Love in a teacup and give-away...

Hello my lovelies! I am so excited about today's post because I am going to share a

really fun project I worked on about a year ago - 'High Tea at the Victoria Room'!

'High Tea at the Victoria Room'

Ironically, it all started over a cup of coffee.. over at one of my best friends' place where I
found out about a new and inspiring book project for one of my favouirte restaurants here in
Sydney, namely the 'Victoria Room' (which I wrote about a little while ago HERE & HERE.)

High Tea kids' party at the Victoria Room

You know how I love The Victoria Room (!) and in my humble opinion it is the place to have
'High Tea' when in Sydney. So you can imagine my delight (and slight awe-struck shock) when
I was asked to write part of the original manuscript for what was to become a delicious success!

Crème brûlée in a tea cup - loving the styling here!!
Image from 'High Tea at the Victoria Room' - please make clear reference to the Victoria Room if using it.

I was handed a very (!) rough draft of the content for the book's historical and etiquette section
as well as a large dose of friendly encouragement and off I went. The deadline was tight and I
had only a few days to turn a stack of notes into a comprehensive and entertaining something.

Suffice to say, I started not only researching & writing about tea, but also drinking a whole lot

of it in order to stay awake during what turned into a marathon of work in order to pull it all
together in time. Two days (+ 2 long nights!) later I handed over the the first incarnation of text.

Google image

Though the book makes reference to 'High Tea', some prefer to call it 'Afternoon Tea'. There are
real and tangible differences between 'High' vs 'Afternoon' tea, however today the two terms are
often fused together into one happy brew and the book was to refer to the ritual as 'High Tea'. But
for the record, and simply put, 'Afternoon Tea' was what the fine ladies of aristocracy enjoyed
some time around mid-afternoon. It was served in a salon with a buffet of sweets and treats.
And of course a good cup of gossip!

Image courtesy of the Dorchester, London

'High Tea' on the other hand was not at all high brow, and was what the working class enjoyed
at night after they got back from a long and hard day at work. It was eaten at a high table, hence
the name. It comprised of a pot of hot tea, cold cut meats and bread - a substitute for dinner, and
in some parts of the English speaking world, dinner is still sometimes referred to as 'tea'.

Salmon Cakes with Sour Cream and Dill 
Image from 'High Tea at the Victoria Room' - please make clear reference to the Victoria Room if using it.

Though this book is not mine, but rather that of the fabulous and so very very creative and
clever Jill Jones-Evans (co-owner of the Victoria Room) and the head chef Joe Gambacorta,
I am very proud to have contributed. Not only did it give me the chance to dive deeper into
the rich brew that offers the backdrop for the classic ritual of High Tea, but also gave me
a real appetite for book writing again. Something that had been dormant for a little while.

  White chocolate cup cakes with white chocolate ganache
Image from 'High Tea at the Victoria Room' - please make clear reference to the Victoria Room if using it.

 

I love hosting afternoon tea parties not only because of the ritual, but because of the fun one
can have with the buffet and table setting. I love the idea of fresh flowers, cute serviettes and
pretty tea sets mixed with freshly made scones, sandwiches, tarts and other treats. Perhaps even
even some Champagne and chocolate dipped strawberries may find their way onto the table! :)

Classic scones.

From  'High Tea at the Victoria Room' - please make clear reference to the Victoria Room if using it.

They can be as causal or formal as one whats, and are as perfect for a birthday or baby shower,
as they are for a girl's afternoon out, mother's day or even a kids party. Always chic and so right!

 Pink cup cake
Image from 'High Tea at the Victoria Room' - please make clear reference to the Victoria Room if using it.

Unable to invite you all to a fabulous big tea party (oh how fun that would be though!) I am
offering a copy of 'High Tea at the Victoria Room' to one of my dear followers. All you need
to do is leave a comment below. Please make sure that your icon has a live link to your blog.
Entries will be accepted until midnight (Sydney time) Sunday, 18th July 2010.

Good luck to all and sorry for not opening this give-away outside Australia.
There will be more give-aways for the rest of the world very soon!!

xx Charlotta