LouAnn's Tea sPot - Wapakoneta, Ohio

This tearoom is one I try to visit monthly.  It happens to be on the way to my daughters and I often stop to get an afternoon tea to go.  They are very accommodating and pack the food very well.  Some women are just natural tea room owners.  LouAnn is one of these women.  She opened the tearoom with her niece and has since taken over full ownership.  Her sister now helps and she is as sweet at LouAnn.  The food is all homemade and has always been delicious.

A home has been transformed into the intimate tearoom (That tricky teapot tries to get in every photo.)

Entry area - a few items are usually in the case for to go purchases

The fireplace room

Another dining room - as you can see, we were seated at the table to the left

Larger table in the same dining area

Selection of loose leaf teas from Mountain Rose Herbs

Lots of adorable items in the gift shop

These Christmas tree and package tea infusers are adorable

My tiered server

The menu changes monthly and features seasonal foods

Desserts

Sandwiches - I loved the colorful vegetable garnish

Peppermint scone - How cute to serve the cream in a teacup

Salad options were cole slaw or bean salad

Creamy Potato Soup - again served in a teacup

The back of the menu card has a seasonal prayer that changes monthly.  What a nice way to offer your guests the opportunity to pray before tea.  

Here is her business card.  If you happen to be in Wapakoneta, be sure to stop and enjoy tea.

The menu offers other options for lunch or simply tea and scones.

Sips and Smiles,

Teresa

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.

A Christmas Medley of Friendship Tea Party

The teapot is sleeping in this morning.  She used twelve and a half gallons of water to brew 27 pots of tea the past two days.   

Invites

The Table

Tiered Servers

Sweets

Opera Creams

Dolce Candied Grapefruit

Mint Medley Squares

Tinkling Lemon Triangles

Savories

Poco Pesto Bites

Beet Harmony on Endive Leaves

Notable Meatballs

Sandwiches

Cucumber Notes

Pimento Bells

Harmonic Ham Salad

Forte of Pork and Horseradish

I didn't get a photo of the scone course

Eve Hill's Kensington Palace Cream Scones

Christmas Candied Fruit Scones

Lemon Curd

Red Raspberry Jelly

Spiced Wine Jelly

Weddelshire Cream

Tea Friends

Sparkling Pear Juice has became a Christmas tradition for our gathering along with . . .

Christmas Crackers

We read this party script from Maxine

The tea friends were quite expressive while reading their parts.

It was a fun activity and gave us lots of laughs.

The teapot handed out my gifts for the gift exchange

We each received a handmade umbrella from one of the ladies.

This is a very talented group.  Each umbrella reflected our personality.  Mine featured Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

The next day we turned around and did the entire thing again, this time it was with my Aunts.  We no longer get together at Christmas, so it is always fun to share time together. 

 These Christmas tea parties started back in 2006 with my aunts.  In 2012, I started making it a two day event and inviting the tea friends the second day.

Tea Party with My Aunts

My grandson's tea goodies on the second day.  

He wouldn't miss a tea party and drinks his share of tea.

Casablanca from Mariage Freres was the favorite tea with the tea ladies.  The Aunts favored White Raspberry Ginger from a local tea room and St. Nicks from Simpson and Vail.

Sips and Smiles

Teresa