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      • Do Not Criticize
      • Leave Gracefully
      • Send a Thank You Note
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    • Tea Menu Basics >
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      • Savory Spreads and Dips
      • Scones and Tea Breads >
        • About Lemons
    • Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons >
      • A Spring Tea
      • An Outdoor Summer Tea
      • An Autumn Afternoon Tea
      • A Winter Afternoon Tea
    • A Calendar of Tea Parties >
      • January: A Japanese New Year’s Tea
      • February: A Valentine’s Day Tea
      • March: A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
      • April: An Easter Tea
      • May: A Mother’s Day Tea
      • June: A Wedding Reception Tea >
        • Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake
      • July: A Picnic Tea
      • August: A Family Reunion Tea >
        • A North American Family Reunion Tea
        • An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
        • A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
        • A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea
      • September: An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
      • October: A Tea to Honor Our Ancestors (Dia de los Muertos)
      • November: A Post Thanksgiving Tea
      • December: A Christmas Tea >
        • In Defense of Fruitcake: Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit
    • A World of Tea Parties >
      • A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
      • A Portuguese Tea
      • A Classic British Afternoon Tea
      • An Indian Chai Party
      • A California Tea
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      • An Italian Tea
      • An American Southern Tea
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      • A French Afternoon Tea
      • A Kosher Tea with Tradional Jewish Foods
    • Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions >
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Cakes and Tea

Kathleen's Blog

October 2019 - Afternoon Tea at Headwaters at the Heathman Hotel, Portland, Oregon

10/1/2019

4 Comments

 
Picture
Prompted by a tempting article in the May/June, 2019 issue of Tea Time magazine entitled “Tea Treasures of Portland, Oregon,” my friend, Valerie, and I visited the historic Heathman Hotel in downtown for a Sunday afternoon tea.

We treated ourselves to a Lyft ride to the Heathman so we could enjoy the signature Northwest rain and not worry about parking downtown. I got to wear my jazzy paisley rain boots and Valerie loaned me a creamy knitted shrug to ward of any chill. We were feeling wonderfully expectant of our tea.
​
And then we saw the lobby. I expected to find the room seen below. Unfortunately, it had been updated.
Picture
Picture
Ugh. With a slight sinking feeling, we exited into the Headwaters restaurant which had apparently been carved out of the original lobby. We found the hostess who did have our reservation. We were a bit encouraged to find that our tea was to be served in the hotel’s mezzanine library. It had previously known life as the hotel’s tea court lounge. I tried not to imagine how wonderful the room had been before the modernization. An airy, two-story room in the center of the hotel, the library at least retained a bit of former glamor. To quote the Heathman’s own blurb, “The Library features more than 3,000 volumes signed by their authors in a grand bookcase that spans the full height of the room to prominently showcase the autographed tomes.” And huge points for the chandelier.
​
Picture
An upward view of the mezzanine library featuring the crystal chandelier

​We were seated at a low marble table with a beautiful blue velvet sofa and comfortable beige arm chairs. A fire was lit in the modern fireplace. Our spirits were on the rise. We waited for one of the two waiters to greet us. After about ten minutes, I went in search of the hostess to explain our third guest would not be joining us so could we have our tea? She was on the phone (with her boss, she later explained) so she gave me the "I'll be right with you” gesture. Okay…that went on for a few more minutes. Not the level of service I would prefer.
​
Eventually, we did begin our tea service. We were cheered to see they used Smith Teamaker, a local tea blender with a long tea pedigree. Smith has multiple shops around Portland, their flagship store in a 100-year-old blacksmith shop. Valerie chose the Georgian Caravan tea. The name is a nod to the traditionally smoky Russian caravan tea, said to have been created by the black tea being stored near campfires during the long journey from China to Russia, in the saddle bags of pack animals. The tea was delicious and Smith packaging is quite lovely, so we added a canister of the Georgian Caravan loose leaf to take home. I chose Bungalow tea which was described on the menu as a blend of first and second flush Darjeeling tea leaves. This tea needed a longer brewing time than my usual Yorkshire Gold, but after about ten minutes, it fully opened up and became very flavorful. When next in Portland, a visit to Smith Teas is definitely on the agenda. www.smithtea.com
​

