Desert Breeze Tea Par-Teas

11/01/2024

Afternoon tea at The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place

Afternoon tea consists of tea (offer at least two choices) served with three courses. You can make each course as simple or elaborate as you want:

1) The sandwich course is the largest course, which may as an option, also include small bite size savouries such as mini varieties of quiches, sausage rolls, scotch eggs and pork pies.
Traditional sandwich fillings include: cucumber; egg mayonnaise with cress; smoked salmon with cream cheese; Coronation chicken and ham & mustard.

Allow for at least two rounds of 3 servings per person (total of six items per person). Offer sandwiches with a choice of 3-4 filings on a mixture of brown and white bread. If including savouries, a choice of one or two options is perfectly sufficient.

For example, you could serve: cucumber sandwiches on white bread as the vegan/vegetarian option, smoked salmon & cream cheese on brown bread and coronation chicken on sourdough bread. With a savoury option of mini cheese and tomato quiches.

2) The scones course, served with clotted cream and strawberry jam. You may wish to offer a second preserve such as lemon curd, but not in replacement of strawberry jam. Scones may be offered with the choice of plain or fruit and should not usually be presented already assembled (except for large catered events) serve warm when possible. Depending on the size of the scones, allow up to two scones per person or estimating 1.5 per person is usually a safe bet. Clotted cream is rich and sweet in taste, thick and spreadable like butter. Clotted cream recipe https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257734/chef-johns-clotted-cream/

3) The sweet course is cakes and small individual desserts. Normally presented as a choice of two traditional whole cakes such as Victoria Sponge/Sandwich, Lemon Drizzle, Coffee and Walnut, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Fudge Cake or Fruit Cake. Plus optional smaller individual bite sized desserts such as mini puddings (ganache, mousse, jelly etc.) and French pastries (tartlet, eclairs, macarons etc)

For example if you included desserts, you could offer one cake such as lemon drizzle cake and macarons. Or if you eliminated the whole cake option, extend to three desserts i.e. tartlet, eclairs and jelly.

For two people, a three-tiered stand is perfect for serving the three courses of afternoon tea as organised as in this picture or also sometimes displayed with the scones on the top level. As this is usually the smallest sized plate, the scones can be piled and kept wrapped in a linen cloth to keep warm. Sandwiches are always on the bottom level. For larger groups use a mixture of serving plates, silver trays and single tier cake stands. You may wish to pre portion on plates for larger catered events, separating as vegetarian or meat.

A royal afternoon tea is when champagne is served with afternoon tea.

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Sending hugs ❤️ Claire

Image: Great British Tea Party

11/01/2024

And let no one continue to refer to Afternoon Tea as High Tea.

In addressing this controversial question…

Afternoon tea is not the same as High tea.

High tea was what servants of a large house ate downstairs at around 6pm, after the aristocrats upstairs had been given their afternoon tea.

On the servants menu were things like large joints of meat (often a roasted ham), slices of thick bread, potted shrimps, a big cake to share, and ale. Tea replaced ale when it became affordable for ordinary people.

It was eaten at a proper table, rather than a lower, coffee table, and so it became known in the servants’ hall as ‘high tea.’

High tea is still observed in some institutions, more typically in nurseries, boarding schools, private nursing homes and gentleman’s clubs. It has otherwise lost the ‘High’ and ‘tea’ is widely used as a colloquial term for dinner.

Afternoon tea is typically served between 12 and 4pm. The upper class Victorians who invented the rules of this ceremony ate dinner after 8pm. Made up of several courses, it finished late into the night.

Afternoon tea consists of tea served with three courses, also eaten in the order of: i) sandwiches (which may include the addition of bite size savouries) ii) scones and iii) sweets (cakes and small individual desserts).

When served with champagne, it is called a Royal Afternoon tea.

Cream tea is tea served with scones only. Scones are traditionally offered as plain or fruit and served with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

However, having said all this, some hotels in London will capitalise on tourist trade. Serving Afternoon tea from as early as 10.30am until 7pm at night. Even adopting the name High tea in their promotions.

There is a foreign notion which assumes ‘High tea’ is synonymous with ‘High society.’

Whilst nothing to lose sleep about, I hope you agree that it’s helpful to explain the history behind traditional practises.

Sending hugs ❤️ Claire

11/01/2024

Deborah Cavendish the Duchess of Devonshire (1920-2014) and her husband Andrew Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire and their two children; Peregrine and Emma. The family were photographed by Norman Parkinson for Vogue magazine, in August 1952.

Debo as she was affectionately known, was the youngest of seven siblings. She has five sisters Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica and a brother, Tom. Her death in 2014 as the last of the clan, signalled the end of an era which had spanned 110 years of the Mitford girls capturing society.

