Tea in East Lansing, MI

My girlfriend, Lori, picked me up at 10:00 a.m. last Saturday [2/20], to head to East Lansing for Cristy Bennett's Victorian Valentine's Tea.

The tea didn't start until 1:00 o'clock, but I discovered a French Macaron shop not far from Cristy's house, so we decided to stop there first.

We were thinking they had a sitting area where we could order a cup of tea and a macaron, but it's only a carry-out shop.  They've recently opened a larger shop in Grand Rapids, MI that does accommodate eat-in guests.

I purchased five macarons for $10.   Lori and I sampled one in the car, and I saved the rest to enjoy with my daughter the next night while watching Downton Abbey, episode 8.  We all declared the macarons yummy!

It was too early to go to Cristy's, so we drove a short distance to World Market.  I'm sad we no longer have any of their stores close to my house.  I was surprised to see they still had some of their Christmas Downton Abbey reproduction china left. Knowing I'd be talking about Downton Abbey on the TV show, I purchased a set of four teacups, but passed on the luncheon plates and teapot.

The real china used on the set of Downton Abbey is Spode Stafford White bone china.  One teacup is $205.  Guess I'll be content with my World Market replica!  ;-)

Then we were off to Cristy's.  She had told us in an e-mail the color for the tea was pink with roses, and it was breathtakingly beautiful, delicate, and feminine.

~ Antique buffet ~

~ Fireplace mantel ~

~ Teapots on top of the mantel. ~

~ The beautiful tablescape. ~

~ Lori and Me ~

~ Cristy and Me ~

~ Cristy sharing the menu at the beginning of the tea. ~

~ The tea began with a glass of chilled Sparkling Cherry Juice. ~

Followed by her signature Cherry-Almond, Vanilla Pinwheel Scones and chilled, sweet Cherry Soup. The black tea was blended with freeze dried sour cherries, almonds, cornflowers, calendula and natural flavorings..

Main course was Chicken Pot Pie, Frozen Fruit Salad, and a Baked Parmesan Tomato.

~ Dessert was a decadent, triple layer Chocolate Cake. ~

We became acquainted with two lovely ladies at our table - a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from Bancroft, MI.   The mother-in-law, Beulah Hargrove, is the owner of Grand Oak Herb Farm, and she also hosts tea parties at her herb farm.  Lori and I will definitely be making arrangements to go to some.  

Thanks, Cristy, for another wonderful tea! The next tea is Spring Time in Paris, but unfortunately I have a speaking engagement that day so will have to miss.