Cristy Bennett came out of retirement to host a few French Cottage Christmas High Teas in December. My girlfriend, Lori, and I traveled to East Lansing yesterday for the first one of them. Like all her other teas, it was a delightful experience and stimulated all the senses.
The outside of her cottage-style home was whimsically decorated for Christmas and set a fun stage.
Noel is a French word originating from Latin meaning birthday. Happy Birthday, Jesus!
Dessert was Peppermint Brownie Teacup Trifle. Everything was delicious!
What a wonderful way to usher in the Christmas season! Thank you David & Cristy!
Inside everything was elegantly decorated in beautiful shades of French country pink, mauve, white and silver - a real fantasyland.
I'm glad Cristy let me be a shutterbug! There was SO much to photograph.
Lori and I knew in advance that the color scheme was going to be shades of pink, so we dressed accordingly.
Noel is a French word originating from Latin meaning birthday. Happy Birthday, Jesus!
That's the end of her beautiful living room. Now here's the dining room.
Cristy also decorated her year-round sunroom and first floor bathroom, but I didn't photograph them.
Her tablescape and menu was just as stunning as her room decorations!
The beautiful menu cards, doilies containing Dove chocolate candies, and mini-floral arrangement of two white carnations and a pink rose were ours to take home.
At the base of every water glass was the name of the person who'd be sitting there.
Our tea began with a toast of chilled sparkling Cranberry-Apple Juice.
Our tea was a blend of two Harney & Sons black teas - Cranberry Autumn and Hot Cinnamon Spice with a splash of Orange Juice added.
The first course consisted of Cristy's signature pinwheel scones [Cranberry Orange] and a cup of Noel French Chestnut Soup. Love the pink poodle spreader for Devonshire cream.
The main course was Chicken Puff Pastry Pot Pie, Apple-Cucumber Slaw, and homemade Cranberry-Orange Sauce. It was served on Cristy's grandmother's French Limoges china.
Dessert was Peppermint Brownie Teacup Trifle. Everything was delicious!
Here's the couple who made it all happen... David & Cristy with their dog, Soapy.
What a wonderful way to usher in the Christmas season! Thank you David & Cristy!
Absolutely lovely! I am studying every pictures. I will say, her front porch is so similar to mine in the first picture, I almost thought it was my picture! I do like the way hers is decorated more than mine, so I may be using it for inspiration next year.
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so glad Cristy decided to do some more teas, and I love all the pictures. Her porch! Oh, my goodness, I love it. Of course, everything inside was lovely, too, and the food looked delicious. I'm glad you and Lori could attend this special tea.
ReplyDeleteOh how beautiful everything is. The food sounds delicious.I love the table setting. The cranberry and pink are gorgeous. Looks like a good time was had by all.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
So nice that Christy came out of retirement to do this tea. Everything she does for her teas is just so beautiful and special.
ReplyDelete