Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea

Traditionally June is the month when we hold our annual Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea. It coincides with the glorious lavender blossoms in full bloom in central PA and it happens on the same weekend as a local lavender festival. The tables were wet with as many purple teacups as I have with coordinated deep purple, pale lavender and garden green napkins. The menu, printed with purple ink and graced with a beautiful lavender photograph sets the scene. Once guests begin to arrive, tea orders are taken. In addition to our usual list of teas, we add Lavender Black, Fig & Lavender, Lavender Earl Grey, and Lemon Lavender Herbal to accompany this special event.

The first course featured Mixed Salad Greens with Summer Berries, Feta Cheese and Lavender Balsamic Dressing along with a refreshing Citrus Lavender Herbal Spritzer.

The sandwich course included a Sweet Cornbread Muffin with Lavender Honey Butter, Lavender Apple Chutney atop a slice of Pork Tenderloin, Lavender Mint Cucumber Triangles, Pimiento Cheese with Strawberry Lemon Lavender Preserve, and a Lavender Goat Cheese Croustade garnished with a fresh sprig of lavender. To my taste, the lavender flavor was most predominant in the chutney, and the goat cheese sandwich with the fresh lavender sprig. The other sandwiches were a bit more subtle in lavender flavor.

The following course included Lavender Sage Golden Raisin Scones and a slice of Lemon Lavender Blueberry Tea Bread. These were served with Sweet Cream and Lavender Lemon Curd. Fresh Strawberries were glazed with a Lavender Syrup.

The dessert medley featured a Lemon Ginger Lavender Blueberry Trifle, Lavender Leaf Candies from Provence, France, a hand crafted Lavender Truffle by a local chocolatier (Brittle Bark), and a Crystallized Lavender Stem sugared and preserved a week or so earlier. A lavender themed napkin was tucked under the dessert assortment.

Thank you to everyone that attended our Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in June. This special event is a fragrant and sweet nod to the beautiful herbal harvest the many varieties of lavender blesses us with each summer. 

The Queen's Tea - 2021

A festive celebration took place recently in the tearoom as we celebrated the occasion of the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II at our annual Queen's Tea. Although the Queen's birthday is in April, the royal celebration takes place in June when the weather is better! We are happy to celebrate with her. The best china, red roses, and menus that feature pictures of the Queen grace the table. Festive bunting was hung throughout the tearoom also to complete the decor.

The first course featured a salad selected from Eating Royally, a cookbook written by Darren McGrady, personal chef to Princess Diana and chef to the royal family for 15 years. Assorted leafy greens were tossed with parmesan cheese, goat cheese, sugared pecans, and fresh pears. An olive oil dressing laden with parsley and spring onions completed the salad.

The sandwich medley featured a Herbed Cucumber Garden Party Sandwich, Buckingham Palace Rose Garden Sandwiches, Pecan Edged Chutney & Cheese Sandwich, Brie & Apple Crostini, Strawberry Basil Mascarpone Tartlet, and 1953 Coronation Chicken Salad Triangle.

Scones included Kensington Palace Scones (heart shaped) and Claridge Hotel, London Currant Scones (triangular shaped) both served with Sweet Cream and Lemon Curd alongside fresh fruit.

While the dessert course include a Coconut Pecan cake with Cream Cheese frosting, Rosemary for Remembrance Cookie, and Chocolate Biscuit Cake (the Queen's favourite). The recipe for the chocolate biscuit cake is also from the Eating Royally cookbook.

The Beefeater kept guard as we enjoyed our Afternoon Tea.