Tea Party Planning in Tennessee

My youngest son, Jeremy, is a partner in a company that owns several retirement communities in various states.  He's been talking about me flying down to Collierville, TN with him to meet with the Life Enrichment Director to plan an Afternoon Tea for the residents for awhile, and it finally happened last Monday [July 25th].  

The private jet was waiting for us at Livingston County Spencer J. Hardy airport in Howell, MI, and our flight was scheduled for 8:20 a.m.  Five other members from the company flew with us.  It was a beautiful, clear morning.

[Jeremy and Me]

After a 1 hour, 40 minute flight, we landed at Olive Branch airport [in Olive Branch, Mississippi], and drove 15 miles to Collierville, TN where Story Point Retirement Community is located.  It was hot and humid.

It's a beautiful new facility that just opend in the spring of 2021.

Jeremy said we were going to divide and conquer - he would be interviewing for a new executive chef, and I would meet with Heather [the Life Enrichment Director] and a few residents. Heather has never been to a tea party and didn't know anything about them, but was eager to learn. She invited a few residents for their input, and we formed a planning committee in the Bistro area.

A sous chef provided us with a delicious light lunch of fresh fruit and chicken salad croisants. I loved the presentation.  I have the same tray that I bought to use as a charcuterie board, but it's perfect for fruit too.

It wasn't long before our creative juices were flowing.  The residents wanted the theme of their first tea to be Tea in TN [focusing on geographic areas of TN].  Initially we selected the date of Oct. 14th, but it had to be changed to the 21st.  We planned the tablescape [red, white, and blue, the colors of the TN state flag] and part of the menu, which I tweaked and finished when I got home.

It's a fun menu:  1st course - scones with cherry preserves [a fruit grown in TN] and mock clotted cream.  2nd course - savories:  thumbprint cornbread muffins with the indentation filled with barbecue pork and Jack Daniels sauce, Peanut Butter & Banana finger sandwiches on grilled bread [nod to Elvis], Pimento Cheese Finger sandwich on wheat bread garnished with a cherry tomato [TN's state food].  I know Cucumber sandwiches are a quintessential tea sandwhich, but for this first tea it was beat out by the Peanut Butter and Banana sandwich! 3rd course - desserts:  Banana Pudding tart, Pecan Tassies [pecans are grown in TN], and mini Moonpies which are made in Chattanooga.

Jeremy and I will fly down on Oct. 21st so I can help execute the tea and I'm looking forward to it.  I hope Afternoon Tea catches on with the residents and will become a frequent activity for them.

The interviewing process took longer than anticipated, so our flight was delayed an hour but we were back home shortly after 6:00 p.m.  It was a fun day.  'Have tea - will travel!'