Afternoon Tea at the Oxford Exchange

Over the weekend, I enjoyed Afternoon Tea at The Oxford Exchange in Tampa.  It's a large renovated 1890's building in downtown Tampa, Florida. The arched wood-paneled hallways and marble floors are something you would see in London, rather than Tampa. The OE is part bookshop, part champagne bar, part tea bar, part coffee counter, part gift shop, and a restaurant. Afternoon tea is served in the Conservatory, adjacent to the restaurant. 

The bookshop is full of best sellers and hardback classics.

There is even a Warby Parker eyeglass shop.

The gift shop is full of globally-inspired decor, coffee table books, and lots of candles.

The Champagne Bar is lovely and was very busy with customers sipping the bubbly champagne cocktails. The air was blissfully fragrant with all the fresh floral arrangements throughout the area.

Te Bella Tea Company has a bar with a wide selection of tea (45 teas in the collection).

The Buddy Brew Coffee Company has a counter—they are a Tampa-based craft coffee roaster serving up coffee specialty drinks and pastries.

                                 

The restaurant and Conservatory are both light and airy. I have had lunch in the restaurant before and it was fabulous!  The service was great as well.

The Afternoon Tea was held in the Conservatory.  We chose the Royal Afternoon Tea:  Savories, Scones, and Sweets, with tea and champagne. 

I chose the Lavender Earl Grey Tea--a blend of bergamot, lavender, and jasmine;  My friend Diana had the Earl Grey Creme--a blend of bergamot, creme, and French vanilla; Diana's daughter Natalie chose the Milk Oolong--It was a creamy, floral Chinese tea.  We switched and swapped to taste each other's tea and they were all very good!  All the teas were from the Te Bella Tea Company.

I give the Oxford Exchange Royal Afternoon Tea Five Silver Spoons. The service, tea foods, and tea were all great and the ambiance was delightful.

Five Silver Spoons for The Oxford Exchange Experience!

Reservations are required and you will definitely want to make them in advance as the OE is a very popular spot. The Oxford Exchange is located at 420 W. Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, Florida.  For more information, go to OxfordExchange.com.

Fortnum and Mason

Fortnum and Mason, Piccadilly, London

Epitomizing the sophistication of Afternoon Tea, the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon has served Fortnum and Mason's most delicious tradition since 1926. It was renamed following a visit from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.  The salon serves the city's top afternoon tea with a resident pianist and refined Georgian-style decor. Finger sandwiches, scones, and beautiful patisserie are freshly baked in Piccadilly. Having tea at Fortnum and Mason is a historic experience.  The iconic department store was founded in 1707, invented the Scotch egg in 1738, and added Battenburg cake to its menu in 1926.

It's so quintessentially British, in fact, that in 2012 when the brand launched its Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at the top of its Piccadilly building, the late Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Camilla, and the Princess of Wales all came to open it. A decade later, the service remains impeccable, the signature eau de nil china is as elegant as ever, and the menu refined yet irreverent.  

2012--The late Queen Elizabeth II opened the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, wearing the stores signature color, eau de nil, from head to toe...swoon

Fortnum and Mason has long been linked with the royal Family.  Generations of the Fortnum family worked in Royal service, from the reign of Queen Anne onwards. During the long and illustrious reign of Queen Victoria, the company received the first of its many Royal Warrants.  On August 30, 1867, the company was appointed grocers and tea dealers to her son, Prince Albert, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.  Today the world-famous store continues to hold a royal warrant for the King for groceries and provisions. 

I knew when I booked my trip to London for the King's Coronation a reservation for AfternoonTea at Fortnum's was a must-do. I confirmed my reservation seven months in advance...I didn't want to miss out on the Fortnum's tea experience.

181 Piccadilly is a rather special place. Beautifully crafted patisseries greeted us upon arrival and then there was display after display full of a tea lover's and gourmet food connoisseur's dream groceries and accoutrements! The place was packed with happy people shopping for loose tea, tea bags, gourmet foods, jams, honey, biscuits, and all the British fine delicacies.

This celebratory loose-leaf blend Darjeeling tea was created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III...of course, Darjeeling is the champagne of teas.

Another tea was created to celebrate the Coronation...Pineapple and Coconut Infusion, teabags.

After shopping till we dropped, we headed to the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon...

My afternoon tea squad...friends I have known for many, many years--from Georgia, Mississippi, Italy, and England!

I behaved myself and checked out the menu without taking it home with me!

I decided to have the Fortnum's Coronation Afternoon Tea...

We started our celebration with the Coronation of HM King Charles III Champagne!

Proper British Afternoon Tea--Savories, Scones, and Sweets...total perfection!

I sipped the fragrant Victoria Grey tea...heaven in a cup!

Afternoon tea at Fortnum's was everything I hoped it would be...elegant and delicious!

