Wednesday, May 18, 2011

A Pampering Tea Party

What???? My last post was in February??? Where have I been???

Well, one place I have been is the Sweet Shalom Tea Room in Sylvania, Ohio! My oldest daughter introduced me to the Living Social coupon site and the very first time I visited, they offered a discount coupon for the tea room. I could not click fast enough!

I invited my youngest daughter to be my guest. Although I have been escorting (or "dragging") her to tea rooms since she was little, this was her first experience with "High Tea". The theme for the month of May was "Pampering Tea". Every dish was served with a pampering, soothing and comforting theme.
 We were so excited that we were among the first to arrive for the 10:30 a.m. sitting.
 Of course I HAD to wear one of my vintage hats.
 We began with a pot of apricot tea; I just love my vintage cup.
Our first course was a "Comforting Cream Scone". Learning from my previous visit, we sampled just a corner of this huge scone with some butter and currant preserves. The remainder was placed in ziplocks and put into our cooler.
 The second course featured Chicken and Dumpling Soup. It was just delicious! A brief introduction of the massage therapist who would be giving us hand massages through out the remainder of the meal proceeded the lovely tiered tray featuring the savory and sweet courses.
 The bottom tier featured pimento and cheese sandwiches on homemade rye bread.
 Next we enjoyed some especially creamy macaroni and cheese in adorable miniature glass bowls.
The bread and butter sandwiches had their crusts removed (of course!)
My daughter had never had a cucumber sandwich (bad mama, bad mama) and the openfaced cucumber rounds on white bread with cream cheese were fabulous!
 The top tier featured a lemon bar and chocolate brownie with ganache.
 Our dessert course was a generous serving of pineapple upside down cake with homemade whipped cream and a cherry.
Here is another view of the pineapple upside down cake on a different vintage plate.

It was so much fun to take two hours and be pampered by the wonderful tea room staff, as well as to spend some quiet time with my youngest daughter. She is very busy, a full-time college student who is also taking 15 credit hours this summer. She also works twenty hours a week at a local agency, and this past semester; student teaching every day! I think she deserved a break, too.

I will be linking with Susan's Tablescape Thursday at
 http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/05/outdoor-dining-welcome-to-143rd.html
and Lady Katherine's Tea Time Tuesday at http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/
Both blogs feature amazing posts from amazing people. Please stop by and visit them!
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28 comments:

  1. MarthaMay 19, 2011 at 12:17 AM

    Looks like a fun tea!!! There is nothing life Afternoon tea to reinvigorate you! And the food looks amazing!

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  2. PhyllisMay 19, 2011 at 4:40 AM

    I am all about "tea parties"......everyday, if possible. Your comforting experience was so magical that I lingered as I read. And it was the perfect escape for your lovely daughter to pamper her and wind down after a hectic schedule of classes and work. Thank you for sharing the High Tea with your readers. I am now your newest follower.

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  3. MarigeneMay 19, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    I do wish I were a tea drinker when I see something like this...beautiful! Those scones look light as a feather and the mac/cheese in those little bowls, just the right amount. Cute photo of you with your vintage hat...

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  4. CherylMay 19, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    What fun you had my friend! Looks just as good as you described it to me earlier. Glad you and 'Rissa had a great time.....you both deserved it! Love the vintage hat.

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  5. Poppy @ With a Dash of ColorMay 19, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    Such a nice way to spend time with your daughter. I love tea parties and your looks like so much fun. The food looks so delicate and delicious. I love your picture in the vintage hat.. adorable!Dropping in from Lady Katherine's Tea party. Have a nice day!~Poppy

    http://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/

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  6. FABBY'S LIVINGMay 19, 2011 at 10:31 AM

    Oh, I just love this high tea in the company of a lovely daughter, how much fun can it get?! Delicious things you had, everything looks so yummy! I love all the plates and cups they've used for this occasion! Thank you for your visit and lovely comments. I'm your newest follower, hope you follow back so we can visit each other often. Have a nice day.
    FABBY

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  7. Donna@Conghaile CottageMay 19, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    I have always wanted to attend a High Tea, BUT never have had the privilege. How wonderful to be able to go with your daughter. "SO SWEET"! Everything looked so delicious. I am your newest follower... If you'd like I would LOVE to have you FOLLOW ME TOO!
    Have a wonderful week,
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  8. Designs on 47th StreetMay 19, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    In all my (many) years, I have never been to a high tea! What fun you and your daughter must have had. There is nothing like spending time with a daughter anyway..to have such a fun atmosphere looks like a dreamy afternoon. I really enjoyed your photos of the food served on the really pretty dishes. Thank you SO much for stopping by and leaving a message for me to find. Nice to meet you. :)

    Donna

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  9. xinexMay 19, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    Wow! What a greathigh tea. I want some of those lemon bars right now! I bet your duaghter had a great time too....Christine

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  10. PAINTORDIG.blogspot.comMay 19, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    How nice to treat your daughter to a day out. The food looks delicious. Looks like it was a wonderful day.

