Last weekend, we took the kids to check out The Roosevelt Hotel’s lobby, all decked out for the holidays. A tradition that began in the 1940s is back after a few year-long hiatus, but much more elegant than I recall it being.  After strolling under the white birch trees, shiny baubles and twinkling lights, we stepped into Teddy’s Café, which had a mostly edible train table and village on display. I had to tell our four-year-old that the chocolates and candies were sprayed with a preservative that would make him sick if he ate any of it, just so that half the display wouldn’t disappear. When a lady was watching my seemingly innocent child gaze in wonder, she asked him if he liked it. He replied with, “Yes, but it’s poison.” I am not certain what she thought about that, because she promptly walked away. Happy holidays, lady!

The mood was perfectly set for an early holiday event, but I did have one issue with Teddy’s, and since this is a food blog, I will share it with you. While the adults’ coffees were good and the children’s hot chocolates very delicious, I was a bit disappointed that beverages were served in paper cups. So much attention has been paid to the decor and furnishings that paper cups just do not fit in. Teddy’s Café is the type of place I would like to hold a hot cup to sip from and warm my hands after a brisk walk from work. Instead, I had to suggest that my children’s hot chocolate be double-cupped, since they were out of  those little cardboard hand protectors. No one wants to drink hot chocolate from a covered paper cup. How are you supposed to get to the whipped cream?

The desserts we ordered were fine, with my husband’s espresso slice o’ heaven being the clear winner. I have previously enjoyed some of their artisan chocolates and they were quite good, especially for the price.

If you haven’t had the chance to visit The Roosevelt Hotel or are a long-distance reader, please enjoy these pictures I took. I am still experimenting with the different features on my camera, but these are some of the better shots.