Menu:VANILLA - SCENTED FRUIT COCKTAIL
SELECTION OF FRESHLY-BAKED SCONES WITH STRAWBERRY PRESERVES AND DEVONSHIRE CREAM
TOMATO AND ENGLISH CUCUMBER ON MULTI-GRAIN BREAD WITH RED PEPPER HUMMUS
ATLANTIC SMOKED SALMON PINWHEEL ON RYE WITH DILL CREAM CHEESE
DEVILLED EGG SALAD ON CRUSTY BAGUETTE
MANGO CHICKEN WITH CILANTRO AIOLI ON A MINI KAISER ROLL
ASSORTED TEA PASTRIES
SPECIALTY & HERBAL TEAS
FRESHLY-BREWED REGULAR OR DECAFFEINATED COFFEE
History of Afternoon Tea
According to legend, one of Queen Victoria’s (1819-1901) ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope (1783-1857), known as the Duchess of Bedford, is credited as the creator of afternoon teatime.
Because the noon meal had become skimpier, the Duchess suffered from “a sinking feeling” at about four o’clock in the afternoon. At first, the Duchess had her servants sneak her a pot of tea and a few breadstuffs.
Adopting the European tea service format, she invited friends to join her for an additional afternoon meal at five o’clock in her rooms at Belvoir Castle. The menu centered around small cakes, bread and butter sandwiches, assorted sweets, and, of course, tea.
This summer practice proved so popular, the Duchess continued it when she returned to London, sending cards to her friends asking them to join her for “tea and a walking the fields.”
The practice of inviting friends to come for tea in the afternoon was quickly picked up by other social hostesses.
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