How to host a retro tea party?

RitaHayworth · Sep 18, 2010

Any ideas? Music? Food?

FAYEZY123 · Sep 18, 2010

Tea Party!

Homemade cakes always go down well! Cupcakes, fruit cake...something simple!

A selection of tea, Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchong, Assam, English Breakfast...and maybe some sparkling wine...mmm!!

Music...whatever you fancy! Louis Jordan, Glen Miller, Doris Day!!!!

I LOVE tea parties...maybe a bit too much!

Shangas · Sep 18, 2010

Home-made cakes, sandwiches and cookies. Banana-cake, chocolate cake, shortbread, etc. Traditional English tea-sandwiches with butter and cucumber sliced thinly with cold-cuts etc.

Music - light jazz or piano music or light classical.

Teas - Cammomile, Earl Grey, Roibos and my personal favourite - Mint Tea.

Miss sofia · Sep 18, 2010

Oh i love an English tea party! Great suggestions from everyone so far. Actually i have done a few english tea parties when i go to france to raise money for the local school. We serve cucumber, egg mayo and cress and salmon sandwiches, crusts off and a selection of traditional cakes, like victoria sponge, fruit cakes etc, but it is obviously down to personal taste. Oh and cake served on cake stands and tea in pretty cups and saucers is a nice touch, tongs for the sugar etc, pretty tablecloths, bunting, haha, i'm on a roll now, sounds like fun!

BinkieBaumont · Sep 18, 2010

"I took my Heatmaster Tea service to the office, a while back for a slap up afternoon tea"

"Yes! They are Mr Kipplings "French fancies!"

"Heatmaster, sits in is own Cozy to keep the Tea hot"

"Afternoon Tea Picnics are fun"

"When making Finger sandwiches, use sliced bread that has been in the freezer, apply the filings, ( make them triple deckers) and cut the crusts off while the bread is semi frozen, for a professional finish

As for Music, Victor sylvester? or one of those "Salon Orchestra's of the thirties, such as Alfredo Campoli"

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Miss sofia · Sep 18, 2010

Nothing wrong with Mr Kiplings' French Fancies, or the mini Battenburgs for that matter, they were always a tea-time treat when i was a nipper. Good tip for making the sandwiches and i love your tea-set, splendid!

BinkieBaumont · Sep 18, 2010

"Believe it or not they are MELAMINE!"

Miss sofia · Sep 18, 2010

Lovely nonetheless, I have a melamine teapot like yours with a green lid and at least one can not worry too much about being a butterfingers!

RitaHayworth · Sep 18, 2010

GREAT suggestions! And I love the idea of using tongs and sugar squares!

Im wondering if some good music would be the CD "music to watch girls by"

Puzzicato · Sep 18, 2010

FAYEZY123 said:
and maybe some sparkling wine...mmm!!

No maybe about it! I like old fashioned champagne cocktails with afternoon tea.

I used to do tea parties quite a lot, because my grandmother, over the years, gave me 13 3 piece tea-sets (cup, saucer, cake plate) in various patterns of bone china, and it was the only time I got to use them.

Cucumber sandwiches are a must - I like to do them with a herb butter. I also like doing seafood sandwiches (white crab meat, prawns, smoked salmon seasoned with lemon zest & capers and bound with a little mayo) on brown bread.

And at least 3 cakey things. I generally do friands (aka financiers - an almond meal based cake), something lemony and something chocolatey.

And scones.

Miss sofia · Sep 18, 2010

OOh with homemade jam and clotted cream, good call lady, (drool)!

RitaHayworth · Sep 19, 2010

Is it wrong that I am having more fun planning than actually hosting!

Mr Vim · Sep 19, 2010

As a regular tea drinker, it's nice to see people focusing get togethers around it... if you want some good teas that you can order online, I drink loose leaf from Teavana dot com. Fairly affordable and the shipping is fair.

And Binkie, I dig some of those Deco tea sets... fantastic stuff, Sir.

Shangas · Sep 19, 2010

Warning: Be mindful of serving seafood sandwiches such as crab, lobster etc. They can cause anaphylactic (sp) shocks in people allergic to such foodstuffs and such reactions CAN be fatal.

If you do decide to make such sandwiches, have them clearly labelled first, or you might have a lawsuit on your hands.

RitaHayworth · Sep 19, 2010

Shangas said:
Warning: Be mindful of serving seafood sandwiches such as crab, lobster etc. They can cause anaphylactic (sp) shocks in people allergic to such foodstuffs and such reactions CAN be fatal.

If you do decide to make such sandwiches, have them clearly labelled first, or you might have a lawsuit on your hands.

Thanks for the heads up Shangas, but I am vegetarian, so no meat served anyway!

Puzzicato · Sep 19, 2010

Shangas said:
Warning: Be mindful of serving seafood sandwiches such as crab, lobster etc. They can cause anaphylactic (sp) shocks in people allergic to such foodstuffs and such reactions CAN be fatal.

If you do decide to make such sandwiches, have them clearly labelled first, or you might have a lawsuit on your hands.

I would hope that as a considerate host you would be telling your friends what was in things anyway - so the vegetarians don't accidentally eat bacon and the gluten intolerant eat the cakes appropriate for them.

Foofoogal · Sep 19, 2010

Binkie. you inspire me. :eusa_clap
---------------

Love tea parties and tea. I think of scones and cucumber sandwiches when I think of tea.
One thing I loved best about Canada and Scotland was they celebrated tea.

Smuterella · Sep 19, 2010

All the tea parties I have ever been to have degenerated into gin cocktails being poured from the teapot by mid afternoon...

Puzzicato · Sep 19, 2010

Smuterella said:
All the tea parties I have ever been to have degenerated into gin cocktails being poured from the teapot by mid afternoon...

You say that like it is a bad thing! lol

Smuterella · Sep 19, 2010

Oh, hell no! I just wish I liked gin. Why do all vintage cocktails seem to be gin based. lol

How to host a retro tea party?

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