Tea time

With the rainy weather we're having this morning I'm hunkered down in my little house dreaming of a steaming hot cup of tea.

I thought why not share some of my favorite San Franciso tea houses:

- Lovejoy's Tea Room - the eclectic setting will remind you of your hippy dippy aunt's house. Ingredients are all organic, and the food well prepared. Tea comes in a random selection of teapots they've collected over the years. It all feels very cozy and retro. It's expensive, but I think it's the best place to have tea in San Francisco.

- The Ritz Carlton - For an elegant, hat wearing ladies tea this is the place. You'll have silver tea pots and gorgeous china. White glove all the way. A perfect place to see and be seen as tea is served just behind the main lobby overlooking the courtyard.

- The Palace - The Grande Dame of teas. The room is huge and roofed in glass. It reminds you of a 19th Century train station. Service is a bit stuffy, but the tea selections are plentiful and exotic.

- The Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park) - Not exactly a traditional tea ceremony, this tea garden is run by the Park Service. You can, however, get a nice pot of green tea to warm you up. They always serve delicious, spicy crackers with the tea.

And finally, a couple of teas I'd like to try are the Samovar Tea Lounge at Yerba Buena Center and King George near Union Square.