Picture
The sign at one of Smith’s locations
​

Picture
The low tea table was nicely set with inoffensive modern teapots, charming tea glasses in their metal holders, proper tea strainers for the loose leaf tea, and ornate tongs with which to serve the treats from the three tiered server. Not shown in this photo is the blueberry jam and rustic brown sugar cubes. Historically, Russians have sweetened their tea with preserves.

​Portland chef Vitaly Paley opened Headwaters at the Heathman restaurant, and their afternoon tea service is inspired by his Russian heritage. Pastry chef Megan Jeans interprets the Russian pastries with finesse and flair.
​
Everything on the three tiered server was interesting looking, fresh, and tasty. The printed menu does a good job of explaining the savory and sweet items. Each of the eight loose teas available is described in detail, so even tea novices will be able to choose a tea to their liking. 
Picture
On the bottom tier: Buterbrodi which are open-faced rye bread sandwiches, including pale garlic cheese spread, hot pink beet and horseradish, and smoked herring with lox. 

Tart Olivier is a play on a historic Russian salad, here presented in tiny tart shell, garnished with even tinier cornichon slices. Georgian cheese bread, Khachapuri, was a rich, cheesy roll, made with local honey.

Middle tier: Flaky mushroom turnovers, delightful walnut-stuffed eggplant rolls garnished with pomegranate seeds, powdered sugar-covered Russian tea cakes, and excellent orange and pistachio halva.

Top tier: Pryaniki, old-world style spiced cookies with a honey glaze, Steopka, which is reputedly Paley’s grandmother’s recipe for walnut cake, Tort Po Kievski, an elegant multi-layered hazelnut and coffee flavored cake square, lemon bars, and a rather tired version of Russian honey cake, Medovik Torte.
​
I feel confident in critiquing the Medovik torte, as I made a few in preparation for one of Hidden Valley String Orchestra’s donor fêtes. The concert featured Eastern European music and Polly suggested the honey cake. It is made from spiced cookie-like layers that soften once the torte sits with its filling and frosting of the amazing combination of caramel, butter, and honey. It is finished with crumbled cookies over the top and sides. The Medovik tastes best about 3 or 4 days after it is assembled. I’m thinking that theirs sat a bit too long and tasted a tad stale. Overall though, the quality of the savories and pastries was very good. 
​
Picture
Homemade Medovik torte

​Our Russian tea menu at
www.myteaplanner.com is similar in spirit while adding some Russian foods not specifically served with tea but too yummy to leave out.
​
Russian Tea Menu from My Tea Planner
​

Borscht Shots
     Charlotte’s Marinated Mushrooms
     Open-faced Smoked Salmon Sandwiches on Swirled Rye
     Piroshky
     Caviar Platter with Blini
     Kulich with Paskha Cheese Spread 
Russian Cheese Tartlets
     Russian Tea Cakes
     Poppy Seed Cookies
     Walnut Crescents
     Charlotte Rousse

I also appreciated Headwaters at the Heathman’s interesting beverage menu. Besides the hot tea selection from Smith Teamaker, a flight of vodkas including Russian, local, and infused vodkas is available. And as should be at all urban hotel afternoon teas, sparkling wines are offered. We ordered a cava and a brut rosé sparkler which were both delicious but unfortunately were served in wine glasses because “we are out of champagne glasses.” Huh?
 
