Milk Tea Kit Kat: Let's have a tea party!

Milk Tea Kit Kat:  A Japanese variety of the traditional crunchy wafer wrapped in milk chocolate

 

Chocolate, tea and an invitation to have a tea party. 

One may think that's an awful lot to expect of a small candy bar, but we at BTS can confirm, this special Kit Kat lives up to its bold packaging claims.

Although, I'm very familiar with Kit Kats, the crunchy wafer wrapped in milk chocolate that's been providing me "a break" since I was a kid, I didn't realize that there were many international varieties of this sweet treat.  This month, I was introduced to Milk Tea Kit Kat from our New York family, specifically Jenna. She found it at one of the international mini marts in her neighborhood and presented this great find to me while we were visiting the Big Apple a few weeks ago.

Earl Grey is the tea in Milk Tea bar. We paired with a cup of Earl Gray

Milk Tea Kit Kat is a Japanese candy bar.  Digging a little deeper into its backstory, I found that, according to an article in Dear Japanese (Milk Tea Kit Kat, January, 2023), Milk Tea is one of the most popular drinks in Japan. It's a mix of tea, sugar and milk and is enjoyed hot or cold.  Based on the consumption numbers of milk tea, Nestle Japan began to experiment with bringing such flavors to a Kit Kat bar.

So, loving tea and chocolate, and taking direction from its fanciful package, I was anxious to try this sugary snack with a tiny tea party of my own.

We learned the tea used in the Milk Tea Kit Kat is an Earl Grey variety, so we paired accordingly, brewing up a pot of Palais des Thes', The des Lords (the same tea we enjoyed this month at The Plaza's afternoon tea).

After a sampling of this special Kit Kat, I can tell you, it tastes pretty much like a traditional Kit Kat with milk chocolate being replaced with white chocolate.  Full disclosure:  my favorite chocolate is dark, then milk, then white. But, I still found it tasty. And, it paired beautifully with my Palais des Thes Earl Grey.

Milk Tea Kit Kat come in miniature size in a variety of colorful packages.

This is to be a limited-edition Kit Kat, but that fact was cited back in January of this year. Perhaps it will have more staying power. 

I love the size and the candy bar's adorable multi-colored wrappers. This would serve as a delightful afternoon tea table favor for tiny tots (or any age, really😉).

Chocolate, tea and an invitation to have a tea party - what's not to like about a candy that brings that all together!

If you don't have an international market nearby, the Milk Tea Kit Kat (and other varieties) are available on Amazon.

See our latest BTS YouTube video on Kit Kat Milk Tea: 

Milk Tea Kit Kat - YouTube

Downton Abbey-inspired Afternoon Tea: Barb's Tea Service presents at Pomeroy Living!

Barb and Pam of BTS at Rochester Pomeroy's "Downton Abbey"

 

This week, Barb's Tea Service presented a Downton Abbey-inspired tea talk at Rochester Pomeroy Independent Living and we were so impressed with the Activities team and guests that we can't wait to go back!

Julie T., Activities Director, & team, set up an amazing DA tearoom

We were amazed with all that Activity Director, Julie T., and her team, Julia and Sharlotte, put into this fun and fancy event. They transformed their bistro, near the community dining room, into an elegant tearoom where tables were covered with gold and crimson tablecloths and set with matching linen napkins, gold chargers, white dishes, bronze candelabras and assorted colorful fine china teacups.  All the tables and all their refined accoutrements were accompanied by a courtly staircase backdrop - all of which were worthy of the stately home of Lord and Lady Crawley, Downton Abbey.

Julie and her team dressed in period costumes and encouraged guests to do the same. Many came with fanciful hats or colorful fascinators. Even some of the gents, like our dear friend, Keith, came dressed like aristocrats, donning ties and sporty attire. (and a shout out to Keith for his support and promotion!)

A special thanks to Keith H. for all his support

Guests were treated to tea and warm scones just as the presentation was ready to start.

The enthusiasm and energy of the Activities team was matched by the guests who attended. Many of the latter group shared their own stories of visiting England and many asked questions about the country estates and the royal connections.  They were an engaged and outgoing group of folks to be sure.

BTS book winner, Lorraine.

