I asked for the day off at The Whitney last Friday to travel 90 miles to Sylvania, Ohio for a meet-up with friends at Sweet Shalom tearoom. My girlfriend, Lori, was my traveling companion, and it was a beautiful day for traveling.
Mary Jane, former owner of Amherst Rose Tearoom in Massillon, Ohio, coordinated the meet-up. I roomed with Mary Jane when I went to London, England in 2007, and enjoyed many visits to Amherst Rose when it was still in business.
The last time I was at Sweet Shalom was in 2015 for their Downton Abbey tea. This month's theme was Bats, Birds, Bees and Butterflies [all pollinators]. The tea meal was picnic fare.
The main purpose for the meet-up was Colleen's visit from California. She met Mary Jane on an Asian tea trip they made together in 2013. It just so happened that everyone in our group are members of ATAA [Afternoon Tea Across America], a Yahoo e-group, so we had that in common along with our love of tea and friendship.
~ It was delightful meeting Colleen ~
Our group from L-R: Eve, Mary Jane [who requested her image not be posted], Colleen, Teresa, Me and Lori.
Eve gave us a folder of yummy recipes.
The last time I was at Sweet Shalom was in 2015 for their Downton Abbey tea. This month's theme was Bats, Birds, Bees and Butterflies [all pollinators]. The tea meal was picnic fare.
~ Dining Room Interior ~
~ It was delightful meeting Colleen ~
Our group from L-R: Eve, Mary Jane [who requested her image not be posted], Colleen, Teresa, Me and Lori.
~ Menu ~
~ Our tea meal began with an Orange Scone with Butter and Jam ~
It was accompanied by Black Current Tea. Our table got to make two tea selections and the other was Midsummer Peach. Later we switched to White Vanilla Grapefruit, but my favorite was Black Currant.
Following our scones was a juicy Watermelon Wedge with Feta Cheese and Balsamic Dressing served on a bed of mixed greens. It was very good.
Our tiered server held Cucumber Tea Sandwiches, Zesty Deviled Eggs, Potato Salad, Chicken Angelique Tea Sandwiches, Decadent Chocolate Cake, and a yummy Sandwich Cookie.
To go with our dessert of Frosty Coconut Lemon Icebox Pie, we tried Indigo Punch tea - an infusion of rosehips, apple pieces, butterfly pea flowers, lemongrass, lemon peel, raspberry, and a natural honey flavor for sweetness. It produced a purple hue.
Teresa, who went on the Michigan Tea Tour and Southern Tea Time Getaway, has a tea-themed purse collection. This time she carried her Mrs. Potts teapot purse that she purchased at Disney World. So cute!
Sarah, one of the owners, gave a brief program about Bats, Birds, Bees and Butterflies and how all are necessary as pollinators - even bats! ;-)
After a fun and lengthy time of conversation around the tea table we separated to go our various ways.
[Teresa, Lori, and Me]
Sweet Shalom has always had a gift shop, but it's a 'Bou-Tea-Que' now with cute clothes and accessories. Lori and I tried on a couple of things to no avail, but I did purchase a cute hat.
Sweet Shalom has always had a gift shop, but it's a 'Bou-Tea-Que' now with cute clothes and accessories. Lori and I tried on a couple of things to no avail, but I did purchase a cute hat.
Mary Jane gave each of us a gift bag with tea and stationery items.
Eve gave us a folder of yummy recipes.
And Colleen gave us a bar of Oatmeal Honey soap from Dutton Farm in Rochester, MI - not far from where I live, yet I've never heard of them before. You learn something new every day!
Thank you, Mary Jane, for coordinating this enjoyable meet-up!
This is the first tea room I ever visited and it is one of my favorites! I have been there many times and love the themed teas. I also like that you can sample so many teas. When traveling with just one friend, we usually order a 1/2 pot, so that we can sample more selections.
ReplyDeleteI also am so impressed with the food. I have never left hungry! The first time I went, I saw an entire table pull out Tupperware for their pumpkin scone. After devouring a large bowl of butternut squash soup with a crème frache flower, a tray with baked beans, sweet potato soufflé (in tiny bowls), turkey sandwiches, cranberry sandwiches, and raisin bread sandwiches, and three small desserts on top, then being served a tiny individual pumpkin pie, I understood. Now I always bring a small cooler and some containers. Just in case.
What fun! I love the name of that tea room and all the food looked wonderful. I'm so glad you could all get together for this lovely tea.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I'm sure we all wish we could have joined in the fun and conversation.
ReplyDeleteI am local to the Toledo area and this is my home tea room. I try to go once a month. I love the tea and the food is top notch!
ReplyDeleteTea friends getting together for tea is the best thing there is!
ReplyDeleteHello Phyllis, I am a reader but first time commenter. I thought you (and your friend Teresa) might be interested in the tea themed purses and wallets from Yoshi bags. I came across this company from another blog and first went to their site to look at the book themed purses for my librarian sister. But in perusing the site I see they also have some tea themed bags and wallets. I think that design is on the way out since most of them are now listed on the sale page. I should have told you about this a couple of weeks ago because the choices are now more limited. They also have a few of a different design under the Cake & Bake category. I would post a link but I wouldn't want you to think I am phishing! So just Google Yoshi bags. It's a British company so even on sale you would have to pay British prices (and shipping!). - Cara
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fabulous time, and of course I loved seeing Lori and Teresa, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting. (And I even loved partially seeing Mary Jane, whom I feel I've come to know through blogging, ha!)
ReplyDelete