Recently, I was fortunate enough to cater an afternoon tea in a Victorian home in Santa Cruz, California. A party for ten was set at the long table in the formal dining room. Fine reproduction Victorian wallpaper made an exquisite backdrop for the traditional china and silver service, illuminated by candle light. I could not have wished for a more beautiful setting.
We set both ends of the long table with symmetric white floral arrangements, three tiered servers, trays of strawberry tarts, creamer and sugar sets, and scone toppings: clotted cream, lemon curd, apricot jam, and chutney cheese spread.
We set both ends of the long table with symmetric white floral arrangements, three tiered servers, trays of strawberry tarts, creamer and sugar sets, and scone toppings: clotted cream, lemon curd, apricot jam, and chutney cheese spread.
The Menu
Smoked Salmon Rolls
Cucumber Watercress Sandwiches
Egg Salad-Avocado Double Stacks
Prosciutto-Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
Fresh Tomato Tarts
Clotted Cream, Lemon Curd, Apricot Jam, and Chutney Cheese Spread
Classic Cream Scones
Black Pepper and Onion scones
Shortbread Fingers
Red and White Pinwheel Cookies
Lemon Buttons
Fresh Strawberry Tarts
Miniature Black Forest Cakes
The long table, set for ten.
The silver tipping teapot sits next to the hostess, with scone spreads and strawberry tarts nearby.
We tailored the menu to indulge the hostess’ preference for savory food over sweets. This being afternoon tea, though, at least three kinds of cookies is a usual. Dainty Driscoll organic berries topped buttery tart shells, for a stunning burst of scarlet red to harmonize with her family china.
The chocolate quotient was filled by miniature chocolate cherry cakes. Avid readers of this blog and Rose’s blog know how much we adore the combination of deep chocolate and delicious cherry. Browse a trove of cherry and chocolate recipes on our website:
https://www.myteaplanner.com/
Left to right, miniature cupcake papers wait for their chocolate cake batter and dollop of cherry preserves, prepared cupcakes on their way to the event, my painting of a cupcake, three colors of chocolate leaves, to finish off the decoration.
Gina, my sandwich builder for the tea party, assembled a double stack sandwich we saw on Pinterest. This photo is from a pin by Clara Gonzalez, but our version looked every bit as good and tasted marvelous. The bottom filling is classic egg salad, and the top is chopped avocado, drained tomato, and red bell pepper bits. And who doesn’t love seeing a festive olive atop anything savory?
As a gal who caters near and far, logistics are always pertinent to the party. In this instance, I had to “MacGyver” up two three tiered servers at the last moment. (We have Mr. Vazquez to thank for introducing us to the world of MacGyvering in which we use our skills to make something out of nothing, like MacGyver repeatedly did in his 1980’s-90’s television show.) Luckily, I have my trusty Soquel antique/junk store favorites I could rely on for inexpensive serve ware. Most importantly, I have a skilled, accommodating brother who is willing and able to quickly make any necessary changes to anything from wood to metal to plastic. Thanks Peter!
Here’s Peter cutting excess metal decoration from one three tiered server so it will better match the other thrifted server. I completed the transformation with a few coats of spray paint.
The hostess’ exquisite tea set with a party favor of sugar cookies with edible wafer paper and royal icing decoration. We always like to add a little something extra, an unexpected gift to our catering.
Gorgeous close-up photograph, taken by the hostess’ daughter.
Flowers from Trader Joe’s and Rudy’s rose garden.
Flowers from Trader Joe’s and Rudy’s rose garden.
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