In Appreciation - Holiday Tea

The last holiday event, post Christmas celebrations with the family, included an appreciation tea for the faithful family and friends that lend a helping hand in the tea room throughout the year. The tables in the main dining room were pushed together to form one large square to host an intimate gathering of ten guests. The festive table. complete with traditional British Christmas crackers was ready for a celebration. 

Going around the table (L to R), are Mike and Gail. Gail is frequently seen in the tearoom as a gracious hostess and tea server. Her husband Mike offers a helping hand at the PA Tea Festival in September. The two young ladies, Tabitha and her sister Caroline were tea ambassadors at the festival, willing to provide assistance to whomever asked. Their mother, Kristin can be found at the tea festival also (it's a family affair), and willingly lends a helping hand in the tearoom when the need arises. Susanna and David are pillars of support for the ongoing operations for both The Rosemary House and Sweet Remembrances.

And rounding out the table, niece Angelica pitches in at the tea festival, and works behind the scenes and occasionally in the tea room when she is home from Penn State where she is working on her final semester for her Masters degree. Master salad preparer and tea server, Claudette, is an integral part of the tea room service. And Nancy savored the opportunity to sit and enjoy Afternoon Tea as prepared by Melissa and Michelle of Manchester Tea and Tarts.

We were offered a variety of British teas including Barry's Gold, several Twinings favorites, and assorted fruit blends. Once we each had our tea, the three tiered servers laden with an array of delicious sweets and savories were presented to the table.

The bottom tier held an assortment of three sandwiches, and each guest received two of each sandwich. The sandwiches, all cut in the traditional British style 'finger' included Sliced Turkey Breast with British Stuffing and Cranberries, Five Cheese and Branston Pickle, and Cucumber and Tzatziki Sauce. A colorful array of fresh and delicious holiday flavors.

The middle tier included the warm Scones which featured a traditional plain English Scone and a Figgy Pudding Scone which included all the ingredients you would find in a figgy pudding. Large bowls of homemade lemon curd and strawberry jam were on the table, and a petite cup of true Devonshire Clotted Cream was on the tier alongside the scones. 

The holiday medley of desserts included British Christmas Cake (laden with Sultanas), Scottish Snow Cake and Petite Mince Pies generously dusted with confectioners sugar. Scottish Snow Cake has a shortbread crust, a thin layer of jam, a white cake layer, and a sweet vanilla icing coated in coconut. Such a festive and delicious assortment of British sweet treats.

And the finale featured warm Sticky Toffee Pudding atop Devonshire Cream Custard. It was hard not to lick the plate.

Many thanks to Manchester Tea and Tarts for presenting such a memorable afternoon holiday tea. We enjoyed opening the Christmas crackers, sharing silly jokes, discovering tiny trinkets, and sporting colorful paper crowns. You'll have to imagine us in purple, orange, green, and blue crowns. It was a sight.

Extra special thanks to the family and friends that gathered around the table at this joyous event. It is with great appreciation that such enthusiastic and energetic friends and family are willing to share their time at Sweet Remembrances throughout the year. The opportunity to sit around the table and enjoy our very own special tea time was sublime. They all promised to be ready to pick up the mantel again in February.