Thursday, August 1, 2013

Afternoon Tea at Number 16

It's no secret---I love afternoon tea.  It's such a wonderful way to sit awhile, enjoy someone's company, and the bonus that there's clotted cream and fresh scones...?  Well, it's certainly such a treat.  I guess that's why I have such a good time at tea, just sitting down and letting time pass feels so luxurious.  Compared to my normal afternoons, tea is just slow.  Slow, tranquil, and perfect.

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Number Sixteen's tea was just this.

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We had the whole garden to ourselves, and I could not have asked for a nicer afternoon.

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And the tea!  Tea in London is just so much better than anywhere else. 

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Scones.  Oh, these scones. 

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The neon plates didn't really fit into the garden, but festooned with treats as they were, it didn't matter.

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There is something so classic and delicious about a cucumber watercress sandwich.  Why don't I eat this more often?

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As I sit here writing this, I can't stop thinking about how good this tea was.  I'll have to get back, some day!

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4 comments:

TomW said...

I had always hoped to, one day, have tea in a proper setting. Then I saw "The Da Vinci Code" wherein Sir Leigh Teabing quizzed the protagonist about the proper complement to Earl Grey tea.

I would have failed.

Now I am scared about taking tea with with the wrong crowd since I now know I understand little about tea.

Looks like you two did okay.

Tom

bridgetwhoplaysfrenchhorn said...

Well, the good thing is there are usually a couple places to try afternoon tea wherever you live...some even employ tea sommaliers whose sole job is to help you learn about good tea---so don't be afraid!

Mary Kay Bosshart said...

It's almost time for afternoon tea in Paris! Now, if only I could find a place where everything is as tasty as it looks in your photos. I could really use a scone (with clotted cream, please!) right about now.

bridgetwhoplaysfrenchhorn said...

Well, maybe after grad school I'll try and find investors for a chateau outside of Paris where I can make afternoon tea for guests...and I promise, I would go to England every week to get fresh clotted cream! (or find a nice farmer with happy cows and learn how to make it myself!)