Homeward Bound

May 4

Our last breakfast at Pinecrest B & B was "Raspberry Bliss"  [a baked, stuffed raspberry croissant], sausage patties, pumpkin bread, a strawberry yogurt parfait, orange juice and hot tea.

Even though I purchased their cookbook, it will be oatmeal for breakfast when I get back home!  ;-)

We departed for Kentucky right after breakfast and arrived at Linda's house by mid-afternoon. 

In 2003 the Berea Arts Council organized the "Show of Hands" - an exhibit of twelve 6-foot tall hand sculptures decorated by twelve artists, and positioned throughout the city.  One of the hands was near the restaurant where we had dinner, so Linda took a picture of Sandy and me standing beside it.  This hand was titled, "Gone Fishing."  

Once again, Linda graciously offered us her lovely tea-themed guest room for the night.   I'm forever grateful not only for her warm hospitality, but  for her expertise in coordinating the entire Asheville trip.   Everything was wonderful, without a single glitch.  Lasting memories were made.   Thank you, Linda!

May 5

We departed shortly after 9:00 a.m. destined for Basically British Tea Room in Dayton, Ohio.   It had been on my bucket list to visit after hearing so many good reviews about it, and I wasn't disappointed.  Our reservations were for 1:00 p.m., and we arrived a few minutes early.

Terry [co-owner], warmly greeted us with his wonderful British accent and seated us at our table inside their charming dining area.

[Photo Courtesy of Basically British Website] 

He went over their extensive Tea List and I chose Amaretto Cream. It was delightful.  Isn't that a beautiful blue English transferware plate?  It's so appropriate for the tea room.

The tea was decanted before being brought to our table and kept warm with tea cozies.

Look at this scrumptious tier tray of scones, savories and desserts.   It was one of the best I've ever had - and I've had many!   Their menu changes every month.

There was a traditional scone and a lavender scone served with jam and real clotted cream.  Both were delicious!  

The savories were a Greek lemon chicken sandwich with sesame seed edges; a Mediterranean orzo salad; a Raspberry/chipotle cheese-topped toast; and an Artichoke/chili-stuffed tomato.  I loved the unique variety.

Desserts were Coconut lemon squares; Baklava bites; and Black Forest minis.  The price of Afternoon Tea at Basically British is $24.95 per person plus tax and gratuity.

I missed my other tea friends gathered 'round the table with Sandy and me, but I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this tea room.   I highly recommend it if you are traveling anywhere near the Dayton area.



Below are the owners, Terry and Vickie.  Unfortunately this tearoom is closing the end of August, 2012.   I'm sure glad we were able to visit the tea room before it closes.

This concludes my May 2012 Tea Travels series. 

Exploring Asheville, N.C.

May 3

We  all gathered in the B & B's dining room at 9:00 a.m. for our second breakfast, which consisted of fresh fruit compote, lemon bread, orange juice, tea, and a farmers market frittata.

In lieu of a two day Biltmore pass we did some Asheville activities and sight seeing.   Angela left for home following breakfast, so we were down to our original foursome.

Linda, our excellent trip coordinator,  took us to the Grove Park Inn, a legendary hotel in Asheville, for the first place of interest.

From there we went antiquing in the Biltmore Antiques District... the first stop was at the Antique Tobacco Barn [which is literally a huge tobacco barn], then to Bryant Antiques up the road.  

We returned to Biltmore Village to visit their shops, and had lunch at  Chelseas Tea Room.  We were seated at the same table where we had Afternoon Tea two days earlier.   Below is a photo of a quaint nearby table for two.

I ordered a Muffalata Sandwich - yummy!  After lunch Linda drove downtown Asheville to the Tea & Spice Exchange.  After browsing through the Exchange we walked across the street to an old Woolworth's Dime Store building.  Woolworth's is no longer there [despite the original Woolworth signage on the front of the building], but the soda fountain was still there and open for business.  It was like stepping back in time with the chrome tables and chairs and tile floors.  [Linda's friend, Lynn, was the only one who took photos of our nostalgic visit.]   I got a hot fudge sundae, while the others got ice cream floats and ice cream cones. 

We walked around town, which was bustling with people and street musicians, then we returned to our Bed and Breakfast.  The owner recommended we walk to the neighborhood Jamaican restaurant a couple of blocks over.  It seemed strange in the middle of a residential area.  The place was booming with business - both inside and out, and was quite a contrast to the quiet Afternoon Tea atmosphere we had been experiencing.  ;-)

It was our last day in Asheville and we'd be leaving for Kentucky in the morning.  All good things must come to an end,  but one more tea room visit remained before  returning to Michigan.

To be continued...

