Tre Fantastico - fantastic cubed.

This is not a coffee review - I will leave that to the professionals out there.

I'm all about the food.

And this is all about the breakfast.

A short and sweet review for a small & sweet place.

Most people that I mention Tre Fantastico to, have either a) been and loved it or  b) don't believe there's a coffee-house there and fire-up Google street view. But don't be frightened - it's easy to find, just surprising to some that it's there.

Tre Fantastico is located in the Parkside Resort on Humboldt Street - where their cosy patio is shaded by huge trees and their view is across to the gardens and buildings of St. Ann's. You'll easily forget you're half a block from Blanshard St.

Yes, that's it…..Tre Fantastico!

Building on the strong base of Caffe Fantastico coffee and their coffee-houses around town - this location is licensed and has a small kitchen that cranks out great food. You can stop in for coffee & a muffin, a local brew & grilled sausage, a glass of peninsula wine & a charcuterie plate or….well, the list goes on (and there's gourmet popcorn too!)

Empress Tea Lobby - Pinkies up, it's afternoon tea

Living in Victoria, the Fairmont Empress Hotel can sometimes fall into the same category as Butchart Gardens or Fisherman's Wharf - not somewhere you frequent, but that you take out-of-town guests to see, enjoy and make a bit jealous that Victoria has it. Having tea in the Tea Lobby at the hotel is that for me - you hear about visitors "having-tea" but it's not the first thing that pops into your head for a unique experience for an afternoon.

But on a recent Saturday, after my friend decided to cross off something on her "things I still need to do in Victoria", we made reservations and headed there to cross it off. I have been to tea here before - having brought my mother and aunt here  (and *hot tip* I've also been during the Feb/Mar Be-A-Tourist promotion when your ticket gets you tea for 50% off...but you gotta make that reservation pronto). Which brings us around to the price.  Is it cheap? No. Is it a traditional tea with sandwiches, scones, desserts, tea and fruit served with CP Hotel stamped silver and in Royal Dalton bone china? Yes. Will you feel all fancy-pants as waiters treat you royally and your background music is a live pianist on a baby grand? Check and check.

We both opted for the Fairmont Empress blend of tea (but there are about eight choices including Earl Grey, Darjeeling, their Willow Stream spa blend and an orange-pineapple).

Ahhh - serving tea the right way.