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.
~ Dining Room Interior ~
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.
~ 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.
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!
