Tea Hee hits the spot, Bartie hits my table.

Today I went to Tea Hee in Easingwold. Tiny in size and tucked in the corner of the market place, you could miss it. Follow the trail of young mums in Barbours, WI jam carrying grannies in hunter wellies and you know you are on the right track. Easingwold is a pretty little Georgian town, but little it is and there is no way that this cafe is surviving from Easingwold folk alone. Having won several awards, including Top Yorkshire Tea Room and the Great Taste Award for many of the items on its menu, people are prepared to travel a little out of their way for some Tea Hee time.

I went for a feta cheese salad with a ginger ale. The salad could have done with a bit more dressing, but it was very fresh and simple. The tea was served exactly like I like it (proper boiling water, plenty of real tea leaves and extra water on standby). Furthermore the waitresses were attentive and sweet, young posh students, like grown up characters from an Enid Blyton novel.

In fact the whole place sings Enid Blyton, country warmth and home comforts. Looking around I am inspired to plant my own organic herb garden, mend the sewing machine and try a bit of patchwork... I might even buy a chicken or two for the back yard. Then my chair is struck as a well heeled school boy rushes past me and I wake from my day dream. I don't have a garden, nor a sewing machine, nor do I even eat that many eggs.

Tea Hee's only draw back is the lack of space. Originally using one shop floor, it extended next door and now the tea room and food preparation areas are mixed in each room. Mummy in new fitted red Barbour jacket and matching Hunters grabs Bartie from the cheese counter. Bartie screams and he recoils back onto my table, spilling the tea. The cheese counter is impressive, but I decide not to linger for some post lunch Brie. From afar I envy a lot of the ladies here, but up close I laugh with glee inside. I realise that I am not ready for a Bartie of my own. I'll have the Barbour but they can keep their Barties. Perhaps it is a worthwhile lesson, perhaps it is good that Tee Hee is so cramped after all.

Address: TeaHee! 3 Tollbooth Cottage,Market Place, Easingwold York YO61 3AB
Telephone: 01347 823533
E-mail: mail@teahee.co.uk
Website: www.teahee.co.uk

Quality of tea: 9/10
Service: 8/10
Ambiance: 7/10
Food: 8/10
Value: 7/10

My verdict: Sharpen your elbows, Tea Hee's worth a visit.

Cannizaro House, Wimbledon, London

Tea time in Wimbledon

If Cannizaro were a style item it would be a pair of bright mock croc stilettos. Trendy and fun, but not always comfortable. The hotel describes itself as offering 'the very best of country house living with a modern twist'. The modern twist is certainly there, in the guise of bright 'art' pieces splashed across every inch of the walls. Whilst you might be less of a traditionalist than me and might even want to purchase one of the many fashion forward canvases for sale, if you are here for the tea, you might feel a little let down.

Initially the spread looked promising- a cake stand bulging with goodies, glistening clotted cream and truly fruity jam. But our waitress forgot our order and then wandered off, no doubt distracted by the modern twisted art. But worse still- just one meagre tea bag- gasp! Please I know I have been out of the country for a while but pleeeeeeease put enough tea bags in the pot.

To be fair, the scones were good, but to be traditional and correct, they weren't really scones at all; more of an Italian's attempt to remodel an English classic. Crunchy on the outside, quite dense on the inside, and admittedly very, very tasty.

On the upside, the tea room area also comes with views of a well kept but relaxed large garden open to all public, comfortable arm chairs to recline in and a grand piano. On the downside, when we were there there the only pianists were ADHD suffering five year olds. On an upside dogs are allowed, which when I went included a lovely Old English sheep dog by the name of Bailey. On a downside, this rule also applied to an even yappier than usual Chihuahua.

On another canine note, upon leaving we were offered a doggy bag of our sweet treat remains. Normally I do not condone doggy bag culture, but then again I hate waste, all the more so if cakes are involved, albeit slightly bland ones. And aspiring to ethical values I rarely mange to achieve, this ethical cake saving keeps makes me a better person, even if my bathroom scales would beg to differ.

Cannizaro House describes itself as a 'society beauty'. If you are in Wimbledon and need somewhere to rest those mock croc stiletto clad feet, then look no further. If like for me, it's all about the tea, grab a mock scone and hot foot it to the park.

Contact:

Address: West Side, Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon, London SW19 4UE
Telephone: 020 8879 1464
E-mail: info@cannizarohouse.com
Website: www.cannizarohouse.com

Quality of tea: 3/10
Service: 5/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Food: 6/10
Value: 7/10

My verdict: modern art dog lovers in Wimbledon have found their niche. Tea lovers haven't.