Tuesday, June 7, 2022

The Queen's Tea - 2022

As celebrations occurred throughout England in honor of Queen Elizabeth's 70 year reign, we too, had a celebration in her honor. We have held the Queen's Tea annually to celebrate her birthday, but this year was extra special. The bunting was hung, the tables were set, and the festivities in the tea room were held on Sunday, June 5th.

In addition to the guests seated in the tea room, we welcomed three recent Penn State University graduates to take tea in the garden. They donned their finest tiaras and crowns and joined in the revelry, toasting not only the Queen, but each other for their accomplishments over the past four years at Happy Valley. 

The first course featured a recipe from Eating Royally, a cookbook written by Darren McGrady, former chef to the Queen and Princess Diana. It was a Pear and Pecan Salad with Parmesan Cheese and Goat Cheese atop a bed of assorted lettuce. A fresh basil and olive oil vinaigrette dressed the salad. 

The sandwiches included a Roast Beef with Parmesan Mayonnaise on a Lemon Chive Pepper Muffin, Cucumber and French Style Cheese Round, Turkey, Havarti, & Sliced Apple on Raisin Bread, Buckingham Palace Rose Petal Sandwich, the Queen's Favorite Raspberry Jam Pennies, Coronation Chicken Salad, and Herbed Cheese with Sliced Tomato Rounds.


The scone course featured a Kensington Palace Scone (heart shaped) and a triangular scone using a recipe from the Claridge Hotel. Both were served with sweet cream and strawberry preserves alongside fresh fruit.
And the dessert medley featured a Fortnum & Mason Earl Grey Cupcake garnished with assorted gold and white sprinkles, a Victorian Poppyseed cake with a lime glaze and gold candy crown and our Chocolate Toffee Torte with gold dust and chocolate shavings. The paper with the photos of the Queen over the years held the menu.
Congratulations to the graduates! and Long Live the Queen!

2 comments:

Bernideen said...

Those adorable girls surely will remember this for the rest of their lives. Such a beautiful Afternoon Tea and each item was so perfectly presented and I am sure delicious!

Marilyn Miller said...

Now I would have enjoyed sitting with those tiara topped girls. Congratulations to all three. The menu sounds and looked absolutely delicious. You really did your homework in putting that menu together.