Treat of the Week: A Beautiful English Tea

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than with the people who you most care about? We have a tradition in my family—each year, my mother and father orchestrate an elaborate English tea. It’s truly magnificent and I look forward to it every year.


This year’s tea was equally gorgeous. With a host of gorgeous tea sandwiches which included rosemary ham, boiled eggs, pancetta, chicken spread, beautiful blue cheese paste, cucumber and assorted other savories, the stage was set for a beautiful day. Lovely tea and sparkling burgundy accompanied homemade scones, mocha-topped gingerbread, chocolate-dipped strawberries and apricots, hand-molded chocolates, delicate tarts of French pastry crème and glazed berries and amazingly decorated petifore of chocolate pound cake. Rich banana bread spread with lovely cream cheese added a cool sweetness to the event. Everything was artistically presented on Royal Albert china with antique crystal.

I think I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. So much work went into preparing for this special event. I was very grateful…and very full.