Her parents, David, 2nd Baron Redesdale and his wife Sydney were for the best part penniless and eccentric aristocrats. School for the girls was frowned upon, in case they should develop thick calves from playing hockey (Tom, who spent time away studying at Eton, was a Barrister and musician, later killed in Burma in 1945). Amongst other things, linen napkins were abandoned because of the cost of laundering them, and the children were forced to follow a kosher diet on the premises that cancer was less prevalent among Jews. The girls were very hands on and practical at home, developing enquiring minds as they were essentially left to their own devices. This made them ever more appealing when they entered society. Of the sisters, Jessica, Nancy and Deborah became writers.

Their combination of beauty, brains and humour catapulted them to celebrities status and they remained continually courted by the press covering stories of affairs, notoriety and extreme politics.

Diana’s affair with fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley caused her to leave her marriage to Britain’s wealthiest man at the time, Irish brewing heir, Bryan Guinness. Unity followed her infatuation with Hi**er to Germany and died as a result of a botched su***de attempt. Jessica’s communist support of the Spanish Civil War led her to flee to Spain at age 18, eventually settling in the US. Nancy became a Dior wearing socialist, who left her marriage and moved to France where she indulged in a doomed affair with Charles de Gaulle's right-hand man, Gaston Palewski. Pamela, married the millionaire scientist Derek Jackson and sought of a quieter life out of the limelight. At the time, 15 year-old Debo, who had a crush on Derek, fainted when she heard the news.

Much like the Queen Mother, Debo was looking forward to a life of relative obscurity by marrying the second son of the Duke of Devonshire, Andrew Cavendish in 1941. Unexpectedly, when the 10th Duke died in 1950, they found themselves the 11th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Inheriting Chatsworth, Hardwick Hall, Lismore Castle and Bolton Abbey. Death duties meant they donated Hardwick Hall to the nation and precious works of art were sold as Andrew negotiated endlessly, until the debt was finally settled in 1974.

Their lives changed when Billy Hartington, Andrew’s elder brother and heir, was killed during the Second World War by a sniper's bullet in 1944. His death only four months after his marriage to the very popular Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy, JFK's sister. Four years later, Kick died in a plane crash and is buried in the churchyard at Edensor on the family estate.

Debo redecorated Chatsworth which had previously been leased to a girl’s school, opened it up to the public and spent 54 years of her life there. Her initiatives included the Chatsworth Farmyard – set up to provide people of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to learn about farming, food production and traditional landscapes; Chatsworth Farm Shop; and the Orangery gift shop. A pioneer of her time, it paved the way for the commercialisation of other farm estate businesses like Daylesford and Highgrove Farm shops.

Debo moved into Derbyshire vicarage on the death of her husband and assuming the title Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.

Writers of period dramas and historical fiction have looked to the world of the Mitfords sisters for inspiration. Julian Fellowes’ Violet, the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey is said to be based on Nancy’s wicked humour.

Diana was portrayed by Evelyn Waugh in Vile Bodies, Deborah was painted by Lucian Freud and Jessica had a cardboard coffin named after her. John Betjeman - who at one time was in love with Pamela - celebrated the sisters in a verse, the first lines of which read: "The Mitford girls! The Mitford Girls/ I love them for their sins".

Her last publication before her death was her autobiography, ‘Wait For Me!’.

10/31/2024

Pink was Dame Barbara Cartland’s favourite colour. Together with her animated look of flamboyant outfits, oversized jewellery, big wigs and ostrich feathers, it became her signature look in later life.

Known for her garish taste, Cartland was one of the first clients of fashion designer to the royals, Norman Hartnell, remaining a loyal customer until he died in 1979.

Best known for her romantic novels, Cartland was recognised for her vivid and descriptive prose. Her hallmark was the innocent virgin and eternal happy ending where love triumphed over evil.

Several of her novels were adapted into films for television including A Hazard of Hearts, A Ghost in Monte Carlo and Duel of Hearts.

Born in Edgbaston in July 1901 to a well-heeled family, she was the only daughter of her parents. In her late teens, her grandfather and her father both died, leaving her mother to bring up Barbara and her two older brothers in challenging circumstances. She subsequently moved them all to London where she purchased a clothing shop business. Barbara’s two brothers were to both die in the First World War.

Hailed as the Queen of Romance, she wrote her first book aged 14 years old. Her first published novel was Jigsaw in 1923, released just a year after she started working for the Daily Express as a society gossip columnist, aged 22. The risqué society thriller became a bestseller and she never looked back.

Socialising at Brooklands Motor Course, Cartland persuaded the Brooklands authorities to set up Reading Room for Ladies in the 1920s.
She also organised a women’s race with MG cars. Today, the Brooklands Museum has a Barbara Cartland Room, which is a replica of the Ladies’ Reading Room.

