Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA

This past August we enjoyed a morning visit to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, an art museum in Boston centered around this glorious courtyard that changes with the seasons. The museum was opened in 1903, established for the education and enjoyment of the public forever. The art featured in the museum includes European, Asian, and American studies represented in painting, tapestries, sculptures, and decorative arts.

Between the floral bounty and the Spanish atmosphere, the courtyard was a major focal point as the welcoming center of the museum. We were able to wander from different rooms to experience the amazing collection. Isabella Stewart Gardner had an eye for collecting.

The museum is most famous for the unresolved robbery of thirteen paintings that occurred in 1990 by men dressed as police officers investigating a disturbance. In less than an hour and a half, they slashed painting from their frames, and escaped without issue. The empty picture frames continue to hang in the museum in hopes that they will be returned,

 

The Six Wives of Henry the VIII - Afternoon Tea and Program

The tea room transformed into Hampton Court Palace this past Sunday and featured Henry the VIII and his six wives at a themed tea followed by a program presented by Angelica Brill based on the rhyme Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived; and also inspired by the Broadway play, Six.

The first course, considered food for the poor in the Tudor era, featured Mixed Salad Greens with fresh pears, red onion, cheddar cheese, sugared pecans and a Maple Dijon Dressing, served alongside individual pots of properly brewed tea.

The sandwich course, From the Great Kitchen, included Gorgonzola, Carrot, and Pecan Finger Sandwich, Fig Jam and Goat Cheese Rounds, Sweet 'n Savory Strawberry Cheese on Deli Swirl Bread, Warm Roasted Chicken Bundles, and Open Faced Tomato Bacon Parmesan with Basil Butter on sliced Baguette.

From Henry VIII's Royal Kitchen, we served an English Cream Scone and a Black Olive & Rosemary Scone. They were served with Sweet Cream, Jelly, and Whipped Butter alongside a touch of Fresh Fruit.

From the Confectionery, we served an Olde English Trifle, English Seed Cake with caraway and poppy seeds. A chewy Molasses Cookie, from the spicery, rounded out this course.

Angelica shared the Herstory of the six wives and their many connections to each other (ladies maids would become the next wife), marriages would become annulled so that Henry was able to marry again, and the sad tales of beheadings. There were twists and turns in the story of romance, intrigue, and the desire for an heir. 

One of our guests brought her collection of Costume Dolls by Peggy Nisbet, made In England in the 1960s, including the full lineup of wives, and Henry VIII, of course. Thank you, JM, for sharing your collection with us.

Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour

Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Katherine Parr

 

Silver Dove Tea Room, Boston, MA

Our journey into New England this summer took us to the Silver Dove Tea Room in historic downtown Boston. This locally owned English style tea room offers afternoon tea Wednesday thru Sunday, with online reservations.

The menu card for the Summer 2025 menu was at each place setting. An extensive list of teas are available to order, with each guest receiving their own pot of tea, hot or iced. In addition, they have a variety of cocktails, and since it was our last stop after a long day, we selected the Pimm's Cup, a reminder of our time in England a few years back.

Once we had our tea, a plate of Currant Scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream was served. Of special note, this tea room is fully gluten free. As was the case at most of the restaurants we visited, they do ask about any allergies or vegetarian requests also.

Cheers! With our Pimm's cup (above) and with the tiered trays (below).

The savory selection included a Cucumber Sandwich with lemon & herb cream cheese and dill. The Coronation Chicken salad was vadouvan (a French curry), crème fraiche, and apricot. Ratatouille Canape with chickpea socca (a French flatbread made with chickpeas), and Shrimp & Mango Lettuce Cup with avocado crema and saffron aioli.

The sweet selection included Peach Cake (white peach mousse, tarragon pound cake), Sweet Corn Panna Cotta (almond sbrisolona, an Italian cake), Hazelnut Macaron (cassis jam, chocolate ganache) and Chocolate Pavlova (dark chocolate cremeux and mixed berries). Such a colorful and tasty array of sweets and savories.

National Chai Day - 2025

September 21st is National Chai Day. It is held in appreciation of the sweet and spicy Indian beverage enjoyed worldwide. Also referred to as Masala chai, don't make the mistake of calling it Chai Tea, as Chai means tea, so you would actually be saying Tea Tea. The combination of spices includes cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper, and can be enjoyed iced or hot. Years ago, we welcomed Aparna to our home and gardens as a volunteer. She would help with whatever needed to be done for the day, but when 4:30 hit, she spoiled us as she would prepare authentic chai. You can read her instructions on making Chai here from an earlier blog post. I can still smell the spicy concoction made with Assam tea, warming spices, milk, and sugar. Warm, spicy, sweet, and milky, it solved the mid day slump and brightened our spirits.