We gave away one of our BTS books, Twelve Etiquette Essentials, Dining and Afternoon Tea.  Lorraine B. was the winner and we chatted after the program about many of our shared interests. ☺

BTS had such a great time. We are looking forward to sharing tea time again at Pomeroy with all its great staff and residents!

Afternoon Tea at The Plaza: A perfect way to celebrate Afternoon Tea Week in NYC

Afternoon tea at the Palm Court in NYC's The Plaza

Last week, we celebrated Afternoon Tea Week in a grand fashion - inside New York's luxury hotel, The Plaza.

As noted in TeaTime Magazine this month, Afternoon Tea Week (August 7 - 13), has been celebrated in England for almost a decade. Per the holiday founder, Keith Newton, creator of an on-line tea guide afternoontea.co.uk, the purpose is to promote afternoon tea in all its forms, be it a simple cream tea at home or "an afternoon tea at a posh hotel."  We chose the latter, swapping London for New York, and with heavy emphasis on "posh".

Visitors are greeted with gleaming chandeliers and formidable marble columns

Timing was perfect for a teatime celebration. Last week, my husband, Chris, and I were visiting our son, Matt, and his girlfriend, Jenna, who reside in Brooklyn.  Although we've been to New York several times, and always take time for tea, The Plaza was still on my "to do list".  Knowing this, Jenna secured reservations for a 1:00 pm sitting last Friday, right in the middle of Afternoon Tea Week. 

The Plaza is located on 5th Avenue

Once inside, a serene oasis

The Palm Court, inside The Plaza, is where tea, scones and savories are served with flair and elegance. The Plaza, located on bustlingly upscale 5th Avenue and bordering Central Park, is a serene oasis in the heart of Manhattan. Once inside the front doors, visitors are greeted by formidable marble columns and glittering crystal chandeliers. A few more steps from the lobby to the Palm Court, tables are set with starched linen napkins, white teacups with green borders and silver condiment dishes filled with cream, jam and lemon curd - all under a canopy of pastel patterned stained glass.

Elegant afternoon tea in The Palm Court, chandeliers, marble columns under a canopy of stained glass

The tea menu offers several choices from the Grand Imperial Tea (which includes caviar service) to the whimsical Eloise children's tea (complete with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches). Our party chose the Central Park Tea, which came with the traditional Afternoon tea offerings of scones, sweets and tea sandwiches. Beautiful and delicious, the menu items were served on circular three-tiered silver trays. 

Barb and Jenna at The Palm Court. . . 

. . .along with Matt and Chris

The tea is expertly steeped and served. Loose leaf teas come from a BTS favorite, Palais des Thes and our group ordered Big Ben (an English Breakfast blend) and, the quintessential afternoon tea, Earl Grey, specifically, The de Lords.

Expertly brewed tea served hot and tasty.

The Plaza and its elegant tearoom opened their doors in 1907.  From its beginnings, the hotel was known for its opulence and, spanning decades, a favorite place to stay for many of the rich and famous including Frank Lloyd Wright, the Beatles and the fictional Eloise.

Afternoon tea includes warm scones, tea sandwiches and sweets

The Palm Court is a wonderful way to spend Afternoon Tea Week, although, we're certain any teatime at the Plaza is a celebration in itself. 

To see our "live" video of our Afternoon Tea experience at The Plaza, see our youtube channel short:  Barb's Tea Service - YouTube

 

Barb-ie Tea Service: Sharing some of our favorite Barbies and Barbie movie review!

I'm a Barb-ie girl attending a Barbie movie

This weekend, inspired by the recent blockbuster movie and a lifelong love of the doll that originated about the same time I did, we are, temporarily, Barb-ie Tea Service. We come bearing some of our favorite Barbies  as well as our opinions on the long-awaited Greta Gerwig film that pays homage to the fashion doll that broke barriers while always being well-accessorized.

With sister-in-law, Sandy, we were Barbie girls this past weekend.

Yesterday, along with my sister-in-law, Sandy, I went to see "Barbie" and, unlike "Oppenheimer", the movie I saw the previous weekend, I had to put some thought into what I would wear to the theater. It had to have some element of pink, of course, but also some Barbie-esque accessories. To accompany my pink sweater and pink and white flowery blouse, I donned pink sunglasses, a necklace with a pink flower pendant and a pink ribbon bracelet. Barbie would approve! 