Royal Tea

Since it is National Afternoon Tea Week in the U.K., I decided to enjoy a tea here in Georgia today.  Actually, I am having a "Royal Tea."  What is the difference between an "Afternoon Tea" and a "Royal Tea?"  A "Royal Tea" is also served in the afternoon and in addition to serving savories, scones, and sweets, a special dessert is also offered.  A glass of champagne is offered along with hot tea.

This book "Tea Fit for a Queen" was my inspiration for the tea, as I'm sure Queen Elizabeth II serves a "Royal Tea" to visitors at Buckingham Palace.

"Tea Fit for a Queen" is published by the people at Historic Royal Palaces, with narratives by Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator of the charity.  Historic Royal Palaces is an independent charity that manages some of the United Kingdom's unoccupied royal palaces; i.e., Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House, Kew Palace, and Hillsborough Castle. 

This pretty little book reveals how the tradition of afternoon tea started in royal Britain.  Recipes for finger sandwiches, Victoria sponge cake, Chelsea Buns, and a Champagne Cocktail are some of the royal recipes included.  Naturally, the recipes are beautifully photographed, but the measurement quantities are U.K. based.  So, if you are in the USA, you will need to convert the measurements.



I decided to use my Franciscan 'Desert Rose' dinner and tea ware for this tea.  I think any china pattern with a rose motif is so pretty at teatime.

Menu
Savories, Scones, and Sweets
Apple Cobbler
Champagne Cocktail
Royal Palace Tea

{I used the book's recipes for Cucumber and Mint Sandwiches, Egg Mayonnaise Sandwiches, and Champagne Cocktails}

Etiquette Tip:  The savories {sandwiches} are always placed on the bottom tier and eaten first; followed by the scones eaten next from the middle tier; and the sweets from the top tier.  Don't forget to take dainty bites!  Take small bites, sip a little tea, and make pleasant conversation.

The Royal Palace Tea may be purchased at Harney Tea...it is delightful, as one would expect!


I hope you have enjoyed your visit today.  Tomorrow, I will be back with a very sad post.  "What Happens When the Queen Dies?"

Joyeux Anniversaire Marie Antoinette

Today is Marie Antoinette's birthday and I'm celebrating by relaxing in bed while watching the movie, starring Kirsten Dunst.  No football for me this afternoon...just sipping tea and nibbling on delectable tea foods.  

The September 2006 cover of Vogue featured an Annie Leibovitz photograph of Kirsten, who played Marie Antoinette in the film written and directed by Sofia Coppola.  The film was based on the life of the last Queen of France in the years leading up to the Revolution.  Filmed on location at the Palace of Versailles and the Petit Trianon, the film depicts a sympathetic view of Marie Antoinette.

 This photograph captures the signature poofy hairstyle and an extravagant costume worn by Dunst in the film.  It is no wonder that Milena Canonero won the Oscar for best costume design!  The entire film is filled beautiful creations worn by Dunst and other ladies.

Marie Antoinette

November 2, 1755 ~ October 16, 1793

Marie Antoinette was truly a lover of fashion...She had the finest gowns with panniers made of light fabrics and pastel colors.

She was always surrounded by a countless number of ladies-in-waiting...all dressed to the nines themselves!

The fabulous shoes worn in the film were designed by Manolo Blahnik...

Marie Antoinette was also known for her love of decadent pastries...the film would lead you to believe that she followed a diet of macarons and champagne! ooh la la

I set up a tray of goodies and a pot of 'Paris' tea in my bedroom to enjoy while I watched this beautiful movie...I never get tired of all the loveliness in this film!

Whenever I prepare afternoon for myself on a special occasion, I like to use the proper tea accoutrements....Tiered tea tray with a doily on each plate and silver serving pieces, a doily underneath my teacup, a tea serviette, and sugar tongs for the cubes.

The tea tray is filled with savories {quiche} on the bottom plate, scones/croissants on the middle plate, and sweets on the top.  The tea foods are eaten in that order...bottom to top.

I adore all of the Harney Teas, but 'Paris' is my absolute favorite!  It is a fruity black tea with vanilla and caramel flavors and a hint of lemony Bergamot.  It pairs well with traditional tea foods and is the perfect tea to enjoy in the afternoon.

Social Graces 101 etiquette tip:  Do not extend your pinkie finger when holding your teacup--it's considered an affectation and you'll end up looking like a mafia character.

Social Graces 101 etiquette tip:  One lump or two?  When sugar tongs are used for cubed sugar, remember that the tongs should never touch your tea and are placed by the sugar bowl/plate or draped over the handle of the sugar bowl/plate when not in use.

I've had a very relaxing Saturday afternoon.  Now, it's time to put away the prissy tea accoutrements and watch some football!  Thank you for visiting with me.