Yesterday after church, our family met at El Charros, a favorite Mexican restaurant to celebrate Father's Day. The restaurant's selection of tea was limited, but iced tea was on the menu, and it worked for us!
We started with a Botana appetizer - corn chips, refried beans, chopped onions and green peppers, melted cheese, topped with sliced green olives, and garnished with a few avocado slices.
Our main entree was a Taco/Enchilada Special served with beans and Spanish rice. I forgot to take a photo of the enchilada with beans and Spanish rice, but I did remember to take a photo of the soft-shell taco.
I belong to a tea-themed E-group, Afternoon Tea Across America [ATAA]. Earlier in the day, one of our creative members wrote a post about "Gentlemen's Teas." Most tea establishments cater to female clientele, and every tea I've ever hosted has been for female guests, so my interest was definitely piqued by Gentlemen's Teas. I did a little research after we returned from dinner.
I discovered Dean and Deluca sells an "Earl Grey Gentleman's Tea" by TWG Tea Company of Singapore. Earl Grey is a classic, and one of my hubby's favorite teas.
An Internet search for Gentlemen's Tea showed the majority of them are offered in London, England, but I did find at least two establishments that offer them in the United States.
The Grand Floridian Resort Tea Lounge, at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has what they call a "Gentleman's Tea Platter" [Prince Edward's Tea], which is an array of duck and cherry terrine; chicken and pork roulade; country pate en croute; and English Blue Stilton, the "King" of English cheeses. It is served with marinated fresh berries, and cumberland sauce. Also included are delicious fresh baked scones with rich Devonshire cream, and a choice of tea, with a glass of Port.
The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago has long offered Afternoon Tea in its lobby, where the majority of attendees are women. So their food and beverage manager instituted a twist on Afternoon Tea for the opposite sex called the Gentlemen's Retreat Tea, which is served daily in Peninsula's Bar upstairs. The menu consists of hearty savory appetizers such as barbecued baby lamb chops, smoked salmon club sandwiches, mini beef burgers with blue cheese, and more. Tea, coffee, and a glass of the hotel's privately blended bourbon and a cigar are also included.
Thanks to Martha, my mind is swirling with ideas for a Gentlemen's Tea. Since the men in my family don't drink alcoholic beverages or smoke, I would have to come up with a non-alcoholic beverage to accompany tea, and offer a chocolate cigar! ;-) It was fun reading the menus, and looking at photos from a few of London's Gentlemen's teas for ideas and inspiration.
For a Father's Day Gentlemen's Tea across the pond, the Royal Horseguards, a two-time recipient of the Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea Award of Excellence, offered this "macho makeover": Beef and Ale Pie; a Casterbridge Steak Sandwich; Mini-Fish and Chips with Pea Puree; and a Smoked Bacon and Cheddar savory Muffin. It's a meal designed for the modern gent, served in the stylish Equus bar.
There wasn't a "cutsy" cupcake in sight! The selection of desserts included: man-sized cupcakes with 'whiskey and walnut', and 'chocolate and chili' flavors; "manly" macarons, and a chocolate tool kit. The Gentlemen's Tea also included freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserves, washed down with a Builder's Tea or one of the hotel's award winning tea blends. The cost: $56 [US money]. For those who wanted to upgrade and get a Habanos Cuban Cigar and a signature gentleman's cocktail, there was an additional charge of $39.
Doesn't a Gentleman's Tea sound like a fun alternative to serve the men in your life? Have you hosted a Gentleman's Tea? If so, please share.
I discovered Dean and Deluca sells an "Earl Grey Gentleman's Tea" by TWG Tea Company of Singapore. Earl Grey is a classic, and one of my hubby's favorite teas.
[Internet Photo Courtesy of Dean and Deluca]
An Internet search for Gentlemen's Tea showed the majority of them are offered in London, England, but I did find at least two establishments that offer them in the United States.
The Grand Floridian Resort Tea Lounge, at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has what they call a "Gentleman's Tea Platter" [Prince Edward's Tea], which is an array of duck and cherry terrine; chicken and pork roulade; country pate en croute; and English Blue Stilton, the "King" of English cheeses. It is served with marinated fresh berries, and cumberland sauce. Also included are delicious fresh baked scones with rich Devonshire cream, and a choice of tea, with a glass of Port.
[Internet Photo Courtesy of Walt Disney World]
The Peninsula Hotel in Chicago has long offered Afternoon Tea in its lobby, where the majority of attendees are women. So their food and beverage manager instituted a twist on Afternoon Tea for the opposite sex called the Gentlemen's Retreat Tea, which is served daily in Peninsula's Bar upstairs. The menu consists of hearty savory appetizers such as barbecued baby lamb chops, smoked salmon club sandwiches, mini beef burgers with blue cheese, and more. Tea, coffee, and a glass of the hotel's privately blended bourbon and a cigar are also included.
[Internet Photo Courtesy of Haute Living.com]
Thanks to Martha, my mind is swirling with ideas for a Gentlemen's Tea. Since the men in my family don't drink alcoholic beverages or smoke, I would have to come up with a non-alcoholic beverage to accompany tea, and offer a chocolate cigar! ;-) It was fun reading the menus, and looking at photos from a few of London's Gentlemen's teas for ideas and inspiration.
For a Father's Day Gentlemen's Tea across the pond, the Royal Horseguards, a two-time recipient of the Tea Guild's Top London Afternoon Tea Award of Excellence, offered this "macho makeover": Beef and Ale Pie; a Casterbridge Steak Sandwich; Mini-Fish and Chips with Pea Puree; and a Smoked Bacon and Cheddar savory Muffin. It's a meal designed for the modern gent, served in the stylish Equus bar.
[Internet Photo courtesy of Media.VisitBritain.com]
There wasn't a "cutsy" cupcake in sight! The selection of desserts included: man-sized cupcakes with 'whiskey and walnut', and 'chocolate and chili' flavors; "manly" macarons, and a chocolate tool kit. The Gentlemen's Tea also included freshly baked scones with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry preserves, washed down with a Builder's Tea or one of the hotel's award winning tea blends. The cost: $56 [US money]. For those who wanted to upgrade and get a Habanos Cuban Cigar and a signature gentleman's cocktail, there was an additional charge of $39.
[Internet Photo courtesy of Media.VisitBritain.com]
Doesn't a Gentleman's Tea sound like a fun alternative to serve the men in your life? Have you hosted a Gentleman's Tea? If so, please share.
Great post, Phyllis! I can never get my hubby to drink tea. He's coffee all the way. Your Mexican meal looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThat does sound interesting, although I don't have a man in my life at present. It's fun to read about it anyway, though.
ReplyDeleteNow I never thought of having a Gentlemen Tea! This was so interesting, Phyllis! Your Father's Day lunch looks real yummy. Now I'm hungry for some Mexican food! Hugs..Nancy
ReplyDeleteI haven't served a gentlemen's tea, but there always seems to be men at my teas. They always seem to enjoy themselves. It does keep me from doing the totally frou-frou style tea. They love the roast beef with horseradish and carmelized onions sandwich, it seems to be a manly sort of tea sandwich. Then I can sneak in the cucumber and egg salad. For our anniversary last week it actually was my husband's idea to go to tea. So I would say afternoon tea is definitely for men too.
ReplyDeleteThese Gentlemen's Teas sound so fun! I like that the menus are more substantial and less frou-frou than the teas we ladies like.
ReplyDelete