Thursday, November 12, 2009

Foodie Friday - Afternoon Tea at the Library

After much planning, and an aborted attempt last spring, our local library hosted its first afternoon tea this past Sunday, and I must say that it was exceptionally well received. Some red hat ladies told us that it was the best tea they've ever attended, even better than those given at a large local hotel! We're exhausted so we'll take the praise. I think we've earned it...

We've spent months collecting mismatched china, and teapots to set our tables. Small fresh flower arrangements graced each table, (I even got to use the pink birds that I wrote about last March!), and each guest received a beautifully decorated teapot cookie and one of the chocolate purse favors that I showed you in a post in October. A keepsake menu was also placed at each seat.
I didn't have my camera with me, because I knew that I wouldn't have time to snap pictures. Luckily, a friend who came to help serve brought hers and shared the following shots.
Here's the main room almost ready for guests... and one of our place settings. The place card you see is actually a bit of 'tea trivia.' Different facts and legends about tea were printed on cards and scattered about the tables. All of the tables were covered in lace, and there were embroidered linen and cutwork napkins.
We set up a dessert table and decorated it with an antique tea set filled with flowers. In this shot, desserts are still being brought out from the kitchen. Every square inch of this table was covered with goodies...
And then our guests arrived and began their mini feast by nibbling on scones with lemon curd, Devonshire cream, and raspberry jam. Next came the tea sandwiches...chicken salad en petits choux, Branson pickle, sharp cheddar and leaf lettuce on whole wheat fingers, cucumber bites with seasoned cream cheese and fresh dill, ham and pickle salad on rye flower rounds, and cream cheese and green olive on country white. Scones and sandwiches were plated and brought to table, as were steaming pots of Earl Grey. The dessert table was self serve, and available all afternoon.
Chances were sold on baskets, and drawings were held for door prizes. My friend's little one drew the chances...
and then she drew her own name for the coveted basket that held a tea set. She immediately ran to her mother repeating, "I didn't look Mommy, I really didn't." It was pretty funny.
And here's the happy winner and her mom. They really enjoyed a nice mother-daughter outing.
So the tea is over, and everyone is asking if we'll have one next year. Probably...but we need a larger committee, more help, more bakers, etc. Lots of women told us that they're going to bring all of their friends...What have we gotten ourselves into???

BTW: Since Monday night I've been drinking lots of tea and only tea. Pretty sure that this is the flu. The fact that I could stay awake long enough to publish this post just amazed me.

If you're able to stay awake, and wish to be tantalized by amazing food, please visit Designs by Gollum. Our hostess, Michael Lee, will have Mr. Linky ready to escort you around the blogosphere.

12 comments:

  1. Oh your tea looks so lovely and how great to be surrounded by books!!
    Hope you get well soon.

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  2. First I hope you get over the flu real soon...I've heard some people say how long they've been stuck with it....And your tea event was fabulous....what a lovely idea....the tables and desert tabel looked great and how happy I was to read that one of the sandwichs was cream cheese and green olives on white bread....I thought I was the only one that ever ate that....I grew up eating that and it was fun to actually see it in print!!

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  3. What a fun day and yes you probably are going to need a larger room/library next year if everyone in town tells another friend to come along and join in on the fun. Feel better too.
    Joyce

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  4. It sure looks like fun to me, I don't blame the ladies for wanting to bring their friends to the next one...wishing you a beautiful day!!!

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  5. What a lovely event! I'm sure your efforts were appreciated. I hope you feel better very soon.

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  6. Thanks for stopping by. Your Tea looks very lovely. You didn't miss a thing. Very impressive! I am hosting for the 10th year a Christmas Tea and Cookie exchange in December with my mom, sisters, daughter and nieces. I do a High Tea and it is so much fun. I will be posting pictures of my fun event so come take a look. I would love to follow you, but you don't have that up on your blog. Hope you feel better. Keep drinking the tea:)

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  7. This looks like an event that resulted in many new and wonderful memories for those attending! Thanks for sharing and have a fabulous FOODIE FRIDAY!

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  8. Jane-Hope it is not really the flu! It looks as if you had a great turnout! The menu sounds divine and I love having the tea trivia--perfect for a library! Thanks for posting the Deck the Halls button!

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  9. What a lovely time. The tables are really pretty and how sweet that the little girl won!

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  10. it looks fantastic friend...It also looks like everyone had a great time! glad it was a success...I can't imagine anything less from you!

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  11. Oh! How delightful this is! I love every part and it would be so fun to join you. :)

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