"There are few hours in life more
agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea"
- Henry James
Queen Victoria made afternoon tea a
national pastime and at four o'clock the whistling kettles could be heard across the land.
It was a time that friends and family got together to enjoy each other and fine
food. People used their best china and presented the food on doily-lined plates set
on white tablecloths. The tea was offered with your choice of lemon or cream and
sugar.
Today, tea parties are still very
popular and the setting should be gracious and elegant. The white tablecloth, fine
china, scones in napkin-lined baskets, cakes on pedestals, doily-lined platters, all set
the stage for a wonderful afternoon of light conversation and delicious food.
And Here's Lilly Shakespearean Tea Menu:
Tempting silver trays of delicate
finger sandwiches to include:
Tea Sandwiches composed of chopped
ham and cream cheese on assorted breads trimmed and stacked into mini towers.
Thin slices of fresh cucumber
seasoned with dill on hearts of lightly buttered bread, garnished with fresh dill.
Savory smoked chicken salad finger
sandwiches.
Deviled ham toasts served open
faced on golden brown toast.
Thin slices of Italian Salami and
shredded cheese encased in puff pastry crescents.
Delightful parmesan cheese
beignets.
Fresh strawberries dipped in white
and dark chocolate.
Mini scones, assorted petite
fours, assorted tea breads.
Butter cookies, mocha butter
cookies, almond crescents, pecan balls and raspberry and apricot cream cheese cookies.
Assorted mini French pastries
"There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment
in a chest of tea."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
