"Tea Touring" in Asheville, N.C.

May 1st:

Thanks to Linda, a yummy breakfast casserole and pot of Harney & Son's Queen Catherine  black tea  blend fortified  our tummies for  the  four hour drive to Asheville, North Carolina.   We were packed and ready to depart when Linda's friend Lynn arrived at her house.

Linda made reservations at Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast for our three night stay. 

The Bed & Breakfast is a lovely 1905 English Tudor style home listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.  249 Cumberland Ave., Asheville, N.C.

  Notice they left the light on for us!  ;-)

Sandy and I shared the "Cowley Room." 

 

Look at our bathroom with the clawfoot tub!  [All the bathrooms had them.]

After checking in at the B & B  and unloading our luggage, we headed to Biltmore Village where we had 3:30 p.m. reservations for Afternoon Tea at Chelseas Tea Room.

Angela McRae of Tea With Friends and Lynn of Frivolitea were already seated in the tea room when we arrived.  It was so exciting meeting them face-to-face.

We all ordered the "Afternoon Tea Plate" for $12.95 and individual pots of tea.  I ordered Mango Tea.   Chelsea's doesn't decant the tea before bringing it to the table, opting to use tea strainers instead.

Large, warm chocolate chip scones with jam and cream.

Two-tier tray with savories on the bottom and desserts on the top.

There were savory options I had never had on a tea tray before, but they were tasty and enjoyable:   A hearty grilled Cuban Sandwich [ham, cheese, pickles and mustard];  Tostadas spread with Guacamole and topped with a Black Bean and Corn "caviar"; Wheat Cracker with a Spinach and Artichoke spread topped with grated Parmesan cheese; Spinach and Mushroom Quiche; and a condiment cup of Strawberry Soup with Feta Cheese sprinkled on top.

Desserts:  Apple/Strawberry Cobbler; Mini Cinnamon Roll; Macaroon [unlike any I've ever had but very good], Scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream served in a plastic food service condiment cup [we had to eat this immediately before it melted]; Kiwi & Strawberry Trifle; and a slice of either Chocolate Cake or Italian Cream Cake.  It was far more food than any of us could possibly eat at one time, so we all took carry-out containers back to the Bed & Breakfast.

Our group from left to right

Front Row Seated:  Phyllis [me], Lynn [blogger from Asheville], and Linda of
Friendship Tea

Back Row Standing:  Sandy, Angela and Lynn [Linda's Friend]

We left Chelseas and went back to our Bed & Breakfast to relax and chat about our wonderful tea experience.  Wednesday would be a big day of touring at the Biltmore Estate.

To be continued...