I am often asked how I can possibly drink hot tea in Florida in the summer.
It is a reasonable question. Florida is not exactly short on sunshine, and during the summer months the combination of heat and humidity can make the simple act of walking from the front door to the car feel like an expedition. Yet after more than 35 years in Florida, I still begin most mornings with a cuppa.
And I mean a hot cuppa.
Continue reading “Why Do We Drink Hot Tea When It’s Hot?”
Afternoon tea at Culloden Estate and Spa is the real deal. The former Bishop of Down’s residence and 19th-century manor house boasts classic elegance, sweeping views of its 12-acre grounds and Belfast Lough.
I happened to be there on Mother’s Day. This was my first time in Belfast, and I was already in love with this bucolic sanctuary, perfectly located on the outskirts of the city yet just 10 minutes from the action. You can read the full account of my stay here.
This was a special tea, to be sure. Afternoon tea is normally served in Vespers, the elegant dining room which doubles as the main restaurant, but on Mother’s Day the demand was such that tea was also being served in the drawing room and gallery. Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year for afternoon tea in any establishment that offers it, and the kind folks at Culloden were more than ready for us.
Continue reading “A Very Proper Tea at Culloden Estate & Spa, Belfast”
For someone who is well educated, I have my moments of utter idiocy.
Most recently, I was standing in London’s Grosvenor Square awaiting my tour and tea at The Chancery Rosewood, musing that the US Embassy was located somewhere in the vicinity. I looked at all four sides of the Square, trying to identify the embassy, before finally realizing that I was looking directly at it.
And that The Chancery Rosewood was, indeed, the very same building.
Continue reading “Afternoon Tea at The Chancery Rosewood, London”
I wanted to like this tea. I really wanted to like this tea.
I was having a fabulous time on the christening cruise for Oceania Cruises’ Allura. “The Finest Cuisine at Sea®” is Oceania’s tagline, and the cruise line maintains a close alignment with the Jacques Pépin Foundation, so excellent dining and high culinary standards are very much part of the Oceania experience.
Continue reading “Afternoon Tea on Oceania Allura: A Disappointing Experience”
During my last trip to Ireland, I had four afternoon teas in one week. With the exception of one, which was for Mother’s Day, the other three were all billed as a “light lunch.” If you’ve ever been to Ireland, you’ve more than likely been regaled with this concept as a heaping plate of food is placed in front of you.
I’m not complaining. It’s part of what makes Irish hospitality so great, and I love the food.
Continue reading “Afternoon Tea at Aghadoe Heights, Killarney”
What is it about this quintessentially British habit?
I’ve lived in the United States for more than three decades, but I still find myself wandering absent-mindedly into the kitchen sometime between three and four in the afternoon, thinking that now would be a very good time for a cup of tea.
Friends and colleagues invariably smile and tell me it’s because I’m British.
I’ve always resisted that explanation. After all, I haven’t drunk milk in years, so I’m more likely to be reaching for a cup of ginger or herbal tea than a pot of Assam. And, thanks to my years studying nutrition, I’m not necessarily looking for the obligatory cake or biscuit to accompany it.
And yet, there I am. Tea kettle on.
Continue reading “Why Afternoon Tea?”
