Polin Season starts today: We're ready with Bridgerton tea and scones! (and more Lady Mendl!)

We're ready for Bridgerton Season 3, with Bridgerton scones, tea and the remote at the ready!

The day has arrived, Gentle Readers, for the long-awaited story of Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington (aka "Polin").  Part one of two airs today on Netflix and we're ready! We've reserved our favorite recliner, with remote on standby, whilst we steep our Featherington Blood Orange Mimosa Tea and plate our Bridgerton strawberry scones. We expect the romance of Polin to be as delicious as our tea time treats.

Last week's blog showed BTS stocking up on Bridgerton merch.

Last week, in our Countdown to Bridgerton, Part III. . . How to prepare for Polin Season, we noted a number of Bridgerton-themed  cuppas, comestibles and candles to usher in the Regency romance's next chapter. In the short span of time from that blog to today, we've continued to follow the media coverage of the event and, kicking it up a notch, also baked up a batch of Bridgerton scones - both undertakings, I'm happy to report, resulted in success.

CBS interview with Nicola Coughlin, the "P" in Polin.

    

Lady Mendl's in March. It's the place!

                    

While the various "internets" are filled with Bridgerton news, there was one news item that stood above the rest, like Daphne's debut before Queen Charlotte:  Anthony Major's (CBS' Mornings) interview with Nicola Coughlin, the actress who plays the "P" in "Polin".  While the conversation alone is worth the watch, the added luster came from the venue in which the interview took place. Reporter and actress were chatting over tea at Lady Mendl's in Manhattan - a tearoom I visited for the first time in March of this year and, as I'm finding out, has impressive connections to many stories, including the Personal Librarian we wrote about earlier this month.

But, I digress. Back to the Bridgerton interview. . .

It was a delight to hear Nicola Coughlin, who we were first introduced to in "Derry Girls", talk about her role as Penelope Featherington and what's in store for the heretofore wallflower. Coughlin shared Penelope "really grows up throughout the season. . . she's . . . coming into her own, becoming a woman and the shapes of the dresses and corsets have reflected that." (We're on board with everything but the Regency-era spanx.)

And, now, to Bridgerton, Season 3, "the prep" . . . 

A few days ago, we made Bridgerton Strawberry Scones from WIlliams-Sonoma's exclusive mix. All that one needs to add is a cup of heavy cream and bit of patience when kneading the super sticky dough into a six-inch circle. 

Bridgerton scone mix, a bit sticky

A challenge to manipulate as well as to clean up 

Now the wiser, next time, I'll use a cutting board or generously floured counter, as the tacky consistency was a challenge for me to both manipulate and clean up after. Another slight hitch came when I discovered I was about a third short of a cup of heavy cream, so compromised with a top-off of half-and-half.

Overall, though, the scones came out quite tasty and, despite my inability to shape the clingy mix into eight uniform triangles, the end product turned out rather nicely.

 

After all that, they turned not too bad looking.

Taking a few notes in BTS test kitchen for next time.

As for tonight's tea, it could only be "Featherington's Blood Orange Mimosa Tea" from Republic of Tea. It not only features Penelope Featherington exclusively on the label, but it's also a tisane - an herbal tea with no caffeine, perfect for evening watching and apres-viewing slumber.  If, indeed, we can sleep after all the excitement.

Republic of Tea's Featherington's Blood Orange Mimosa Tea, perfect for tonight!

With a mix of ingredients that include pomegranate flavor, apple bits and orange peel, it's a robust tea, strong, confident and pretty in the cup - much like we envision Penelope Featherington's character emerging from the shadows.

In front of "Lady Danbury's House" in Bath.

Cheers, Gentle Readers, to Season 3, based on one of my favorite storylines in the Bridgerton series of books, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. While we're rooting for "Polin", we'll be looking for familiar filming sites from our Bridgerton tour in Bath last fall. We may not be invited to Lady Danbury's ball, but we'll party in Bridgeton fashion, with tea and scones, but thankfully, we'll skip the corsets and go right to the comfy pants (staying out of view of Lady Whistledown, to be sure!). 

The first four of eight episodes of Bridgerton, Season 3, starts today. The final four episodes will air June 13th. Mark you calendar - you know we have!