August Arboretum Tea

Emma and I ventured south to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the August monthly tea on Aug. 14. We strolled the gardens before tea - perennial, annual, rose and lilies. Lots of pretty flowers and gardening ideas - if only one had time to garden.

 

Tea time was in the Snyder Building Tea Room. We were seated near a window overlooking the gardens. The tea is prepared and served by volunteers - it was like an army of grandmas and they liked to hug us. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not a hugger, but I let it slide for the little old ladies. Now we know what we can do to keep occupied in 100 years when we retire minus the hugging.

The tea was traditional with the first course being a blueberry scone served with early grey tea. We then enjoyed the savories - deviled eggs, spanakopita, and vegetarian rotolo. The rotolo was unique and our favorite.

Our next pot of tea was white orchard a nice accompaniment to chocolate dipped strawberries, orange tea bread, raspberry brie bites and toasted coconut gaufrette. Now Emma isn't a big eater, but she LOVED the gaufrette :)

We thought we were done eating...but we were wrong as the final course was a triple berry trifle.

A beautiful day to check out the gardens and take time for tea!

From New York to Naniboujou

I'm a little behind with my blogging so travel back in time with me from New York to Naniboujou.

 

At the end of May Jeff and I visited Manhattan for his birthday. The husband highlight was sitting in the audience for the Jimmy Fallon show. The wife highlights included seeing the Tiffany Great Gatsby collection - gorgeous jewels dripping from champagne glasses and tea at BG!

Bergdorf is not just shopping as they also have the John Barrett salon, a wonderful lunch spot, and "afternoon tea at BG." BG tea is, of course, served on BG fine china.

 

What I love the most about high tea is the care that is taken in the preparation and presentation. Time to dig in from savory to sweet. Tea sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and a variety of sweets to eat. Cucumber sandwich, egg salad with avocado, macaroon, petit fours, and more!

The scone was divine, BG waxed paper covered the Devonshire cream and Dammann frères tea from Paris was served.

The flatiron building is across the street from Eataly and what trip would be complete without an Empire State pic? Until next time NYC!

 

Fast forward to the end of July... I grooved to Snoop at Soundset, ran the Mud Games, Rocked the Garden, had tea at Heirlooms, went to St. Ben's Centennial reunion, saw the Queen Bee - Beyonce...and then visited the North Shore of Lake Superior. We decided this would be an active trip despite the 50 degree rainy weather (um hello July - 50 degrees - really?). We hiked and kayaked - I mean we seriously kayaked - 6 hours/10 miles over 300 feet of frigid Lake Superior water.

 

We took time for tea about 20 miles northeast of Grand Marais. Naniboujou was built in 1929 as an ultra exclusive private club. Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and Ring Lardner were charter members. Unfortunately, with Black Friday the stock market crashed and so did the founding members wealth and the club. Plans to build tennis courts and swimming pools were never completed.

 

The dining room hasn't changed or been repainted since its completion in 1929 and it is stunning. The Cree Indian design is brilliant and bright. The fireplace is the largest stone fireplace in Minnesota and made of native rock. It's really worth seeing.

 
Naniboujou's afternoon tea is not typically served in the dining room, but because Jeff ordered lunch, I was able to have tea in the dining room - yay!

I enjoyed a cucumber cream cheese sandwich, shortbread cookie, raspberry chocolate Bundt cake, white chocolate chip scone with strawberry jam and whipped cream. Ashby's bagged tea was served.