Phyllis Earl Grey: A very special TeaTime from Brook37 Tea Atelier

A special tea time, with TeaTime and Phyllis Earl Grey from Brook37 Tea Atelier

Tea time with TeaTime Magazine is always a welcomed pairing, but add a custom tea blend from 

Brook37 Tea Atelier, inspired by the specialty publication's founder, Phyllis Hoffman DiPiano, and it's like settling in with a dear friend.  

Phyllis Earl Grey is a bespoke tea created by Brook 37 and is a tribute to Phyllis Hoffman DiPiano, who established Hoffman media forty years ago with her first magazine, "Just CrossStitch". She continued to add others to the mix including "Victoria", "Southern Lady" and, one that we are admittedly quite partial to, "TeaTime" which hit the stands in 2003. 

Phyllis Earl Grey a contemporary twist on the traditional blend. 

As a great fan of TeaTime, and since 2014, an occasional contributor, writing articles  on a range of topics from Highclere Castle (aka the "real Dowton Abbey") to tearooms in Italy to an "Escape to the Chateau" family visit to New York, we always look forward to TeaTime's appearance in our mailbox. 

Sadly, in 2023, Phyllis Hoffman DiPiano passed away. Her publishing empire continues with her family and family of amazing editors and staff, including Lorna Reeves.

With Lorna Reeves, editor of TeaTime, at Coffee and Tea Expo 2014.

With the new tea, honoring Phyllis Hoffman DiPiano, we knew we had to add it to our collection. Admittedly, we hadn't heard of Brook 37 before our order, but, we were confident we were in good hands.

And, good hands, indeed!  Our Phyllis Earl Grey arrived last week and we are instant devotees. The Phyllis Earl Grey is a contemporary twist on the traditional blend, with additions of lavender and pineapple, and it's delicious! It's balanced and flavorful and was designed to "inspire calm and creativity".  A tasty tea with benefits! 

Delicious tea designed to inspire calm & creativity in beautiful packaging. 

The packaging is beautiful, too -  a vibrant coral-colored tea tin with two lids to lock in freshness (also available in "eco packaging"). 

After a visit to Brook37 Tea Atelier's website, we were drawn to their grand selection (including wellness tea), their mission and commitment to sustainability. We just ordered another black tea blend and plan to order more.

In the meantime, we're taking some tea time with Phyllis Earl Grey and TeaTime Magazine. Grateful for this incredible woman who turned shared passions into our favorite publications. 

To purchase the Phyllis Earl Grey, shop at TeaTime or Brook37. 

Century-old Christmastime at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse paired with our remembrance of Northport just a few months past!

Lighthouse Christmas memories, depression glass, tea and salt cellars.

A century ago, the McCormick clan celebrated Christmas at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse in a setting worthy of a Currier and Ives print. As the workplace of Innkeeper, James McCormick as well as his home along with wife, Mary, and their eight children, traditions of the holiday continued despite the unique abode. On Christmas Eve, the younger members of the family would craft gifts in the dining room while James monitored both the weather and the fireplace and Mary popped corn in a cast iron pan on the kitchen stove. 

Grand Traverse Lighthouse.

These memories were reprinted last week, courtesy, MyNorth.Com  from a book written by Betty McCormick Olli, the second youngest child of James and Mary ("The Way it Was: Memories of My Childhood at Grand Traverse Lighthouse", Lighthouse Publications, 1990).  It brought back memories for us, too, but much more recent ones. We visited the Grand Traverse Lighthouse only three months ago and not only climbed the very, very narrow stairs to the top, but had the opportunity to view many of the McCormick's personal possessions that Betty wrote about, including her mother's depression glass, prized Haviland china, reserved for guests and special occasions, and a set of porcelain canisters for sugar, coffee and tea housed on mirrored shelves (and we do believe we spotted a set of glass salt cellars!)

We also purchased the Grand Traverse Lighthouse souvenir book while there and it provides more information on the McCormicks, other innkeepers and lighthouse details.

Shelf filled with porcelain cannisters for sugar, coffee and tea. And, perhaps, salt cellars!

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse, a museum since 1987, is located in Northport at the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula. It's a cozy place filled with vintage charm and incredible views of the bay, which, if it was a VRBO today you'd pay dearly for. But, in that same lens, in the time of the McCormick's occupancy, the lighthouse home lacked many modern conveniences that would convince me to keep looking, especially the outdoor facilities. In the winter months, the route to the privy might mean facing an obstacle path constructed of several feet of snow. 

Kitchen stove where popcorn would be popped.

Dining room hutch holds Haviland china.

         

But, for all the challenges of living in a remote area of northern Michigan, hours of chores were rewarded with fun adventures in the woods and warm days in the lake.  

Very, very narrow staircase to the top.

Here, it's the destination - not the journey. 

And, at Christmastime, it meant a freshly cut tree decorated with candles, a warm fire, some tasty treats from kitchen, and, perhaps, a cup of tea. 

The climb is worth the view.

Scenic views abound at Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Wherever you spend the holidays, from our house to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Seasons Greetings and a Joyous New Year!

For more information on this Northport lighthouse, see their website: Home - Grand Traverse Lighthouse

To purchase The Grand Traverse Lighthouse book, shop at Grand Traverse Lighthouse book - Grand Traverse Lighthouse

For more on the story of the McCormicks, see MyNorth.Com. (original article: 12/2/21)

Lady Camellia: A highly recommended afternoon tea time in Alexandria, Virginia!

