Showing posts with label outdoor tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outdoor tea. Show all posts

Monday, August 31, 2015

A Tale of Two Tea Times

In 2010, my friend and I attended the Bronte Historical Society's annual "Tea on the Bluffs"--a fundraising event held on the Bronte Bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario.

Isn't the duck teapot adorable?

 Our tea was served with strawberry shortcake...

...and a bite-sized brownie containing peanuts. This was it?!?
To our dismay, there were no nut-free options available so my friend, who has a peanut allergy, didn't get a sweet treat. The Tea on the Bluffs had a pleasant ambiance, but left our appetites unsatisfied.

So we went to the nearby Tea Room by Country Fare where we enjoyed a proper afternoon tea.

We were definitely full by the time we finished the yummy scones, lemon squares and brownies!
 


I'm joining the following parties this week:

Monday, August 17, 2015

Downton Downtown

Last month, I attended the ``Downton Downtown`` at the Whitehern Historic House and Garden, an event that celebrated the history and character of our favourite British period drama, Downton Abbey.

Whitehern was the historic home of three generations of the McQuesten family. 

We have the Honorable Thomas McQuesten--who was the Minister of Highways in the 1930s--to thank for the Ontario highways and bridges, most notably the Queen Elizabeth Highway and the Rainbow Bridge. You can read more about the McQuesten family here.

The tea-related merchandise sold by the vendors.

Visitors enjoyed refreshments and a dancing demonstration at the Whitehern garden.

A bottomless cup of tea for only $1?
Yes, please!

Cup of tea #1

Enjoying my cup of tea with an empire cookie at Whitehern garden.

This teacup with pretty roses replaced my blue teacup after a fly decided to take a swim in my tea--one of the dangers of enjoying tea outdoors!
This photo of the Whitehern dining room was taken when I toured the home back in 2013. The silver and china tea services were part of the estate`s original contents bequeathed to the City.


You can enjoy a virtual tour (with written and audio descriptions) of Whitehern here.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Bridal Shower Revisited

Last year, I attended a bridal shower for one of my childhood friends. The summer weather was perfect for an outdoor tea party!

The bridal shower tea party was held in my friend's backyard oasis.

The head gardener looked like he could use a drink.

The sight of these beautiful teacups lined up in a row made me swoon.

More pretty teacups

Now I had assumed that this yummy spread was the main course...

...but later on, MORE delicious food was brought out for us to feast on!

My stomach barely had room left for the scrumptious desserts.

My green tea definitely tasted better in this gorgeous gilded teacup!

The cute wedding dress cupcakes tasted as good as they looked!

The tea party was the perfect way to shower the beautiful bride-to-be with love and good wishes!


I'm joining the following parties this week:

Monday, July 20, 2015

Tea on the Lawn of the Billings Estate

During our stay in Ottawa, we visited the Billings Estate Natural Historic Site, the historic home of one of the first settlers in Ottawa--Braddish and Lamira Billings.

After the last generation of the Billings left the 200-year-old house, the estate was converted into a museum where visitors can view the local artefacts and learn how the Billings helped shaped our capital's early history.

Lamira Billings was a well-respected healer who was highly sought for her effective herbal remedies. Naturally, she enjoyed a cup of tea while working at her desk!

The back entrance of the Billings Estate and its beautiful flower gardens.

True confession time: The real reason that we visited the Billings Estate was to partake in the "Tea at the Lawn" service offered during the summer months.

The tea tent was located behind the house and overlooked the beautiful gardens.
Visitors were also welcome to bring their own food and enjoy a picnic on the emerald green lawn.

The mismatched cups and saucers.

Of course, I had to try the Billings Blend: "a blend of black tea and rose petals inspired by Lamira's gardens" (from the menu description).

The afternoon service for two. 
The delicious finger sandwiches and scones were so filling that we had no room left for dessert and brought the leftovers home with us.

Enjoying tea on the tranquil grounds of the Billings Estate was definitely the highlight of my Ottawa trip!


I'm joining the following parties this week: