Tea at the Unicorn Wine Guild

Tea-related education and events, the enjoyment of the beverage and the culture of tea

Aug 31

Downton Abbey

by teaattheunicornwineguildllc

It’s Official!  PBS has announced that Season 4 of Downton Abbey will premier in the U.S. on Sunday, January 5, 2014, and will run on Sunday evenings through February 23, 2014.  And, yes, it will premier in Britain in September 2013.  PBS is counting on the hype from the reviews to boost their earnings.  Last year there were several stories about Downton Abbey premier parties.  And this year is sure to have its share.  You’d love to do one yourself, but you just aren’t sure how.  Now is the time to begin preparations.  Yes. Now.  Anticipation is half the fun.  Preparation is most of the work.

Of course, Downton Abbey’s dining room is resplendent with china, silver, crystal and linen. Expensive.  Not necessarily.  Look around.  Did you receive a candelabra for your wedding that you’ve never used?  What’s tucked away in the basement, the attic, the back of the closet?  Shop flea markets, yard sales, antique stores, auctions and second hand stores for the accessories you want to carry off such a party.  Just today I visited a nearby flea market.  There was a silver tea pot, sugar and creamer all for under $25. Maybe borrow from Mom or Grandma or a wonderful aunt.  Don’t forget the costuming.  Dresses, hats, gloves, furs, tiaras, jewelry (costume and otherwise.)  Season 4 is to cover 1922-23, but I would think anything from the Edwardian period would be just in style.

Plan ahead by gathering pieces together and planning your party using what you have.  The menu can vary as you add pieces. Will it be sit down or buffet?  An evening meal or afternoon tea?  Where will it be? 

Perhaps you will not be doing a premier party, but a party to recap the first three seasons and get up to speed for the fourth. A shower for the babies or a funeral tea for the loss of one or more of the characters is another option.   The party may evolve throughout the next couple of months so keep notes.  Or you may gain enough notes to throw more than one party.  After all, you’ll have the needed dining pieces. 

Do you belong to a woman’s club?  Fundraisers are always needed.  If you would throw a shower, donated items could be given to a local agency such as a domestic shelter. Maybe the club would want to partner with the local museum for a program on the fashions of the day, WWI or the Roaring 20’s. If you have the funeral tea, items could be donated to a charity that might have been supported by the deceased, such as the Red Cross. 

A search through those flea markets, used book stores and charity book sales may yield recipe, etiquette and entertainment books from the time, as well.  An internet search will lead you to blogs devoted to the show.  Online bookstores such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble will have DVD’s of the show, CD’s of music and even books about castle where the series is filmed.

The theme is perfect for trivia games, personality games (which character are you, which job would you hold), even murder mysteries.  Can’t wait for January?  How about a Halloween party?  It’s your party.  Have fun.

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Dec 8

Holiday Tea Party Themes

by teaattheunicornwineguildllc

The holidays are here and you want to spend some time with your friends.  You feel you should host a party, but don’t have the funds for a huge holiday blast.  An afternoon tea can be more relaxed and can even provide a sense of accomplishment.  Here are several ideas other than the traditional tea.  If you have a Christmas set of dinnerware, use it.  You can decorate in the traditional red and green colors or expand to the new themes of lime and blue, blue and silver, brown and cream or whatever you desire.

Tree trimming.  This theme can have a variety of sub-themes.  You can decorate your tree, make it a progressive party and decorate each others or decorate a tree for charity or for a shut-in or care facility.  In our area there is a tree decorating contest each year with the trees being auctioned and the money going to a charity.  If you do decorate for a shut-in be sure to arrange to take them down after the holidays.

Card writing.  This is a great time for each of you to do those special cards for family and friends.  You can meet at someone’s home and each of you provide part of the needed items.  Someone might buy the postage stamps, someone may be into scrapbooking and have colored pens, stickers, and other embellishments for the cards.  Someone may bring the cards and others might bring the food.  Have a fun time for the afternoon.  Have a table to place the cards while they dry.  Have a table for the food and plenty of work space.  Already have your list done?  Send cards to shut-ins or to our military personnel away from home.