Biltmore Estate

May 2nd Breakfast at Pinecrest B & B was at 9:00 every morning.  The first morning we were served  baked grapefruit, banana bread, blueberry waffles, orange juice and hot tea.   We brought our own Harney & Sons loose-leaf tea sachets.

With full tummies we were ready to tour the public rooms of the  gigantic 250-room Biltmore Mansion, that formally opened in 1895.  It is situated on 8,ooo acres of land, and remains America's largest  home to this day.   Unfortunately no photography was allowed inside.  It is a self-guided tour with audio headsets available [for a fee], and guides are positioned throughout the house to answer any additional questions.

Main Entrance 

Can you imagine a 33 year old bachelor rumbling around in this huge mansion?    George Vanderbilt III  married three years later and brought his bride, Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, to the estate.   Their one and only daughter, Cornelia,  was born two years later.  [Bet she had fun playing hide-and-seek!] 

The former stable and carriage house [restaurant and gift shop now] is through the arch below.

A Biltmore photographer took this picture of our group inside the mansion with the indoor Winter Garden in the background.  L-R:  Linda, Angela, Phyllis [me], Lynn and Sandy.

There were tea vignettes throughout the mansion, so the Vanderbilts were definitely tea drinkers.

After the house tour we went to the Carriage House gift shop to do some damage to our pocketbooks!   Below are  the "treasures" I bought: A pictorial Biltmore guide book, a Biltmore cookbook, a CD of Biltmore's Music Box Guest Favorites, and a re-pro trio [cup, saucer and dessert plate] of the Vanderbilt Tea Service circa 1888.

From the gift shop we went to the Stable Cafe [where dining tables fill former horse stalls]  for a quick, light lunch.  Then we hurried back to the main house for a 2:30 p.m. behind-the-scenes Butler's Tour.  It was very interesting, and we were  grateful to a tea friend who recommended it to us.

This is the back of the mansion, and the only photo we were allowed to take while on the Butler's Tour.

It was a tight schedule because following the Butler's Tour we had 4:30 p.m. reservations for Afternoon Tea at the Biltmore Inn.  If you look closely in the photo below you can faintly see the Estate House from the grounds of the Biltmore Inn.  [I marked the photo to help spot it.]

This is the back side of the Biltmore Inn where the library is located, and where Afternoon Tea is served.

Inside view of the library and dining area.

We ordered the full Afternoon Tea which included an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones, fruit bread, tea pastries and pots of Mighty Leaf Tea.   It was $22.95 per person plus tax and gratuity.

Mighty Leaf tea chest for making our selection.   I opted for a fruit tisane so I could sleep that night.

Odai was our server...

And photographer!  ;-)

L-R:  Sandy, Linda, Lynn [from Asheville], Angela, Phyllis [me] and Lynn [from KY]

Reproduction Vanderbilt China  - Beautiful!

Savories/Sandwiches [Clockwise from 12:00 o'clock]:  Cucumber with homemade cream cheese [from the dairy on the estate]; Egg salad garnished with radish [a sprig of fresh dill must have fallen off the top my radish];  Sun-dried tomato cheese with smoked bacon garnished with cherry tomato slices and watercress;  Focaccia bread with sun-dried tomatoes, black beans and mushroom spread, garnished with a dollop of sour cream and slice of green onion; and a cranberry/apple chicken salad croissant.  A mini spinach quiche was in the center of the plate.

Three-tiered server laden with tea-time treats!   Bottom plate:  Orange-ginger scones.   Middle plate:  Lemon-blueberry tea bread.  Top plate:  Yellow cake with butterceam frosting and chopped pistachios; Cream puffs filled with strawberry cream; and Chocolate caramel truffles.    Whew!  It's a good thing we did two tours  of the Biltmore Mansion to help walk off some of those calories!

We packed A LOT into that day, but there was one more event to celebrate before we went to bed -  Angela's upcoming birthday, which was two days after she returned to her home in Georgia.   After consuming mega sweets, we passed on a birthday cake, but we did have a few gifts to give our kindred-spirit tea and blogger friend!  Praying  the year ahead  holds many blessings, and, of course, lots of tea, Angela!

To be continued...

"Tea Touring" in Asheville, N.C.

May 1st:

Thanks to Linda, a yummy breakfast casserole and pot of Harney & Son's Queen Catherine  black tea  blend fortified  our tummies for  the  four hour drive to Asheville, North Carolina.   We were packed and ready to depart when Linda's friend Lynn arrived at her house.

Linda made reservations at Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast for our three night stay. 

The Bed & Breakfast is a lovely 1905 English Tudor style home listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.  249 Cumberland Ave., Asheville, N.C.

  Notice they left the light on for us!  ;-)

Sandy and I shared the "Cowley Room." 

 

Look at our bathroom with the clawfoot tub!  [All the bathrooms had them.]