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  11. Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart)May 19, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    What fun. Your vintage hat is adorable on you. What a lovely daughter you have, I'm glad you've taken her along with you, what a wonderful bonding time. The macaroni and cheese in small dishes is just too cute for words. The upside down pineapple cake sure sounds good right about now. Thank you for swinging in and leaving such a sweet comment. hugs ~lynne~

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  12. TriciaMay 19, 2011 at 2:25 PM

    Oh, my goodness, what a fun place you showed us today! The food looks incredible -- and so beautifully presented! I know you and your daughter had a wonderful time together!

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  13. Tablescapes By DianeMay 19, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    Hi lovely lady. This looks like a lot fun for you and your daughter !!! Im so into all the food you have put together ~~~ I would love the Cucumber Sandwich with cream cheese,let's not forget the Pineapple upside down cake and the homemade whipped cream !!! Im your newest follower~~ I can put you on my sidebar now and look for your new post!! I hope you have a Great Week with your family. Also thanks so much for your lovely comments on my Tablescape.
    XXOO
    Diane

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  14. MarlisMay 19, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    This is so cool. I love that you can go with your daughter and have such a lovely time. What a lovely menu and hand massages?? wow! I'm in. have a blessed week!
    xo marlis

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  15. Red Couch RecipesMay 19, 2011 at 3:04 PM

    Okay, so if I had a hand massage, I would be most likely asleep. What a fun place to go. The scones and the soup looked delcious. I did get the coral napkin holders on clearance at K-Mart last year -- love them. Joni

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  16. ScribblerMay 19, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    Terrific post. How special a young woman your daughter sounds. The tea looks life-changing (or at least your jeans' size!).

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  17. Susie @ Step inside my homeMay 19, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    WOW! How delightful to attend such a lovely High Tea with your daughter! The menu was incredible. How fun to sample so many wonderful items! ~Susie

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  18. Sharing with SherriMay 19, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    Oh this sounds so wonderful and especially fun to share it with your daughter. I have never been to a high tea but I think this needs to go my "must do" list!

    Sherri:)

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  19. Mid-Atlantic MarthaMay 19, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    Love your hat! This looks like a wonderful time -- I've never been to tea....it's on my list!

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  20. Jacqueline~Cabin and CottageMay 19, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    What a lovely spread! It looks like you had a wonderful time.

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  21. Pattie @ Olla-PodridaMay 19, 2011 at 11:54 PM

    This looks like great fun! I have a three-tier plate stacker and have been considering doing this very thing. I think your post has convinced me that it must be done!

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  22. AnonymousMay 20, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    Spending time with a daughter is always good, and pineapple upside down cake makes it ever so much better. I appreciate your visit, too.

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  23. DiannMay 20, 2011 at 12:51 PM

    What a wonderful high tea. I love trying new to me tea houses. The food all looks fabulous!

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  24. LoriMay 20, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    Your daughter is precious, yum looks like fun.

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  25. Tea in TexasMay 21, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Your daughter and you both deserved a pamper tea. I must find out where this is and if we travl close by I would love to try the pamper tea. I absolutely love chicken and dumplings my Granny made. The mac and cheese and the desserts look fabulous. Thank you for sharing and I am proud your daughter is working so hard on her degree. I was an elementary teacher until my son came along. We need good teachers and hope your daughter will soon finish and enjoy teaching.

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  26. Donna HeberMay 23, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    It looks like you had a wonderful time! Everything looks so scrumptious.

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  27. RettabugMay 23, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    Miss Mary, this is just delightful! I immediately googled that tea room to see where it was located...bummer that it is too far from me.
    It looks like a wonderful place for a special visit & I'm glad your DD got a break to go with you.

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  28. RettabugMay 23, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    p.s. The link for "Food As Art" has changed...I noticed you still have the old one on your sidebar.

    Beth is having a tea swap, too. Check it out!

    http://beyondthegardengate-beth.blogspot.com/2011/05/its-tea-swap.html

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Miss Merry