The movie is sweet, goofy, funny, outrageous and even has a few moments that tug at your heart. It certainly brought back memories from my childhood as well as when the pink baton was passed to my daughter, Rachel. In that span of time, Barbie had taken on many more professions and was skating on neon yellow rollerblades. 

My first Barbie, bubble cut, has held up well for several decades. 

My first Barbie was the "bubble cut" edition. These dolls, according to the on-line Fashion Doll Guide, were made from 1961 to 1967 and replaced the original ponytail hairstyle with a fluffy bouffant.  I'm guessing I must have received this long-coveted doll (at least a year, as I recall) around 1966, and - considering all the years I've had her- she's held up quite well.

I also had a Francie, Barbie's "MOD-ern" cousin.  According to History.com, Francie came onto the scene in 1967 to reflect the modern fashions and swinging bands coming from London. I LOVED Francie. She was adorable and way cool, and, in a bit of departure from the legions of fair-haired Barbie's, she had big brown eyes and long brown hair. 

But, along with my other prized Mattel dolls, "Tutti and Todd", Barbie's younger, twin siblings. and their ice cream parlor, Francie has been long gone from my collection for decades. (If I had saved all of them in their original boxes, eBay tells me, I could pack my bags and take a fancy trip).

Front and center, a brunette Holiday Barbie.

In their place, once we were blessed with Rachel, and with the aid of my "enabler" Mom, we purchased Barbies for a new generation. Along with the Holiday Barbies, which like my Francie of yore, has one brunette in the series, I also started to veer into that collector's realm and bought a few for myself. Most, again, according to eBay, have not yielded high returns (but, still better than all those Muffy Van De Bears). 

In the big scheme of things, though, it's not really about the financial ROI, - the big payoff is the true joy they bring to big and little kids, whether they're five or sixty-five. 

And, that's why I was so excited about the movie, and like the wild fur coat and gold lame boots my Mom bought for my Barbie back in the 1960's, it exceeded expectations. A story about moms and daughters, glamour and independence and the hilarious challenging of the patriarchy (which, it is sadly discovered, has little to do with horses), it moves so quickly and cleverly through real and imagined, you will once again believe in the magic of Barbie.

***spoiler alert*** 

Rachel and I discussed the Barbie movie and, aside from our mutual "like" of the film, we both had a shared pride in never having possession of a "Weird Barbie". We respected our dolls and never cut their hair of colored them with markers.

We also agreed, one of the best scenes in the movie is the depiction of "depressed Barbie" who, dressed in unfashionable sweats, spends too much time on her smartphone and too many hours watching "Pride and Prejudice" -specifically, our favorite film-adaptation, with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy.

We vote for "Chillax Barbie" who takes it easy and watches Jane Austen

So, following suit, after the movie, I became what I would like to call "chillax Barbie" and I summoned up an old film adaptation of "Persuasion".  Barbie is still inspiring. ; )

And, for those who take issue with Barbie the movie, we recommend the wisdom of the crew of MST3K, ". . .repeat to yourselves, it's just a show, I should really just relax".  

And, for more Barb-ie tea service, see our video on YouTube: 

Barb ie Tea Service - YouTube

Austentacious Tea: Much felicity at Bloomfield Township Public Library!

Brooke H. of Bloomfield Township Public Library with Barb and Pam of BTS

This week, Barb's Tea Service presented an "Austentacious Tea" at Bloomfield Township Public Library and served up Twinings tea to a most agreeable assembly of guests. 

"Sold Out" event, afternoon tea fare and tea served up in library "tearoom".

At the invite of Brooke Hoskins, Assistant Department Head, Adult Services, the BTS team, including Pam B, brought a bit of the Regency era to this most excellent venue in our own backyard.

A "sold out" event, the library's meeting space was transformed into a lovely tea room, with tables - adorned with white tablecloths - displaying a pretty assortment of tea accoutrements, tasty treats and bursts of lavender. 

We enjoyed meeting Carol M. and friend at the Austentacious program

Although the BTS team had teacups at the ready, many guests brought their own and we enjoyed hearing all their special stories.

Winner of our book giveaway to a special guest with a July birthday

After the presentation, we gave away one of our books, Twelve Etiquette Essentials, to a very special guest who has a July birthday!

Great meeting new friends and seeing those from the neighborhood!

