Crown & Crumpet

I've been slacking on my blog, I think this fireman distracted me or perhaps it was my aching body that isn't cut out for marathons.

While I was in San Francisco for the Nike Women's Marathon in mid-October, I visited Ghiradelli square.

One of the shops within in the square was the cutest tea shop ever - Crown & Crumpet.

This shop was the perfect example of how a tea shop does not have to be "old lady." It was chic, eccletic and fun - right down to the actual logo. I came home with lots of goodies from this shop including a cute cup and saucer with their logo and a tea canister.

  

Em's Fall Birthday Tea Trip

In honor of Emma's 29th (wink, wink) birthday, and after much research, I found a brand new tea room in Red Wing, MN! With the sun shining we set out in her brand new pearly white SUV. It was a lovely day for a drive through the river valley with the leaves just beginning to turn. I can't think of a better excuse to take the day off of work! Wisteria Twig Tea Room and Cafe has only been open for two weeks. The tea room is in the Pottery Place building (2000 Old West Main) former home of Red Wing Pottery.

The tea room overlooks the boiler/kiln? I liked the contrast of the warehouse/industrial building with exposed brick and beams for a high tea. The building also houses the Red Wing pottery museum and many shops. Mmm, scones!

 

                                                 

The food was homemade and a really nice black tea, Yorkshire Gold, was served. It always makes us happy when a nice big pot of tea is left on the table - this was the first time we didn't run out of tea! Many traditional high tea foods were served, including cucumber sandwiches and scones with Devonshire and lemon curd. In addition, the proprietress, Rita, also served fresh asparagus cream sandwiches which were a fun twist.

As Emma was opening her birthday presents, I mentioned that my mom and I found some of her presents in Fort Frances, Ontario. The couple next to us shared that they live in the Fort - small world! We chatted a bit and I mentioned that my maiden name was McHarg and they had known my great aunt Ruth! We figured if we kept talking we would end up related!

Here's Emma with one of her presents from Fort Floral - she loves hedgehogs. In fact, we stopped at a nursery on the way home to pick out a succulent for her new planter. The desserts were yummy - lemon bars, chocolate mousse, caramel apple bars and strawberry phyllo tarts. I love the bubble glass dishes.

Happy Birthday Emma! Hope you had a great day!

I'm glad I was able to spend time and celebrate with you with one of our favorite things - tea!

The Queen Invites You to Tea

By order of her Majesty, the Queen of Hearts, you are hereby summoned to a most unusual tea party, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, 1:00 p.m. Wear foolish attire for all to admire.

Enter the maddest party in the Queen's Royal Croquet Court

The table was set for our biggest party yet

Even the card men came to tea

I must admit, I was proud of my flower arrangement ;)



"There was a table set out under a tree in front of a house,
and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it:
a Doormouse was sitting between them fast asleep . . ."

"Which way? Which way?"

Emma's mom made me the cutest apron!

Bandersnatch Eyeballs
Alice’s Cuppa Salad
Cook’s Potato Soup
White King’s Cookies
Red Queen’s Strawberry Heart Scones
with Orange Curd and Cream
March Hare’s Orange Tea Punch
A Mad Variety of Tea

Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups with Pumpkin Mousse
Dancing Snails

Cheshire Cupcakes

 Royal Court Cucumber Sandwiches

Caterpillar’s Magic Mushrooms
Royal Court Cucumber Sandwiches
White Rabbit’s Pocket Watch Crackers & Cheese

 The Hatter says time "won't do a thing I ask!
It's always six o'clock now";
that is, it is always tea-time.

The girls!

Mrs. Spahl as the White Rabbit
and Emma as the Knave of Hearts

Wonderland parting gifts for the girls...

Pasadena Me Some Tea

While I was a bit tired from delivering a presentation, I wanted to take advantage of the little down time I had so I searched for "tea" near my hotel in Glendale, CA. I braved the freeway and discovered Old Town Pasadena, which was a major change of pace from LA and Hollywood.

I discovered three tea shops within a few blocks of one another. My first stop was the Tea Rose Garden. This tea room was also a flower shop. It was quaint and a little old ladyish, but cute. They had nine different kinds of scones, I tried the lemon raspberry. The table next time ordered a beautiful sandwich tray.

I ordered an Arnie Palmer and it came with fresh flowers - cute!

I wish I would have discovered The Scarlet Tea Room first as it was very posh and voted best afternoon tea in LA. The decor was simple, yet elegant and Fancy French. Alas, I had no appetite for treats.

The Scarlet Tea Room was like stepping into Paris.

 

Lastly, I found The Chado Tea Room. This tea room was by far the busiest with a guitar player and more than 300 teas from which to choose. The customer in front of me had been to a wine tasting where they served their wine teas - they had merlot, etc. it was really interesting. I bought some White Champagne Raspberry, Lavender Early Gray and a mystery tea to be revealed later :)

I had to buy tea in one of their interesting tins.

Sand & Sea Tea

Today Emma hosted a summer Sand & Sea tea in her garden. The centerpiece was a glass globe fishbowl with white sand, seashells and a sea blue betta swimming around. She decorated with lots of seashells and even had candles shaped like seashells. The music made us all feel like we were on a Hawaiian beach listening to the ocean.

And the food...we began with the bread.

Tier 1: Eggplant and hummus chipotle spread with yellow tomatoes from Em's garden served on pita

Tier 2: Cucumber sandwich with mascarpone

Tier 3: Apple cinnamon raisin walnut bread with a creamy fruit dip

We sipped a tropical Arnie Palmer: mango black tea with limeade and Earl Gray tea of course. Emma also had a special tea straight from Hawaii - Pineapple Kona Pop!

Kim & Em

Fruit included blueberries, kiwi,
golden raspberries and organic strawberries.

Tiff, Jackie, Kim, Kendall & Emma (I'm the photographer)

The main course included:

Coconut curry chicken (and mushrooms for me) on cous cous

Spicy chickpeas

 Emma's serving pieces included heirloom blue glass teacups and mother of pearl silverware that has been in the Spahl family for years.

Dessert: Mango lassi with vanilla bean ice cream

We were also served the best tea latte that included black tea & sweetened condensed milk.

And a parting surprise: We each had to dig in the sand to reveal a seashell necklace. The necklaces were purchased at an estate sale from LaVyrle Spencer, the American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. I love presents, but especially those with a story and a famous person! Fun!