Table of contents for January - February 2010 in TeaTime

When I visit tearooms, I look for something that may be unique to the setting, whether it is an especially charming presentation of the food or a simple touch that adds panache to my Afternoon Tea. Among my memories of such pleasantries is having tea in a Texas tearoom where the elaborate service included a flute of sparkling Champagne made more beautiful with the addition of a single ruby-red raspberry. During a happy afternoon spent in the tea salon of a Chicago hotel, the star attraction was a petite pastry swan filled with silky custard. Tea in a quaint Kentucky town featured an array of delicious foods served in a historic home that predates the Civil War, an ideal venue for history buffs. The dense-crumbed scones, along with warm kitchen-made…

Whether you host a Valentine tea or simply want to gather with friends on a cold winter day, these scones deliver an unexpected, flavorful blend of caramel and sea salt. The salty-sweet taste is complemented by the rich texture when cream cheese and heavy cream are added, but the key ingredient is arguably the caramel. Caramel was born as a twist on the traditional hard candy, which was a simple combination of sugar and water. Hard candies have been around in one form or another for centuries, but their popularity grew in the seventeenth century. In the mid-nineteenth century, candy makers found that adding fat and milk to candy gave it a chewy texture, a discovery that produced that distinctive caramel flavor we quickly learned to incorporate in desserts. The…

“Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.” ROBERT FROST, “STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING” Inspired by Robert Frost’s iconic poem that so eloquently describes a deep, snowy forest, our midwinter tea is a celebration of a chilly outdoor landscape. Calling on soothing shades of silver, white, cream, and wintry blue, the table setting is reminiscent of a forest filled with ice-covered branches and snow-capped trees. Lit with glowing golden candles and accented with simple arrangements of sweet, white tea roses, the setting is inviting and refreshing. In contrast to the chilly tablescape, the menu is comprised of warming savories and sweets. Rich White-Bean and Sage…

Tea parties have been a part of my life since I was a small child. My grandmother and I would have a late-afternoon party with toast and either honey or her homemade fig preserves. I remember the aroma of the black loose-leaf tea that permeated the air as grandmother poured hot water from the kettle into her white earthenware teapot that looked like Aladdin’s lamp. Those shared moments were magical. As I grew into adulthood and had girls and boys of my own, I shared this ritual with them. One February, I decided to host a Valentine’s Day tea party for my sisters, Barb and Kathy. I couldn’t remember having a tea party with my sisters since childhood, so I knew this would be a special treat. On the day…

SLIPPERY SHAPES Beautiful inspiration for Oromono’s Seabloom Slippers comes from the sea, reminding you that warmer days are ahead. But the texture and shape of these slippers are so irresistible, you will be grateful for long winter days as you stay warm and contented indoors. Add warmth and accent any room with a chunky knit throw made of loosely woven thick wool. Delicate yet durable, these throws from Pine Cone Hill come in soothing, muted colors that are perfect as accessories and make a comfortable reading chair even more inviting. REGENERATE INSIDE AND OUT Dry winter skin drinks in this rich body moisturizer from Kiehl’s, as honey and fruit glycolic acids encourage radiance and softness. The companion Kusmi tea is filled with the aroma of orange, cinnamon, and licorice, giving…

cover Roost Porcelain Forest Branch teapot and Tree Bark plate, 888-89-UNICA, unicahome.com. a sweet treat Page 10: Two’s Company silver pitchers, set of 6, 914-345-2222, twoscompany.com. necessary things Page 11: Seabloom slippers by Oromono, 917-338-7568, oromono.com. Pine Cone Hill Throws: Chunky Knit Mist Throw, $128, and Velvet Champagne Throw, $188, 800-442-8157, pineconehill.com. Page 12: Kiehl’s Imperial Duo, $60, kiehls.com. 29 Cosmetics Tea Bath, $32, 888-415-2929, 29cosmetics.com. Tea District teas, $8.99 each, 866-532-5268, teadistrict.com. Tea Bag Holders, 888-683-1196, tinwoodsman.com. Page 13: La Nonna’s Sulla Honey, $10, 800-221-7714, deananddeluca.com. The Tea Companion by Jane Petigrew, $75, graphicimage.com. Dayna Decker Candles, amazon.com. Caldo-Freddo Tea Over Under Set, 810-936-0108, caldo-freddo.com. Blue Leaves Blossom Tea Spoon, 888-535-6590, tabulatua.com. a tea experiment story Page 14: My Mother Loved Tea by David C. Bigelow, Benjamin Press (2009),…

January 9 Ringing in the New Year Tea 1:00 p.m. Victorene’s Tea Monongahela, Pennsylvania Beat the winter blues, and celebrate the beginning of a new year with poetry, games, and prizes. The afternoon program will include early-1900s artwork and poetry. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of tea, classical music, and wonderful winter-inspired menu items including Winter White Chocolate & Cranberry Scones and “It’s a Wonderful Life” White Coconut Cupcakes. Reservations are required. For more information, call 724-258-7199, or visit victorenestea.com. 23 Fireside Tea Sampler Party 10:30 a.m. The Bohnet House, hosted by Anna Marie’s Teas Liberty, Missouri Find refuge from the chilly winter weather inside a beautiful circa 1913 historic home. Spend an afternoon by the fireplace sipping tea surrounded by friends and delicious foods— the perfect way to relax after…

Citrus fruits’ crisp sweettartness is as refreshing and sunny as a perfect, cloudless afternoon. Perhaps it is no accident that these lively fruits reach their peak in the middle of the coldest, darkest season of the year, offering a gentle reminder of warmer weather and brighter days. The vibrant hue, flavor, and fragrance of the green, orange, yellow, and blush pink orbs naturally heighten the senses. Citrus juice animates any ingredient it meets, while the essential-oil-rich peel imparts the truest flavor—for the best-tasting results, look for fruit that has smooth, blemish-free skin and is firm but not hard. Celebrate the freshness of this wintertime offering with six tea-appropriate dishes that put the spotlight on the deliciously tart fruits. Chicken Salad with Citrus Salsa and Lemony Crab Cakes are full of…