Monday, October 16, 2017

Oliver T's Market

A friend recently told me about a unique specialty food and beverage store in Grand Blanc, MI called Oliver T's Market.  One Saturday a month [eight months of the year] they host an Afternoon Tea [which is really a high tea] at 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m.  The teas are $22 including tax and tip.  Grand Blanc is about 56 miles north of where I live, so it's a doable drive.  My girlfriend, Linda, was up for the ride, so off we went last Saturday.  We attended the 2:00 p.m. seating since the 12:00 o'clock seating was sold out.  

It was windy and poured down rain all day, so a tea outing was a welcomed diversion.  Below is Oliver T's Art Deco style building.



They have a separate tasting room for wine and beer tastings, so that's where their teas are held. 


The cozy room accommodates about 20 comfortably.  There were 19 attendees [10 tables] at the 2:00 p.m. seating.  There's no program, only a delicious and substantial high tea meal.  They don't offer loose-leaf teas, but carry a huge selection of quality tea bags.  For Saturday's Halloween Tea each table had a selection of Twinings teas to choose from.


I began with Mixed Berry [a black tea], and the first item we were served to go with our tea was a Pumpkin Scone.  A teapot of hot water was placed on each table and refilled when necessary.  Throughout the meal I also drank Lady Grey and Lemon Twist tea.


One of the owner's wives [it's a family run business] came around to take our order.


I ordered Butternut Squash Soup.  It was delicious!


It was followed by a Chicken Crepe, and a Mixed Greens Salad with Artichokes and Mandarin Oranges with an Orange Vinaigrette Dressing. 


Linda with another family member of the business.


Dessert was a large Pumpkin Cupcake with Italian Buttercream Frosting.


A good time was had by all.


The certificate below shows the Red Hatters have found Oliver T's!


After the tea, we browsed the large store.  There's a gourmet deli section, bakery section, imported chocolates, gourmet coffees, wines, and almost every other kind of specialty food and beverages you can imagine.  A large section was devoted to tea and tea equipage, but at this point no loose-leaf tea.  I saw Bigelow Teas, Stash Teas, Mighty Leaf Teas, Twinings Teas, and a huge selection of Republic of Tea Teas, but surprisingly no Harney & Son's Teas.




It was fun to browse the store.


We headed back home with full tummies, and in agreement that it was an enjoyable afternoon.  


4 comments:

  1. That does look like a fun place in which to browse, and the food looks delicious. What a nice thing to do on a rainy afternoon.

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  2. Should have read your blog before emailing. Oliver's T looks really nice. Glad you and Linda enjoyed your afternoon. A great selection of tea. Too bad no Harney and Sons.

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  3. Thank you for sharing this spot for Tea. I have been looking for somewhere to have afternoon between my home and my sisters. This place is perfect! Do you think Oliver's T would be OK to take a 12 year old?

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  4. How interesting that such a modern-looking place decided to host this type of tea. Sounds like a wonderful way to explore something new on a rainy day. (And I haven't seen so many teas for sale anywhere like that in a long time!)

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