With her talents extending also to aviation and recognised as an accomplished pilot. In 1931, Cartland designed with two RAF officers, the first aircraft-towed delivery glider. Personally flying a a record-breaking glider flight of 200 miles/360km, whilst carrying a sack of mail, she also set the record of achieving the first glider based airmail delivery. During the Second World War this technology became an important weapon for achieving pe*******on behind enemy lines and widely recognised as a significant factor in the success of Operation Overlord, D-Day. In 1984, she was awarded the Bishop Wright Air Industry Award at Kennedy Airport, USA for this contribution.

During the Second World War, Cartland was appointed Chief Lady Welfare Officer to the Services in Bedfordshire. One of her particular projects involved getting married women to donate their wedding dresses to forces women who were getting married during the war, at a time of clothing shortages. She was also County Cadet Officer in St. John Ambulance, raising valuable funds.

In 1950 she moved to Camfield Place in Essendon, Hertfordshire, which was once the home of Beatrix Potter’s grandparents and the setting for Peter Rabbit.

After the War, Carlton went into local politics, becoming a County Councillor in Hertfordshire. Her wider political activities included arguing for better pay and working conditions for nurses and midwives and she evoked a commission of enquiry into the treatment of the elderly by the government. She also fought for the welfare and rights of people in the Romany community (then commonly known as gypsies) resulting in Travellers’ children having the right to education in local schools. The first dedicated camp for Traveller families set up in Hertfordshire was named in her honour as Barbaraville.

During the 1960’s Cartland developed an interest in alternative medicines and health foods. Her book, “The Magic of Honey” caused a shortage of honey in health food shops. A champion of ginseng and vitamin pills, she famously consumed no fewer than 88 supplements a day.

In the 1970s, Cartland founded the National Association for Health, also acting as president.

With her interest extending also into music and the arts, Cartland released a joint album of love songs at age 77, singing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

In 1983, Cartland set a Guinness Book World Record for the most novels written in a single year. When she died in 2000, aged 98, Cartland had published 723 historical-romantic novels and sold 750 million copies of her books around the world. She was a phenomenal at business and marketing.

She married wealthy Alexander McCorquodale in 1923, who bought her a house in Mayfair and a Rolls Royce. However, he was a drunk and starved her of affection. The marriage was unhappy, she indulged in affairs and the couple divorced in 1933. Their daughter, Raine McCorquodale (1929-2016) was Debutante of the Year in 1947. She was later to become stepmother of Diana, Princess of Wales. Cartland later alleged, she was in fact the daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent (1902-1942). He was killed in an air crash during the Second World War.

Her second marriage in 1936 was to Hugh McCorquodale, her ex husband’s cousin. They remained happy together for 28 years, until Hugh's death in 1963 and had two sons. Ian Hamilton McCorquodale (1937-2023), a Debretts publisher, and Glen McCorquodale (born 1939), a stockbroker.

Cartland claimed to have declined 49 marriage proposals.

She maintained a long friendship with Lord Mountbatten of Burma, whose assassination in 1979 she described as "the greatest sadness of my life". The Mountbatten Memorial Trust, established by Prince Charles, was the recipient of the proceeds of the book they wrote together ‘Love at the Helm’, released in 1980. He had helped her extensively with naval research.

She was snubbed by Buckingham courtiers, allegedly encouraged by Princess Margaret, when her invite to the wedding of Charles and Diana at St Paul’s Cathedral was revoked. There was reportedly a sustained campaign to influence Earl Spencer‘s decision in going against his mother in law. Rather than kick up a fuss, Cartland threw open her home, Camfield Place for a big party with St John's Ambulance volunteers.

Cartland who was openly critical of Diana’s divorce, once remarked, "The only books Diana ever read were mine, and they weren't awfully good for her." Apparently though, the rift between them was mended shortly before Diana's fatal 1997 car crash in Paris.

Suffering from dementia, her indiscretions became more extreme towards the final years of her life. She died in her sleep, a few weeks shy of her 99th birthday in 2000.

Barbara Cartland additionally was known for her philanthropy and extensive charity work. She lived a very full, accomplished and varied life.

Picture: Getty Images

08/24/2021

My apologies for not posting anything for a very long time. I am on the move. I left Las Vegas on May 5, 2021 to move to the East coast (I am originally from New Jersey), driving the whole way. I am looking to find a home in South Carolina. As of today I have not been able to find anything so I am staying with my brother in Pennsylvania. Everything I own is in storage in Las Vegas. Once I am moved and settled into a new home I am going to open a tea and reading lounge. I will also continue to do home Tea ParTeas. I will be keeping in touch with all my friends and family back in Las Vegas and look forward to seeing everyone when spending my vacations & attending conventions there. Please keep in touch. I kept my Las Vegas mailing address until I have relocated (who knows, I may be going back). Feel free to call or email, I will love hearing from you.

02/05/2021

01/30/2021