Peppermints and the Nutcracker Suite.  Use peppermints for decorations, as table favors, and in the foods served.  The either go to the live performance (or have the tea after the matinee), what it on TV or just listen to the music in the background as you share an afternoon of catch up.

Exchanges.  There can be several types of exchanges.  Cookies, ornaments, tea cups, tea (a great way to sample new teas without having to buy a lot), gifts, books and more.  Bring enough for each person of whatever you are exchanging plus one for sampling at the event – or bring two.  One for those present and one for a shelter or charity.

Christmas Bling or Divas.  This is the time for you to bring out the best, or worst, in you.  Dress up in your antlers and jingle bells,  the holiday tiaras and the blinking Rudolph pin.  It’s up to the hostess as to whether she was classy or campy for the party.  There could be prizes.  Or maybe you dress up and go to tea out in public.  You don’t have to be a Red Hatter to do this.

Candles and Firelight.  Ward off those dreary days and evenings with a table set with candles and a cozy fire burning.  Candles bother you?  No fireplace?   Bring on the twinkle lights.

Christmas Carols.  This theme could also mix with some of the others.  Enjoy the tea and add a caroling event  to a  nursing facility or hospital.  You’d look great in your Christmas Bling.  Or just sing along around the tea table.

Traditions Around the World.  Each person tells about a tradition, either their family one or each study a culture’s tradition.  Great theme for a club meeting.

Afternoon at the Movie.  Enjoy tea while discussing the movie you just attended or while watching one on TV.  maybe the Downton Abbey Christmas Special (dress in the theme), Christmas Vacation, It’s a Wonderful Life, etc.

Friendship Tea.  This is pretty much your traditional tea.  You can share any of the exchange, the carols, etc.  This is a time to renew a friendship with someone who’s moved back to town or is in town visiting or even that new family that just moved into the neighborhood.

Victorian Tea.  Share the tradition, the dress, the food of the Victorian era.  Maybe combine it with a movie, book review or songs related to the era.

Where’s Santa.  This is like Where’s Waldo.  The person who finds the most wins a prize.  Decorate with Santas, hide a Santa, and wrap gifts in Santa paper.  This could also be the theme for a tea where the attendees also bring a gift for a shelter or for Toys for Tots or the local food pantry.

It’s a Wrap.  This is kind of like the Christmas card party, but you wrap presents for your family or a charity.  This is a great time to share paper, ribbons, etc. And you might even be able to exchange storage space so your daughter doesn’t find her new doll too soon.  It makes the chore go faster and maybe talents can be shared.  It could even be assembly line time.

Cup of Christmas Cheer.  Include a reading of the Cup of Christmas Tea.  Decorate in the Christmas theme.  It can be combined with a visit to a shut-in or a nursing facility.

Holiday Stress Relief.  Yes.  Aromatherapy, a spa day, massages, guided imagery or a Christmas Comedy.  The idea is to relax, take off your shoes and enjoy each other’s company.

See the Sights.  After afternoon tea, pile into the van and drive around town to take in the decorated homes, the lights in the park, etc.  Then finish with another cup of tea before parting company for the evening.

I hope you find these ideas helpful.  Have a wonderful holiday season.  Merry Christmas.

 

 

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Aug 4

Hosting a Friendship Tea – The Easy Way

by teaattheunicornwineguildllc

OK.  The easiest way is to make reservations and come to Unicorn Wine Guild for tea.  The next easiest is to do it yourself.

Make a list of 4 to 6 close friends.  You might also want to include a couple of newbies in the group, but be sure that they are included in the conversation and don’t feel left out.  It is a great way to introduce the new neighbor, club member, etc.