Wonderful food and fine quality tea, elegant, if modern, surroundings but a bit rough in the service and organization department. The overall experience was most fun due to my charming companion. Many thanks to Valerie for being my Portland tea co-conspirator. We are already planning our next tea outing, to Hotel de Luxe:
​
Picture
See you in Portland, cheers!
4 Comments

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  • Home
  • About/Blog
    • Who We Are
    • Our Credentials
    • Tea Travels - Rose's Blog
    • Cakes and Tea - Kathleen's Blog
    • Contact Us
  • The Tea Book
    • The Road Back to Civilization
    • A Brief History of Tea
    • Philosophy of Tea >
      • Harmony
      • Humility
      • Respect
      • Creativity
    • Guidelines for the Host/Hostess >
      • Gathering and Greeting
      • Sharing Stories
      • Sharing Food
      • Sending the Guests Home
    • Guidelines for the Guest >
      • Respect Your Hostess/Host
      • Bring a Gift if You Wish
      • Practice Humility
      • Monitor Your Conversation
      • Arrive with a Grateful Attitude
      • Help if Help is Needed
      • Do Not Criticize
      • Leave Gracefully
      • Send a Thank You Note
    • A Checklist for Planning a Tea Party
    • Teas of the World and How to Make Tea >
      • A Sampling of Teas
      • Herbal Teas and Tisanes
      • How to Make Tea
      • Making Iced Tea
      • Tea Concentrate
      • Brewing Tea for a Crowd
    • Tea Utensils and Accessories >
      • Tea Kettle
      • Tea Pot
      • Tea Cozy
      • Teacups
      • Plates
      • Silverware
      • Teacart
      • Tea Strainer
      • Tea Infuser
      • Three-Tiered Server
      • Cream Pitcher and Sugar Bowl
      • Cake Pedestal
      • Trifle Bowl
      • Jam Pots
      • Serving Dishes, Platters, and Trays
      • Silver Tea Set or Silver Tray
      • Linens
      • Kitchen Equipment for Food Preparation
    • Tea Menu Basics >
      • Sandwiches and Savories
      • Savory Spreads and Dips
      • Scones and Tea Breads >
        • About Lemons
    • Afternoon Tea and the Four Seasons >
      • A Spring Tea
      • An Outdoor Summer Tea
      • An Autumn Afternoon Tea
      • A Winter Afternoon Tea
    • A Calendar of Tea Parties >
      • January: A Japanese New Year’s Tea
      • February: A Valentine’s Day Tea
      • March: A St. Patrick’s Day Irish Tea
      • April: An Easter Tea
      • May: A Mother’s Day Tea
      • June: A Wedding Reception Tea >
        • Lemon Yogurt Wedding Cake
      • July: A Picnic Tea
      • August: A Family Reunion Tea >
        • A North American Family Reunion Tea
        • An Eastern Mediterranean Family Reunion Tea
        • A Kosher Family Reunion Tea
        • A Scandinavian Family Reunion Tea
      • September: An Ozark Farm Harvest Tea
      • October: A Tea to Honor Our Ancestors (Dia de los Muertos)
      • November: A Post Thanksgiving Tea
      • December: A Christmas Tea >
        • In Defense of Fruitcake: Fruitcakes and Candied Fruit
    • A World of Tea Parties >
      • A Chinese Dim Sum Tea
      • A Portuguese Tea
      • A Classic British Afternoon Tea
      • An Indian Chai Party
      • A California Tea
      • A Hawaiian Tea
      • An Italian Tea
      • An American Southern Tea
      • A Russian Tea
      • A French Afternoon Tea
      • A Kosher Tea with Tradional Jewish Foods
    • Afternoon Tea for Special Occasions >
      • An Afternoon Tea for Children
      • A Tea for Our Elders
      • A Honey Bee Tea in the Garden
      • An Urban Tea on the Go
      • Tea for One
      • Afternoon Tea for a Large Group
      • A Vegan Tea
      • A Rose Tea
  • Purchase Recipes
  • Resources
    • Bibliography and Resources
    • Menu and Recipe Index
    • Commercial Food Products
    • Glossary