We had a delightful time meeting this wonderful group of guests (and a shout out to those in our neighborhood who came out, too!). Thanks to Brooke and all at the Bloomfield Township Public Library. Much felicity to be had and we look forward to coming back!

 

Royal afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Royal Tea at Prince of Wales in Niagara-on-the-Lake

When staying at the Prince of Wales hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, it only seems fitting to continue the theme with a "Royal Afternoon Tea".  Last month, that's exactly what we did and, to paraphrase a royal quote, we were most amused.

The Prince of Wales is an elegant hotel in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake. Originally built in 1864, it went by several names until the start of the twentieth century. In 1901, after a visit from the Duke and Duchess of York (later to become King George V and Queen Mary, also parents of Princess Mary), it was renamed in honor of the Royal guest.

Royal Tea in The Drawing Room

The Royal Tea includes a sparkling drink

As our grand home-away-from home for a few days, my husband, Chris and I, along with travel companions, my brother, Ed and sister-in-law, Sandy, we enjoyed the hotel's beautiful rooms (incredibly, ours was decorated in red velvet and toile, as if I had filled out a preference option beforehand!) and the charming dining venues. The latter category included The Drawing Room, where we made reservations for afternoon tea.

Grand hotel rooms, our decorated in red velvet

. . . and toile!

The Drawing Room's menu has a wonderful selection of different types of afternoon teas. Building on the traditional tea fare, the "Prince of Wales Tea" adds a variety of Canadian cheeses. The "High Royal Highness Tea" is a nod to the highlands with a full charcuterie board and a serving of 12-year old Scotch.  But, we chose the "Royal Tea" which is comprised of scones, savories and sweets accompanied by a pot of tea and glass of sparkling wine.

Savories and sweets

Warm scones served with jam and creme fraiche

In addition to cucumber sandwiches, other savories included a meat and cheese filled croissant and avocado toast. The scones were warm and served with strawberry jam, butter and creme fraiche. And, on my favorite, the top tier, there were macrons, fresh fruit, cookies and tarts.

The Drawing Room at Prince of Wales hotel

All tea fare and tea was absolutely delicious and presentation was perfection as was the service and ambiance. We were particularly fond of our seating at the front of The Drawing Room with its wall of windows that faced the city's main street. 

Additional seating at the front of The Drawing Room with its many windows facing main street

Every table was decked out with crisp white linen, floral patterned fine china and a rose centerpiece.

Prince of Wales front lobby

Prince of Wales, downtown Niagara-on-the Lake

The Prince of Wales afternoon tea was exceptional and we plan to be back next time we're in town, ready to be treated royally.

Teapots, teacups, birds and more! BTS interviews Canadian artist, Cori Lee Marvin

 

Clematis, part of the reflective series by Cori Lee Marvin

Last month, Barb's Tea Service headed north for a great Canadian adventure. While visiting family in Kingston, we took a day trip to Perth where we discovered RiverGuild Fine Crafts, one of Canada's oldest Artist Collectives. Here, we came upon the work of Cori Lee Marvin and became instant fans of her watercolor paintings featuring teapots, teacups, birds, frogs, flowers and a happy hodgepodge of colorful antiques. We purchased several of her art cards and went searching for more on her website; marvindale.ca.  There we found so much more to love and add to our collection. 

We reached out to Cori Lee Marvin to learn more.  She graciously agreed to an interview and her story is as endearing and captivating as her art. We thank Cori for her time in sharing her artist's journey as well as the beautiful images (Copyright @ 2023 Cori Lee Marvin)  to accompany our blog post.

BTS interview with artist, Cori Lee Martin:

1. I see from your website that you have been a professional artist for twenty years. What took you on this path? What drew you to watercolors?

After university, I spent a lot of time roaming across Canada, working in bookstores from here to there. I’ve never been one to follow the predictable path and it became pretty clear to me in my twenties, that I’d be a much happier soul working for myself. So, I made the decision to pursue the skills I had as an artist. I was privileged enough to have the support of my family as I hunkered down to build a portfolio. It’s funny, looking back. I never really doubted that I could eke out a living that way. In retrospect, I guess I’m pretty lucky.

