TeaTime March - April 2008

One of the pleasures of being a part of this magazine staff is the opportunity to meet others who are passionate about tea. I think we all agree that it is not simply a beverage to be enjoyed, but rather it denotes a certain lifestyle conjured by the simple mention of the word tea. In 2007, we shared a few beautiful and serene days with many of our readers through an incredible weekend tea party, also attended by tea-world greats John Harney, James Norwood Pratt, Dorothea Johnson, Elizabeth Knight, Bruce Richardson, Shelley Richardson, and others. Meeting the tea-loving attendees, many who are tearoom owners, was certainly a highlight of the year for me and the other staff members. Could we possibly top that special weekend in Salt Lake City? Yes, we…

Colors are as intuitive as the very seasons they symbolize. In summer, bright yellow can be sunny and warm or crisp and cooling, depending on the depth of tone. In autumn, fiery russet mirrors the brilliant foliage that abounds, while in winter, all is white, pristine, and untouched. But in spring, when color is as new and as fresh as the world around us, baby-soft pink seems to speak to us more than any other. It is the color of innocence, the starting point of the life cycle, and one that embodies the beauty that surrounds us, offering simple celebration and the promise of much to come.…

The sweet chirping of songbirds announces the arrival of spring like no other sound or sight. Create flights of fancy in your home with these whimsical wares, perfect for celebrating the melody of springtime.…

TOUR AND TEA - LONGUE VUE STYLE Tuesday afternoons through May Longue Vue House and Gardens New Orleans, Louisiana Longue Vue House and Gardens is a magnificent city estate with a Classical Revival-style mansion surrounded by eight acres of breathtakingly landscaped gardens. Each Tuesday through May the estate offers a tour of the house followed by a delicious tea with a selection of scones, pastries, homemade lemon curd, and finger sandwiches. Guests may also tour the gardens at their leisure before or after the tea. For more information, call 504.488.5488, or visit www.longuevue.com. TEA MASTERCLASS March 14 and April 21 The Chesterfield Hotel London, England The United Kingdom Tea Council is partnering with Jane Pettigrew, tea consultant and writer, and Tim Clifton, tea taster and international consultant, two of the United Kingdom’s leading tea experts,…

CREAM CHEESE is a culinary chameleon that can be used in myriad ways. Though in some ways similar to British clotted cream, Italian mascarpone, and French crème fraîche, cream cheese is uniquely American. Made from both milk and cream, it was first produced in upstate New York in the 1870s. It has since been treasured as a delicious, easy-to-use ingredient, most notably in the confection that New York is famous for—cheesecake. The distinctively tangy flavor of cream cheese is perfect for both sweet and savory dishes. It adds flavor and tenderness to pastry dough and cookies, makes a wonderful tart filling, and is an ideal base for dips and spreads. On tea menus, cream cheese is traditionally used on finger sandwiches or spooned onto quick breads, but there are countless other…

For more than ten years, Risa Provincio has graced clients in the San Clemente, California area with her talents. Specializing in memory-making moments through her business Romanza Events, Risa has orchestrated parties from the intimate to the grandiose—wedding and baby showers, knitting and crochet parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, rehearsal dinners, weddings, pajama parties, and more. Not only a party girl but also a tea enthusiast, Risa has added Afternoon Tea to her considerable menu of services. The acknowledged “Partea Planner” has graciously agreed to lift the curtain and share a few trade secrets. Always clever and ever thoughtful, Risa’s professionally-honed suggestions will inspire and guide the home hostess every step of the way—from initial planning to sweet fruition. KEYS TO SUCCESS As an events planner, Risa follows a simple motto regarding essentials…