AND NOW...

RUFFLED ROSE TEAROOM

Choose one of your beautiful hats to wear for our Formal Afternoon Teas. If you don't have a "proper" hat for a formal tea, not to worry, there is a diverse selection in the tea room for you to wear for the day. Reservations are absolutely necessary! We will only be able to serve a limited number of guests for each tea and you are all going to want to be there. To reserve your spot call 352-463-3842 and give your name and a credit card number. Our teas will be held on the third Saturday of each month and arrangements for special group teas can be made by calling Stephanie at 352-463-3842. The cost is $14.95 plus tax and gratuity. Our first tea presented on Saturday, December 17, 2011 in the Crystal Ice House was a “sold out” event attended by thirty-six guests and was a rousing success.

Danette Baker, assisted by Carol Buck are managing the Ruffled Rose Tearoom and presenting an amazing array of goodies for you to savor. These two ladies have more than 26 years of combined experience in the catering business and are as excited as we are to begin this “royal” tradition in Trenton. Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow tea drinkers, learn the etiquette of formal teas and share in the history of this wonderful ritual. Most of our Formal Afternoon Teas will be "Full Teas" that will include: tea, savories, scones and pastries.

Savories - small sandwiches or appetizers
Scones - Served with jam and Devonshire or clotted cream
Pastries - cakes, cookies, shortbread and sweets

Historical tidbit: It's a little known fact, but after its introduction to Europe in the 17th century, tea was tremendously popular in France. It first arrived in Paris in 1636 (22 years before it appeared in England!) and quickly became popular amongst the aristocracy. According to legend, one of Queen Victoria's (1819-1901) ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhope (1783-1857), known as the Duchess of Bedford, is credited as the creator of afternoon teatime. Because the noon meal had become skimpier, the Duchess suffered from "a sinking feeling" at about four o'clock in the afternoon. Her solution was the Afternoon Tea. As time went on the ritual evolved and became formalized.