We recently held a variation on afternoon tea which featured our interpretation of a Tavern Tea, The event was centered around a presentation by April Thomas. She discussed the life and recipes of Richard Briggs,
The Tavern Cook. Briggs was a cook at the Globe Tavern on Fleet Street, London in the eighteenth century. Taverns were not just public drinking houses, but a destination where one would experience fine dining. We offered our guests a glass of Blackberry Mead Wine from Essiem's Apiary or a glass of Triple Mint Tea. The first course included Cotswold Potato Leek Soup garnished with bacon bits, sour cream, and freshly snipped chives.
The medley of hearty sandwiches included Turkey, Havarti Cheese and Bacon Jam on triangular potato bread, Green Tomato Relish with Garlic Cheese Rounds on crusty bread, Marinated Roast Beef on a miniature roll, Welsh Rarebit garnished with rosemary, and Chicken Pasties.
Our Traditional English Cream Scone was served with sweet cream and Cherry Apple Bourbon Butter alongside a slice of Lavender Lemon Drizzle Tea Cake and fresh orange slices.
The petite dessert trio included a Rhubarb Strawberry Trifle with Vanilla cream sauce, Eccles Cake (also called squashed fly cake because the raisins inside look like flies!) and
Classic Raspberry Split Seconds from the English Kitchen.
Our hope was that our guests felt transported to an old English tavern.
Summertime in the herb garden means the lavender is in full bloom, and it's time to create an afternoon tea menu centered around lovely lavender.
The assortment of tea sandwiches included Sliced Turkey with Lavender Honey Butter on white bread, a Miniature Lavender Meatball with a touch of lavender jelly atop a piece of toasted bread, Baked Lavender Artichoke Squares, Roasted Honey Pepper Pork Crostini with Lavender Mustard and sprouts, and a Cucumber Lavender Mint Sandwich.
Lavender, both fresh and dried, is used in abundance in the many different menu options. We also incorporated Lavender Mustard (with the honey pepper pork) and Lavender Jelly (with the meatballs, and also the cucumber sandwich). They both imparted an additional flavor layer to the tea party. Danika's jelly and mustard are available in The Rosemary House, along with other popular flavors including a yummy pepper jelly and flavorful garlic mustard. The Lavender Jelly is particularly enjoyable mixed with cream cheese and used as a sandwich spread. The jelly not only flavors the cream cheese, but makes it easily spreadable.
The little trio of desserts placed atop a lavender themed napkin featured a White Chocolate Lavender Cheesecake, Lavender Blondie, and a Frosted Lavender Shortbread Cookie sprinkled with lavender sugar. Such a fun way to end our specialty themed Lovely Lavender Afternoon tea.
