As we have learned, a traditional Afternoon Tea is usually comprised of three courses—sandwiches and other savory snacks, scones with cream, butter and jam, and a variety of sweets. These treats are intended to be enjoyed chronologically in a leisurely fashion, though they may all be presented simultaneously on a teacart or serving table. Hot tea will accompany all three courses.
Civilized conversation and the appreciation of a carefully appointed setting in harmony with the occasion and the season of the year are as important to a tea party as the food. Indeed, the food itself can contribute to the aesthetic delight of the event. Tea party foods are offered in very small servings, and a variety of selections of both savory and sweet foods are present. The host or hostess gives careful attention to the appearance and arrangement of each food item and the selection of dishes and other serving pieces with which the food is presented.
The time that the host invests in the visualization, preparation and presentation of the tea foods adds to the quality of the over-all experience for both the host and the guests. However, in planning a tea party, the host must also keep the foundational elements of each tea party menu in mind: sandwiches and scones. These must be selected to harmonize with the tea’s theme and the desserts that will be offered. Even if, for example, the host’s original inspiration for the Southern American Afternoon Tea was to bake the beautiful coconut cake on the menu, he or she must still choose sandwiches and scones that will complement the dessert.
In this chapter, we provide you with the basic techniques for creating the first two courses of an Afternoon Tea menu—sandwiches and savories and scones and tea breads. In the following chapters, you will find recipes for additional items in both categories along with all of the dessert recipes in the menus for individual tea parties. Sandwiches and scones are easy to make, and having mastered these tea party classics, a world of creative and delicious tea parties lies ahead.
All of the recipes in this chapter are available for our viewers to read online. You may also download the recipes in PDF format for a nominal charge. Simply click on the "Purchase Recipes" button at the top or bottom of any page and select "Tea Menu Recipes", then select "Tea Menu Recipes for Tea Menu Basics" and "Add to Cart". Simply follow the instructions to purchase and download the file.
Civilized conversation and the appreciation of a carefully appointed setting in harmony with the occasion and the season of the year are as important to a tea party as the food. Indeed, the food itself can contribute to the aesthetic delight of the event. Tea party foods are offered in very small servings, and a variety of selections of both savory and sweet foods are present. The host or hostess gives careful attention to the appearance and arrangement of each food item and the selection of dishes and other serving pieces with which the food is presented.
The time that the host invests in the visualization, preparation and presentation of the tea foods adds to the quality of the over-all experience for both the host and the guests. However, in planning a tea party, the host must also keep the foundational elements of each tea party menu in mind: sandwiches and scones. These must be selected to harmonize with the tea’s theme and the desserts that will be offered. Even if, for example, the host’s original inspiration for the Southern American Afternoon Tea was to bake the beautiful coconut cake on the menu, he or she must still choose sandwiches and scones that will complement the dessert.
In this chapter, we provide you with the basic techniques for creating the first two courses of an Afternoon Tea menu—sandwiches and savories and scones and tea breads. In the following chapters, you will find recipes for additional items in both categories along with all of the dessert recipes in the menus for individual tea parties. Sandwiches and scones are easy to make, and having mastered these tea party classics, a world of creative and delicious tea parties lies ahead.
All of the recipes in this chapter are available for our viewers to read online. You may also download the recipes in PDF format for a nominal charge. Simply click on the "Purchase Recipes" button at the top or bottom of any page and select "Tea Menu Recipes", then select "Tea Menu Recipes for Tea Menu Basics" and "Add to Cart". Simply follow the instructions to purchase and download the file.