After checking in at the B & B  and unloading our luggage, we headed to Biltmore Village where we had 3:30 p.m. reservations for Afternoon Tea at Chelseas Tea Room.

Angela McRae of Tea With Friends and Lynn of Frivolitea were already seated in the tea room when we arrived.  It was so exciting meeting them face-to-face.

We all ordered the "Afternoon Tea Plate" for $12.95 and individual pots of tea.  I ordered Mango Tea.   Chelsea's doesn't decant the tea before bringing it to the table, opting to use tea strainers instead.

Large, warm chocolate chip scones with jam and cream.

Two-tier tray with savories on the bottom and desserts on the top.

There were savory options I had never had on a tea tray before, but they were tasty and enjoyable:   A hearty grilled Cuban Sandwich [ham, cheese, pickles and mustard];  Tostadas spread with Guacamole and topped with a Black Bean and Corn "caviar"; Wheat Cracker with a Spinach and Artichoke spread topped with grated Parmesan cheese; Spinach and Mushroom Quiche; and a condiment cup of Strawberry Soup with Feta Cheese sprinkled on top.

Desserts:  Apple/Strawberry Cobbler; Mini Cinnamon Roll; Macaroon [unlike any I've ever had but very good], Scoop of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream served in a plastic food service condiment cup [we had to eat this immediately before it melted]; Kiwi & Strawberry Trifle; and a slice of either Chocolate Cake or Italian Cream Cake.  It was far more food than any of us could possibly eat at one time, so we all took carry-out containers back to the Bed & Breakfast.

Our group from left to right

Front Row Seated:  Phyllis [me], Lynn [blogger from Asheville], and Linda of
Friendship Tea

Back Row Standing:  Sandy, Angela and Lynn [Linda's Friend]

We left Chelseas and went back to our Bed & Breakfast to relax and chat about our wonderful tea experience.  Wednesday would be a big day of touring at the Biltmore Estate.

To be continued...

2012 "Tea Travels" - Berea, KY

I joined a tea-themed e-group, Afternoon Tea Across America [ATAA] in 2003, and blogger Linda J., of Friendship Tea, joined a year later.  That's where we first  became acquainted.  A  friendship evolved in 2007 when we  both went on the same Tea in London [England] Tour.  

With Linda's tourism and travel planning background, she mentioned in September 2011 how much fun  a "tea trip"  would be.   We had both been communicating with blogger, Angela McRae of Tea with Friends, who was enthusiastic about a meet-up, so we began discussing suitable locations.  In January 2012 we settled on the destination of Asheville, North Carolina, and Linda started making arrangements.

Digressing for a moment I must say that my blog exists today because of Linda's and Angela's encouragement to enter the world of blogging, and I'm very grateful for their  support.

Now back to the tea trip... I invited my long-time girlfriend to go on the trip with us, and Linda invited a good friend as well.  Sandy and I set-out last Monday morning [April 30] on our 400 mile journey to Linda's house in Kentucky.   The long awaited day of the trip had finally arrived.

Two teapot welcome flags greeted us as we pulled into Linda's driveway, and her  very hospitable and accommodating "almost" 13 year old son served us a glass of mango iced tea once inside their lovely home.

Shortly after arriving the family took us to dinner at the historic Boone Tavern Restaurant of Berea College.

The  tavern/hotel is located on the college square, and the restaurant is situated inside the hotel.  The building was built in 1909 at the suggestion of the college president's wife after she housed 300 guests in her home one summer!  It is named after the Appalachian explorer, Daniel Boone.

  

Linda and her hubby, GJ, and son, AJ.

Three tea-loving ladies left to right, Phyllis, Linda & Sandy

Our meal began with one of the restaurant's most famous offerings - spoon bread.  Yum!  A fried green tomato salad was on the menu, and since I had never eaten a fried green tomato, Linda said it was a "must try."   They were very good!

April 30 - May 5th was Derby Week in Kentucky.  Derby Pie is a registered trademark of Kern's Kitchen in Louisville, but that hasn't stopped other pastry chefs from attempting to recreate the pie under another name.   At Boone Tavern Restaurant it goes by the name of "Race Day Pie."   Linda said this was another "must try" and it was scrumptious!   I've already  searched the Internet for a recipe since I've returned home.

After dinner we returned to Linda's house to  chat and get caught-up on each other's news,  then we went to their guest room for the night.  It is a tea-lover's delight!   The entire room is tea-themed right down to the teapot sheets and pillow cases and teapot quilt!  Linda is definitely "the hostess with the mostess."  She placed a gift bag for each of us in the bedroom, which amongst other things contained a journal to record the details of our trip.

We would rise early the next morning so we could get to Asheville by early afternoon for our first tea reservation and meet-up with Angela and another blogger, Lynn of Frivolitea.

To be continued...