In anticipation of my granddaughter Corrina's sixth birthday, I asked her mom for gift ideas. Marina suggested an "experience" rather than toys. Since Corrina and I almost always have tea parties when she comes to my house, I thought an extra-fancy, real-life tea party would be fun. So I made a reservation for the three of us for afternoon tea at the Secret Garden Tea Room in Sumner, Washington.
In preparation for the occasion, Corrina donned her fanciest dress and hand-colored a bow for her hair. Here she's sipping sparkling apple cider with a cup of herbal tea nearby, ready for tasting.
The menu for our special occasion Rose Celebration Afternoon Tea:
Commemorative Photograph
Pot of Tea (or other beverage)
Royal Sparkling Wine or Apple Cider
Cheese & Fruit Plate
Sorbet
*Endless Scones with Devonshire Cream, Jam & Lemon Curd
Tiered rack with Tea Sandwiches,
Savories, Fresh Fruit
Petite Pastries and Sweets
Individual Chocolate Rose Cake
in Raspberry Coulis
Corrina was delighted when our goodies were served on fancy tiered racks. (Two tiers all for Corrina; three tiers for Marina and I to share.)
We used fancy serving tools - a filigreed pie server and tiny tongs for our sugar cubes - and sipped our tea from china cups. Elegant!
We all agreed that the scones, served with Devonshire cream, jam, and lemon curd, were our favorites.
Every birthday celebration must have cake with a candle.
The server took our official photo to commemorate the special day. (I think she must have used a wide-angle lens... or else we ate more than I realized!)
We'll remember this special birthday celebration for a long time.
PS: Here's a link to the tea room's website: Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shop
FYI: The Secret Garden is located in a beautiful Victorian Mansion in Sumner, WA. The charm of the original Queen Anne and Italianate architecture provides an elegant, yet warm ambiance in which to enjoy a scrumptious lunch or a traditional English-style Tea Set served on a 3-tier stand. Our gift shop is stocked with tea-time treasures and a variety of delightful gifts, fanciful jewelry and clothing, and charming accents for your home.
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