other event that the hotel has ever thrown. Held in their lobby lounge, which oozes comfort and warmth, once you’re seated in one of the cozy couches you can laze there all afternoon sipping on your tea of choice, enjoying a larger-than-life high tea menu, and listening to live performances of award-winning pianist, Thompson Egbo-Egbo. Sounds amazing, right? It is.

To start, the tea assortment is one not to be overlooked: with over 75 tea selections ranging from herbal to oolong to basic Earl Grey. But while the tea is fantastic, the high tea food menu is stellar. Executive Chef Damon Campbell and his team of pastry chefs managed to create a menu that truly emanates the Nutcracker through cleverly-themed pastries.

On the high tea first tier, you will enjoy the “Waltz of the Snowflakes,” a peppermint-scented milk chocolate mousse, cocoa sponge, and white chocolate snow; the “Battle of the Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” a stollen-spiced cheese cake with citrus bavarois and candied lemon; and the “Drosselmeyer’s Entrance,” a brown butter hazelnut financier, praline cream, and dark chocolate glacage, shaped like a gift box to symbolize the Nutcracker gift given to Clara by her uncle. All of these are really well thought out, especially for Nutcracker connoisseurs.

Pastries are not the only delicacies on the plate. Like in any high tea menu, they offer a fabulous selection of tea sandwiches — crusts cut off and all. As usual, Chef Campbell does not disappoint with varieties including roasted turkey with cranberry preserve on herb country bread, honey-baked ham with caramelized onion on dark rye, Atlantic lobster and herb mayonnaise on brioche bun, and truffle-poached egg salad on granary bread.

But the feast doesn’t end there! On the third tier, guests enjoy savoury cakes as well as a (large) basket of scones served with the traditional clotted cream, house-made berry jam, and citrus marmalade. Priced at $42.00 per person ($25.00 for kids under 12 years), you definitely get your money’s worth and the experience is simply fabulous.

The Nutcracker High Tea is a great way to spend a holiday afternoon getting away from the chaos of seasonal activities. The vibe in the lounge is so chill, you may even opt to stay for a glass of champers after high tea is done!

If you’ve checked out the Nutcracker High Tea at the Shangri-La Toronto, let us know what your favourite tea was in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.

Nicki Laborie

Nicki Laborie is the Founder of View the VIBE. Nicki has spent her adult life everywhere from Montreal to New York to St. Maarten, and finally ended up in Toronto. She started her career studying fashion journalism at FIT followed by working in media and PR with some of the world's top fashion and luxury brands. Eventually she ended up back in the restaurant business working with hot culinary spots in NYC, St. Maarten and Toronto, and opening her own restaurants, Bar Reyna, Reyna inside Chef's Assembly Hall and Reyna on King. Her combined experience is what inspired her to start View the VIBE back in 2010.