 

Pretty tablescapes and amazing food make Lady Camellia tearoom a worthwhile visit!

Lady Camellia Tearoom review is provided by Pam Burkhart, BTS team member (and great friend!). She and her husband, Quint, recently visited Alexandria to share a fun birthday celebration with friends who live in Virginia. 

The Details: 

Tablescape: 
Very pretty pink-and-blue mix-and-match floral china.  
Each place setting had its own little sugar tongs, tea strainer, plus a three-sectioned dish for the requisite lemon curd, clotted cream, and butter.  

Each place setting has its own sugar tongs and tea strainer, 

The setting: 
The room is bright and pretty, not old-fashioned-stuffy, and not too-white-stark.  
The tables have a sort-of pearlescent light pink finish, a nice no-tablecloth-needed backdrop for the china.  
There are big windows for a view of the Potomac River.  
And the tea room is part of a small complex in Old Alexandria that includes an Indigo Hotel next door.  

Tea sandwiches: 
These were so good that I have to call them out separately from the rest of the food.  These were the freshest and best-tasting tea sandwiches we can remember.  
* The cucumber sandwiches were stacked with cucumbers artfully arranged in an overlapping scallop pattern, and very flavorful.  
* Roast beef sandwiches were super-tender and dressed with a quite tasty herbed mayonnaise.  

* The smoked salmon and chicken salad were both also delish.   

Three-tiered tray includes delicious tea fare: scones, sweets and savories.

Scones etc: 

We were offered choices of homemade scones.  That day's offering was plain or cranberry orange.  And that middle tier of the tea tray also came with mini-croissants (plain or chocolate), and an apple tart.  

The top tier: 
Six options, including fruit tarts, red velvet cupcakes, two flavors of panna cotta, macarons.  Everything was homemade and fresh and delicious.  

And, for the birthday girl, her red velvet cupcake came with a candle on a plate inscribed with Happy Birthday! in chocolate icing...

The GF tray: 
The "avoid-gluten" member of our party got his own tray, and called it a truly "no compromise" offering.  He was surprised and delighted to (for once :-) feel like he was not missing out -- everything was delicious.  

Bottom line:

We've had tea at Claridge's in London and Cafe Florian in Venice, and I've had tea at the Hong Kong Ritz -- and Lady Camellia is our hands-down favorite..!

We're thinking road trip, 2025! 😍 Thanks to Pam B. for this wonderfully descriptive review.

For more information on Lady Camellia, visit their website at :  www.ladycamellia.com

Tablescape Competition: The Super Bowl of dining decor (where one can use their "soup-er bowls")

Tablescape would have points taken off for unevenly placed flatware

 

Taking risks. out-strategizing the opposition. Creative coordinating.

If these all sound like Dan Campbell's approach to a winning football team, he shares the same qualities of those who take setting a table to a whole new level with Competitive Tablescaping. 

While many of us may be seasonal table decorators - those that get the calling during the holiday season to bring out the "good china" and splurge on festive and fragrant centerpieces - there are others who view tablescaping as an art worthy of competition -  as stiff as your grandmother's starched linen napkins. 

In a recent NYT's article "Inside the World of Competitive Tablescaping", the word "tablescaping" is credited to British designer, David Hicks. In the 1960's, he defined the term as the "discipline of selection".  Though this craft was the focus of many state and county fair competitions prior to its mid-20th century label, its resurgence has tablescape devotees upping the ante for game day. These are not just tables set with damask tablecloths and matching dinnerware, but rather, tricked out tabletops that push the boundaries of traditional dining decor.

The big day is here. Finalizing the game plan.

At the Los Angeles County fair, tablescape participants bring their imaginations and glue guns to the arena, ready to assemble well crafted table vignettes in four hours or less. 

Judges look for creativity, originality, use of color, correctness and presentation - having qualities that not only tell you something but make "you feel something".

To achieve those feelz, participants focus on themes ranging from historical palaces to quiet parlors such as "Lunch at Versailles" and "Helen's Birthday Party". The latter's imagined host is a "lonely cat lady" whose guests include three of her current feline friends, Princess Fishbone, Mr. Tinkles and Muffy 2, along with an urn holding Muffy 1. (Could the sequel to Helen's Birthday Party be "More remains of the day"?)

Although, clearly imagination is key in this place-setting sport, competitive tablescaping isn't just a free-wheeling exercise - there are rules. Tables are standardized to 40 by 60 inches and must be set for at least two people (or, apparently, pets, living or not). 

Behind the scenes prep. Napkin folding can take more time than one may think.

Judges take points off for obvious detractions such as unevenly spaced flatware or a wrinkled tablecloth. Scores are posted publicly, so fairgoers can see judges' notes along with the tablescape. Comments such as "inconsistent napkin pattern" or "a dessert spoon would have been nice" are just a few examples of reviews that lance the competitor's heart faster than an ill-placed fish knife.

As one who loves tablescapes, I can appreciate the work and devotion that goes into a beautiful and well-balanced design as well as the stress of timing and coordination to achieve that goal. My recent holiday tablescape suffered from some last minute changes and my flatware was slightly askew. If I was competing, I'd surely receive a judge's disdain in the comments section.

So whether you're facing a blank canvass tabletop in Los Angeles or an as-of-yet-unknow AFC team in New Orleans, we're looking forward to the next Super/"Souper" Bowl event!