Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Return to the Tearoom

Several weeks ago I posted a recipe for Garlic Cheese Biscuits, which I thought would make a perfect menu addition in a tearoom where I had lunch.

The tearoom is a charming little spot, located in an old house. Touches like lace curtains at the windows and unique teapots displayed throughout make it feel cozy and homey.
I said I might approach the tearoom owner and suggest they serve them, or a similar hot bread, instead of the pedestrian saltine crackers served with salads.

Tearoom interior decor


One thought led to another, and I devised a plan whereby I would visit the tearoom, ask to speak with the owner, and offer recipes/food samples fitting for such an establishment -- tea breads, finger sandwiches, scones and jam.

The Christmas decorations really should be taken down!
Today I went there, not with recipes and samples in hand, but instead to engage the owner in conversation to determine if she would be open to such suggestions. 

First I enjoyed a lunch of chicken salad served in a sandwich, a green tossed salad and a pot of hot tea (English Afternoon).

The tea was served in a beautiful teapot with matching cup.
I complimented the owner on the delicious chicken salad and to break the ice, commented that I really liked her unique tearoom, and rather casually suggested it would be great to have a tea bread to eat with the delicious tea they serve.

She then freely shared the following information: When she opened the establishment about six years ago, she served traditional tearoom fare -- tea sandwiches (cucumber, egg salad); scones; brie in puff pastry, jams.

Tea foods
Customers didn't know what scones were! They didn't care for cucumber sandwiches! They asked for "real food"!

So what customers was she drawing? Truck drivers? Farm workers? Don't get me wrong. Absolutely nothing wrong with people in those lines of work.

But where where were the "ladies who lunch?" Apparently they didn't find the tearoom soon enough for her to stick to her intended restaurant format, so she changed it. While she still offers several salads, quiche and a club sandwich, the daily specials include chicken and dressing, fried pork chops and many vegetables such as corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, fried okra. 

Again, nothing wrong with those foods, but it's food you can get anywhere.

I can certainly understand her need to make the business successful by changing the menu, but I am so sorry enough people didn't appreciate the tearoom before it changed the menu.

She did tell me that a major part of her business today is catering parties, many for women's groups who request tearoom foods, and selling her homemade cakes. Additionally, she will, by request prepare a "proper tea" in the tearoom if reservations are made for at least five people.

I'm getting a list together of four others who will join me soon for a proper tea in the tearoom that now also serves turnip greens and cornbread.

Chelsea's Team Room, Biltmore Village, N.C.


Meanwhile, I'm thinking that we'll have our Thursday tea here at Halcyon Days each Thursday. Won't you join me then? I promise we'll try a new tea each week and the food will be scrumptious. We'll discuss various tea services, look at interesting tea accessories, learn about the history of tea and much, much more.

I'll save you a chair at the table. See you then!









18 comments:

  1. Can I request your Date Nut Tea Bread recipe? Seems like a good start to Tea Thursday!

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    1. Emailed the recipe and I know you received it. Anyone else interested can find it at this link:

      http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/07/6222195/lost-foods-new-york-city-date-nut-bread-sandwiches-chock-full-o-nuts#.UUCP-4PM3y8.mailto

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  2. I´d be delighted to join the Thursday tea over at your place!
    Perhaps the owner of the tearoom is right.
    Perhaps a few tea drinkers won´t bring enough money to keep the business going.
    I would not be much delighted to sip my tea, with someone in the next table eating his/ her hamburger or pizza at the same time.
    Too bad for the tearoom.









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    1. At least I found out why it's not a true tearoom. She's to be admired for trying to fulfill her dream, but business is business.

      So we'll just have our tearoom here!

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  3. I would love to join in too at Thursday tea room. What a lovely idea, and how sad the tea room had to change the menu in this way. The Chelsea's tea room is really pretty!

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    1. Thanks for joining! I've never been to the Chelsea tea room but would like to!

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  4. Thanks for the invitation to tea on Thursdays, I readily accept. I'm glad you spoke to the tea room owner, at least you now know why her menu is what it is. I agree it defeats the idea of a tea room though.

    Darla

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    1. I'll be on the lookout for your arrival. Hats and gloves are suggested for the occasion.

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  5. Replies
    1. You got it! Looking forward to the tasty morsels, cups of steaming tea and the conversation!

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  6. This happens here in Portland, Oregon when an ethnic restaurant opens up with authentic food from their country if you go there one year later the menu has changed. We had an exquisite East Indian restaurant open here with waiters that barely spoke English and it was so rich in their culture not only in the way the food was prepared but just the whole essence of the place. One year later whole different experience. They now serve Aamerican style along with Coca-Cola to drink. When asked why they changed the answer was the same. People wanted REAL FOOD meaning "what they were used to". Soooo sad!!!!

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    1. And real food to some people also means greasy, full of preservatives and high in calories. I haven't had a cola in months. I don't miss them at all. I have one maybe two or three times a year. It's my secret to not gaining weight!

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  7. Tearooms, and pork chops urrgh served in the same place are not for me!
    We have lost many tearooms over here,lifestyles change people want to eat different menus throughout the day or go to Costa coffee shops for their slice of cake.

    I shall be joining you all at Sanda's tearoom on Thursdays.Ida

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    1. Sad to hear that many tearooms in your country have closed, as you have the neatest ones! Changing lifestyles do make a different in what people eat and where they go.
      Thanks for joining me. I'll look forward to your insights and recommendations!

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  8. count me in. :) i look forward to trying the teas you suggest.

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  9. We'll have a different tea each week; some I've tried and some not. I'll look forward to others' suggestions!

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  10. I'm amazed you made the initiative to go and talk with the owner. She sounds like a sensitive person who's struggling to juggle her sense of esthetic and running a business by serving things that appeal to people. It's not ideal to have crackes and fried chicken in a tea room but I'm glad she'll serve a "proper tea" on request and this will maybe encourage other customers to follow suit.
    I also read Angely Style's comment and I find it rather sad and very common. A friend of mine who visited Greece several years ago said that the restaurants there have had to change their menus to suit a more American taste for the tourist serving fries and ketchup with everything :-(

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    1. We created a monster when McDonalds came along with its burgers, fries and ketchup. Kids grow up eating it constantly and it becomes all that tastes good to them. So sad.

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