Saturday, December 12, 2015

Sweet Shalom Tea Room

After a couple days of playing hostess, we decided it was time to be a tea guest.  Sweet Shalom is one of my favorite tea rooms.  Everything you expect in a tea room, you will find at Sweet Shalom.  The home that houses the tea room has a long history and the back of your menu shares the details.  
The porch is always decorated to match the monthly theme.  This month is "Holidays at the Homestead" featuring Currier and Ives.
Upon entering the tea room, you are greeted by costumed servers.  Brenda is on the left and you can catch a glimpse of Sara behind the flowers.
They have a lovely gift shop.
You will find a variety of items available.
More goodies
The fireplace mantle is always decorated to match the theme.
We were greeted with a cup of wassail.  The recipe is in their cookbook.  Packets of the spices and sugar, along with the directions were also for sale.
Warm Cranberry Orange Scones
Their scones are the best.  I have taken their scone making class twice.  It has certainly helped my scone making skills.

Our tea was served on the Currier and Ives themed china.  Sara shared with us that the dishes were part of grocery store promotions years ago.  
Creamy Potato Soup
Tea Goodies
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
Turkey with Cranberry Tea Sandwiches
Mushrooms with Sage Stuffing
Savory Corn Pudding
Ginger Molasses Cookie
Date Nut Cake
Final Dessert
Sweet Potato Pie topped with Pecan Crumble and Whipped Cream
Raven, the harpist, entertained us during our tea time.  Angels We Have Heard On High, The First Noel, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Here We Come A Wassailing, Frosty the Snowman, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Hark the Herald Angels Sing were just a few of the songs she played.
Sara shared a bit about Currier and Ives as part of the program.  They brought art to the common people to use in decorating their homes.  The hired artists specialized in a specific styles of art - still life, snow scenes, portraits, etc.  The print above is not one I would have connected with Currier and Ives.  I was more familiar with style on the mantle.  Several other prints were displayed through out the tea room.  I always find the programs very interesting.  I come away from tea at Sweet Shalom not only relaxed, but with a tidbit of new information.  The tetris teapot was filled with Hot Cinnamon Spice and White Christmas tea by Harney and Sons.

9 comments:

  1. What a fun outing for you and the traveling teapot. I enjoy Sweet Shalom tea room too, and a return visit is long overdue.

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  2. How I would love having tea at Sweet Shalom. So glad you could enjoy tea time with the Tardis.

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  3. Didn't know that the traveling teapot was in my neck of the words! Sweet Shalom is my fav tea room. Chris and her helpers do a wonderful job and I am always wowed by how much effort they put into each tea. Not to mention the absolutely delicious food. Not to mention all them wonderful teas, too!

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  4. Someday I hope to get to visit. I have their cookbook and appreciate their knowledge of all things tea time.

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  5. This tea room is on my list of 'must visit' locations! Hoping to get there eventually!

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  6. What a lovely tea day. Sweet Shalom always does an excellent tea the way I like them done. As a labor of love with two families joining in, there is hospitality from the heart.

    The Currier & Ives dishes were made in East Palestine, Ohio when my DH's cousin and friends worked in the W.S. George pottery there. It is the same pottery that made the china for some private yachts, including one of a current presidential candidate that I won't mention and many of those commemorative plate series that nobody knows what to do with now.

    Sweet Shalom knows what to do with Currier & Ives dishes.
    Eve

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  7. I would love to visit this tea room. Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Ahhh, wishing we could have gone together!

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  9. Delicious tea menu! I love when soup is served in the colder months.

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