Tea Trove Fall/Winter Hours

Greetings!

Well, it is that time of year when we must take a long, hard, look at what we are offering our customers. This includes our hours of operation. Good news! We are only making a minor adjustment to our Saturday hours. We will open at 10:00 a.m. rather than 9:00 a.m.

Some other changes...
Beginning approximately 6 weeks ago we began offering Afternoon Tea by reservation. There is a 24-hr cancellation policy. We accept reservations T-Sat. between 2:30 - 4:30. The minimum is two and the maximum is 6/per group. We only allow two groups each day so that you get the degree of attention you want. A credit card is required for the reservation. As a security measure, you will be asked for the billing zip code of the card. This is necessary if we must charge your card because the cancellation policy was violated. The charge is $10pp. So far, we have not needed to do this.

I've been asked is this a "traditional English/British Afternoon tea?" No. I don't necessarily use China for everything. And, I purposely take an eclectic approach to coordinating pieces. We serve small croissant sandwiches, scones (not plain), dessert and tea. It is not a cream tea. We just have not gotten that far in our development. The lite afternoon tea is comprised of dessert, fruit and tea.

To me, the purpose of afternoon tea is to enjoy the company of the people while treating oneself to some goodies before dinner (high tea). It's all about good company, good conversation and great tea.

A word about scones...Our scones are made by a young entrepreneur named Janelle Rath. Her business is Truly Scrumptious. The name fits! Our scone offering changes periodically. They are light, fluffy and filled with yummy ingredients like cranberries and white chocolate chips. We serve them warmed. You usually won't need anything with them, but if you desire butter, it is available. We also have honey. I am looking into adding jams/jellies by a local company...We shall see...

Three weeks ago we began serving a lite lunch of sandwiches (chicken and tuna salad, tomato-basil, mozz. and occasionally hummus-feta.) I make everything except the hummus at the moment. I know, hummus is easy. And, I do make a fabulous garlic hummus, but if I can find a good, pre-made one, it makes things a little easier in this one-woman operation.

Beginning 10/16/06 SOUP IS ON! Actually, as I write this, the kettle is filled with homemade, yummy vegetable soup. (I already tried it!) We won't get our "official" soup cups until sometime next week, but we found a temporary solution. (Sometimes brainstorming parties of one are very effective!) Now, I cannot promise that every soup will be prepared by me, but I can say that I love soup and will always look for the best. At home, Steve often refers to my soup creations as "Stone Soup." If you know the story, then you understand why. He's always pleasantly surprised.

So, as Fall turns into winter, not only will you find exceptional teas/tisanes and cocoa at The Tea Trove, but you will also find wonderful apple cider, soup and sandwiches. Yum!

Before I go, remember that our place is perfect for small receptions. Our rates are very competitive. And, our space is unique! Since it's just Steve and myself, you can be sure that you will receive a high degree of attention and satisfaction hosting a reception at The Tea Trove.