In celebration of National Chai Day, we are happy to share this cupcake recipe.

Chai Cupcakes

For the spice mixture:

In a small bowl, blend the following spices: 1/2 tsp. each ground ginger, cinnamon, cardamon and cloves, and 1/8 tsp. pepper. Set spice mixture aside. 

Note: You will use some of the spices for the cupcake batter, 

and the rest of the spices for the frosting recipe.

For the cake batter:

1/2 c. butter (1 stick), softened

1 c. sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1-1/2 c. cake flour

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1-1/2 tsp. spice mixture (see above)

1/4 tsp. salt

2/3 c. milk

Frosting:

6 Tbsp. butter, softened

3 C. confectioner's sugar

3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

3 - 4 Tbsp. milk

remaining spice mixture

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and 1-1/2 tsp. spice mixture. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, approx. 5 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, mixing well after each addition. Fill 12 paper lined cupcake cups two thirds full. Bake 24 - 28 minutes, or until they test done. Cool. 

Prepare frosting, beat butter until flurry; beat in confectioner's sugar, vanilla and reserved spice mixture until smooth. Add enough milk until the frosting is desired consistency. Frost cupcakes.

Nancy's note: for the tearoom, she will prepare miniature cupcakes. This recipe will yield approx. 30 petite cupcakes. Bake for 9 - 12 min., testing until done.

A Recap of The Rosemary House Fairy Festival - 2025

The 31st Annual Rosemary House Fairy Festival is but a mere memory of fluttering fairies frolicking in the gardens, magical elves making mayhem and perhaps a few mischievous pixies here and there. Kids of all ages gathered in the gardens of The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances over the weekend to play amongst the fairies and friends. 

The Fairie Godmother welcomed wishes with her super sized dandelion wand and raised them skyward with hopes and dreams secretly shared.

Face painting is always a special activity. Faces could be painted by Kit Kat Sparkles, or a do it yourself paint station was available where moms could try their hand on their own little fairy.

And Fairy Rose Fairy is always entertaining with her special stories, songs, and tea parties.

The Steppin Woofs were a new addition to the festival this year, adorned with their own fairy wings and performing tricks for those gathered in the back alley..

Bubbles are always popular and everyone was invited to try their hand at creating supersized colorful bubbles.

From Hargle Bargle to Soolah Hoops, from Moss Child and the Dragon Tamer Zorra Zo, from FlyLeaf the Book Fairy to Bubble Man, from Sparkle Pop to Gingernap to Fairy Lily it takes a cast of characters (coordinated by Susanna) to pull together the festivities that take place over two days in the gardens of the Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances. We look forward to seeing you next year, always the first weekend after Labor Day, the festival will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12th and Sunday Sept. 13th, 2026. See you then!

The Snarky Tea House, Doylestown, PA

We visited an Alice in Wonderland themed tea room in Doylestown, PA, a quick two hour drive east. The Snarky Tea House, open just a few weeks ago, is cheerful, colorful, playful, and worth a visit for tea. Tucked on a corner, there is seating inside and out. With a subtle exterior sign, the magic begins once you step inside.

There is a section in the front where they sell their teas. These teas were originally featured on The Shark Tank. The owner has since bought out the two sharks that supported her, and after a trip to Paris, decided they needed to open a tea room in addition to selling their line of teas. Much of the whimsical decor was handcrafted and designed by one of the owners.

Once seated, we each selected our tea flavors from the list - we had Caramel Chai (a cozy black tea with notes of cinnamon, star anise, and caramel cream), Peachy Keen (robust black tea with ripe peach pieces), Tropical Sunrise Green Tea (vibrant green tea with mango, pineapple and papaya), and a Basic Black.

The tiered tray held an assortment of sandwiches, savories, scones, and desserts.

The sandwiches included a chicken salad on croissant, egg salad on a brioche bun, and cucumber with herbed cream cheese on white. The savory featured a broccoli quiche.

Scones, served with a delicate portion of strawberry jelly and herbed butter, included chocolate chip and lemon glazed.

The pretty dessert plate included a Pistachio Macaron, Lemon Madelaine, Chocolate Truffle Candy, and a Raspberry Filled Chocolate Cup.

The one-of-a-kind experience even applies to the unisex restroom sign. Little whimsical touches all around can't help but bring a smile to those who visit.