Make, buy or e-vite the group.  Be sure to include a respond by date.  You can even ask them to each bring a plate of their favorite dessert.  In this case indicate the size of the group.  It’s OK to ask.

Send out these invitations at least two weeks in advance.  In this modern age, the longer the notice, the better.  Saturday or Sunday afternoons are often the best time.

For your tea you will want to have 2 or 3 varieties of tea.  Make sure that one is caffeine free such as a fruit or Rooibos. 

A couple of days before the party gather your supplies – tablecloth, napkins, plates, cups and saucers, tea pot, silverware.  Be whimsical or formal.  Paper or china.  The choice is yours.  This will give you time to shop to complete your needed items. To ease the cost of entertaining, many recommend that if using china to collect plain white china or clear glass.  This way the china lasts year round and you can accessorize with patterned linens (or paper).  A centerpiece adds sparkle to the table.  Choose flowers or a whimsical arrangement.  It is nice to give a small gift to each participant.  These can even be arranged as the centerpiece.

A few hours before the guests arrive, prepare two types of tea sandwiches, cut into triangles and cover in the fridge until serving time.  You might also want to prepare something like a simple fruit dish.  Don’t forget the milk, lemon and sugar cubes.

Arrange the food as a buffet.  Serve iced tea in pitchers and hot tea in teapots.  Let the guests serve themselves.  (While one lump or two is wonderful for hot tea, it doesn’t do so well for iced.  Having a small pitcher of simple syrup is a great benefit to the guests.  It’s easy.  Just stir equal amounts of sugar and hot water until they form a solution.)

Above all, have a good time with your friends.  Don’t worry that it’s not perfect.  The point of the whole thing is to share in friendship.

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May 26

Preparing for a Party

by teaattheunicornwineguildllc

Using your imagination is an important part of planning a party, but so is the “reality check”.  Look around your abode.  Take an honest stock of your resources.  How big is your kitchen?  Do you have enough room, experience and equipment to prepare a detailed menu or should you pare down to a more simple repast?  Be realistic.  A menu does not have to be full of complicated recipes to be enjoyed.  How many people can comfortably sit at your dining room table, kitchen table, living room, patio, or whatever entertaining setting you choose? Overcrowding can make all uncomfortable.  If you have a large list of those to invite, consider breaking the guest list into smaller groups and have more than one party.  You can use the same menu, same decorations, etc.  Think about the personalities of your guests and how they would interact with each other in order to let them have an enjoyable experience.

Obviously, the more you can prepare in advance, the more you will be able to relax and enjoy your party.  Make the following preparations several days before the party:  Review guest list (who is coming and who isn’t) and plan menu (do a trial run of new recipes); major cleaning; inventory linens, dinnerware, flatware, accessories, equipment and utensils that will be needed for the menu and party theme selected (wash, polish, augment as needed); shop for all food except perishables; and freeze a good supply of ice cubes (or add a bag of ice to the perishables to be purchased list).  Then the night before the party you can do any last minute cleaning, put out guest towels, check space and hangers for the guest closet, set the table and arrange centerpiece or other decorations.  Of course, if you are using live flowers you may want to save this detail until the morning of the party.  Last minute shopping for perishables also fits in here.

Even spur-of-the-moment parties take some advance planning – the kind of planning that has the freezer and larder stocked with staples for a party.  By keeping your inventory (staples, equipment, tableware, decorations) updated you can more easily prepare for a party. 

A final suggestion – keep a journal or notebook of your parties.  Include not only your inventory list, but recap each gathering.  Things to include are the guest list, the menu (maybe even the recipes), the decorations, any borrowed item (who lent them to you and when you returned them), the equipment used, and what you liked and disliked about the party.  Perhaps that lovely teapot does not keep the tea warm or you found that the special tea from your favorite shop really works well with the new spice cookies.  Perhaps you would want to include a copy of the invitations and photos (not just the guests, but of the table setting and the food.)  With a bit of practice and some planning and organization you can be a polished hostess.  Enjoy your own party.

 

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