2. The subject of much of your artwork is a mix of animals and antiques. How did these themes come about? 

Yes, part of the privilege of my early years was that I took up residence with my 90 year-old grandma in the family farm house. It sits upon a hundred acres of naturally diverse land here in Northumberland County. So, the pairings of antiques and animals were quite natural. As a former student of writing and literature, I was taught the idea that, for the best stories, you ‘write what you know’. So, I took my surroundings and began storytelling through pencil and paint.

Finch in a Cup

3. You noted the tea paintings are close to your heart. Is there a special connection you have to tea time and teacups/teapots? Do any of those tea accoutrements belong to you? 

Some things just click. I remember the moment when tea accoutrements lit up my mind with ideas. I was so excited. For me, it was the perfect marriage of beauty, and nostalgia. As a painter, the knowledge that an object has a history, a tradition, is huge. It brings things to life. And the fact that my grandma still had all of these well-worn teacups, pots, sugar bowls… It was magic. All of the artifacts in my work are things that share space with me in this doddering, old house. We have a connection.

Music Lessons

4. The captions to your artwork are clever, descriptive and many are funny (e.g. "Music Lessons", "Toad Stool" - even the owner of the Perth studio said he enjoys how you title your work!).  Do you caption the artwork after completion or is the idea for the caption what inspires the picture?

As I mentioned, I have a background in literature and bookselling. I’ve always been a ‘word bird’. I’m also married to a fella with a Masters degree in Comparative Literature. It’s part of our fabric to use words this way, to play with language. The titles of my work are really important sometimes. Often, the titles will live in my head for years before the right time comes to make the painting. So, yes, sometimes the title comes first, before the concept. Other times the painting steeps for a while before the right title floats past. Occasionally, there are paintings where cleverness or word play doesn’t work and the image must simply be labelled.

Home Grown

5. Your reflective series is beautiful and there's a story within the story/picture within a picture (reflection of the room on the central object). Will you have more in this series?

The reflective series takes place, almost exclusively, in our country kitchen. It has always fascinated me that a single room can present so differently in these reflections, depending on the shape of the object, its position, angle and time of day or weather outside. I’ll likely be doing more in this series as I find the process calms me and hones my skills simultaneously. These days, time is always the issue as I have little kids and a rambunctious dog in the mix.

Singers

6. Currently, your artwork is available on your website and various retail stores and art shows in Canada. Any plans to expand?

The idea of expansion doesn’t come up very often. Part of my world-view is keeping our footprint small and cultivating an appreciation of what we have, without the perpetual grasping that fuels so much of our world. But practically speaking, I simply don’t have the time for further growth and the business is almost at capacity as it stands. With the help of my parents, who live next door, my husband and I work together to make it all happen. We also home-school our kids! We are busy and we are happy. 

I'm a Little Teapot

7. You live on 100 acres with your family. This is your home and home of your studio as well? Do you farm/garden there, too? Are the animals in your art visitors/residents of your place? 

Our kids are the 8^th generation of my family to live on this land. We grow and preserve as much of our own food as we can. It’s a constant battle though, as any gardener knows, against weather, and pests. The amount of work that goes into a small crop of food? It’s quite astonishing. We can’t call ourselves farmers but parts of the land (the few parts that are flat) are still rented to neighboring farmers for crops. Our land is a fantastic combination of hills, valleys, streams and forests, none of which makes for easy farming. My ancestors did the best they could, with orchards and market gardens and livestock. Nowadays, my dad and mom have spent their retirement reforesting and naturalizing the 100 acres. It’s an amazing place for kids to grow up and the source of all my inspiration. All of the critters in my work are either residents here or are plucked from encounters I’ve had nearby or at the Toronto zoo.

 

8. Anything else you'd like to add that I didn't cover in my questions.

Maybe I’d add that, a question I get asked frequently (apart from where I get my inspiration, which we’ve definitely covered) is what my style is called. And, while I don’t have a specific answer, my goal is to unite realism with nature and imagination. I think when the technical skills of drawing and painting can team up with the uniqueness of my environment and a vivid imagination, a little magic can happen. My favorite pieces are the ones that make a viewer feel like they’ve stepped into a quiet scene unfolding under slightly mysterious circumstances. A whimsical snapshot from a world that’s just like ours but quieter, more peaceful.

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We again wish to thank Cori for sharing her story and incredible art. We know what to add to this year's wish list. For more happy shopping and browsing, visit Cori's website, marvindale.ca