Crossroads Tearoom, Perth, Ontario

We stopped in yesterday at Crossroads Tearoom in Perth for a light lunch.  And of course I had to try their scones for dessert, as you can see for yourself. The place was hopping at 12:30 but we only had a short wait before a table freed up for us. By the time we had finished our lunch, the place had emptied out so I was able to take some photos without disturbing other visitors. 

But while we waited for our table, I was able to have a good look around and peruse the menu.

At the front counter there was a selection of baked goods in large glass jars.

Marie Antoinette was there to preside over the proceedings, and my oh my, she made no secret of what she had up her skirt.

Just over her shoulder were an assortment of tables and chairs, set for two, four or six. It is definitely a sort of mix and match kind of place which is perfectly charming and suited to a Victorian tearoom.

There are plenty of details to take in and appreciate.

The place is very cozy despite, or perhaps because of,  its jumble of collectibles.

A lovely corner for two over here...

And seating among what looks like a series of what might have once been fitting rooms. 

There are all sorts of vignettes to look at while you dine.

Including these divine hats, which do I prefer... the pink or the blue?

Never mind, it's the food that we came for and everything was very good, and clearly homemade. I will definitely be going back, especially now that I know that sticky toffee pudding is on offer!

Springtime Tea

 

Who could have known that the day I chose to have a clothes swap and tea would be the day we woke up to a snowstorm with blustery winds to create whiteout conditions?

 

 

But with all the baking ready to be consumed, there was nothing for it but to forge ahead. It was rather ironic that I had picked a yellow and green "spring" theme!

 

With vanilla cake Lemon Queens filled with freshly made lemon curd, as well as

 

 

lemon tarts, amond crescents and two types of shortbread: the soft kind with piped yellow icing flowers and traditional Scottish shortbread.

 

 

We ignored the snowy conditions outside, making pot after pot of tea. After all, there's nothing like a treat-filled tea to raise the spirits!   

Spring Comes for Tea

February's over, which means it's time to create the March window display for my favourite tea shop.

 

So with the theme of spring arriving, and nature showing signs of coming back to life, I chose teapots, cups and bowls in shades of brown, like the earth, and robin egg blue.

With twig and moss balls, tree bark, and branches to add a touch of woodland...

and speckled eggs dotted about here and there.

I can't wait for nature, the real one outside, to catch up!

A Return Engagement

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Here I am getting to dress the window of my favourite tea shop once again. Turns out it's something I love to do. I thought I would! So much fun. This was the February window, so Valentine's had to  play a part.                                                    

Once again my sweater hearts made an appearance.

Lots of pretty chintz and florals in various shades of pink. 

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to highlight a line of jewelry made from bits of china.

Tea for two?

Dressing a Tea Shop Window

I've often thought that I would like to be a window dresser.

Well, it looks like know I'm going to get my chance.

My friends at my favourite tea shop graciously allowed me to do their Christmas/winter window display.

I had such fun making all the sweater hearts to add a cosy feel.

Clothes Swap and Tea

Just held a spring/summer clothes swap and afterwards, served an English tea with loads of treats: a chocolate chai cake, and vanilla rose cake, meringues and of course scones with jam and Devonshire cream. Clothes swaps are great fun and a wonderful way of recycling clothes and accessories. After all, who doesn't like to have new things (to them) in their wardrobe and not spend a penny!

Afternoon Tea at the Chateau Laurier

Earlier this week, on a rainy afternoon, we took ourselves off for an afternoon tea at the Chateau Laurier, that lovely "belle of the ball" of a hotel just down from Parliament Hill.

Afternoon tea is served in the elegantly feminine Zoe's, a quiet restaurant with large windows overlooking the hustle and bustle going on outside. We settled in to enjoy our tea from this cozy vantage point, tucked behind large potted plants in a windowed alcove. And what did you have to eat, you ask?

We started with a selection of fresh fruit, while we pondered the tea menu.

Among the many choices, we ended up selecting the same tea: Orange Spice, a mix of black tea, orange and cinnamon.  The perfect choice to add warmth to the rainy afternoon.

The tea was made at our table from an elegant wooden "old world" tea cart, with the water poured from a gleaming silver pot, kept to the boiling point over an open flame.

As we took our first sips of tea, our three-tiered dessert plate arrived, with Victorian and cranberry scones...

accompanied by a generous amount of strawberry jam and Devonshire clotted cream.

On the middle tier were dainty finger sandwiches, and to top off the experience, a slice of almond lemon afternoon tea cake and a custard fruit tartlet.

A Day with the Impressionists

Spent a day in Montreal with D. visiting the Impressionists at the Fine Arts Museum.  What a lovely collection of paintings. And Degas's The Little Dancer was there to greet us too!  We started the morning with a cafe au lait that was a work of art in itself.

And after viewing the exhibition we revived ourselves with a cup of tea at a tearoom on Sherbrooke Street, just a couple of blocks from the museum.

As we dined at The Commensale, before boarding the train to return home, it was starting to get dark and so we were in time to see the Christmas lights along McGill College Avenue. A wonderful day!