Christmas (Afternoon Tea) Present
This year our popular Christmas Afternoon Tea at the Darien Community Association is looking a little different. The Fabulous Girls are back, working staggered shifts and socially distanced to put together the Afternoon Tea experience to go! Thanks to these wonderful volunteers, the profits from the tea go to supporting the DCA and its wonderful programs.
Christmas Cheer to GO!
We are packaging up the magic. In addition to a festive box full of goodies, we are including our signature pear and ginger cocktail mix. (We will provide seltzer, feel free to substitute sparkling wine!), a floral arrangement and other surprises. Enjoy in the comfort of your home or surprise someone with a gift. Perfect for someone in quarantine, or someone who needs a little holiday cheer!
Christmas (Afternoon Tea) Past
Enjoy a traditional British Christmas Afternoon tea with freshly-baked scones and homemade goodies in the stately setting of Darien’s historic House. The DCA is ready for the holidays and the tea rooms have been beautifully decorated with wreaths and Christmas greens.
Dainty sandwiches to include cucumber,
Scones with jam and clotted cream,
A selection of traditional British Christmas cakes and pastries.
For the full British experience we would recommend a pot of PG Tips, Britain’s number one selling brand of tea.
We do also offer a selection of herbal, green, caffeine-free and other specialty teas.
Among the ”Top 5 Out Of 50 Ways to Rediscover Where You Live” in The 2013 Insider’s Guide to New Canaan, Darien and Rowayton, called the experience “Another Step Closer to Downton Abbey
Christmas Afternoon Tea Menu
Amuse Bouche
Sandwiches
Egg Salad
Coronation Chicken
Cucumber and Smoked Salmon Ham and Cranberry
Scones
Blueberry, cranberry, plain and sultana scones
with
lemon curd, strawberry jam and clotted cream
Desserts to include a selection of
Mince Pies
Christmas Cake
Lemon Meringue Pies
Chocolate caramel squares
Christmas Rocky Road*
Meringues
Linzer Cookies
Chocolate dipped Coconut Macaroons
*links to Nigella and Ina recipes
Afternoon tea is a light meal typically served between 4 pm & 6 pm. Observance of this British custom originated amongst the wealthy classes during the 1840s. By the end of the 19th century, afternoon tea was a custom amongst by both upper and middle classes:
Traditionally, loose tea is brewed in a teapot with freshly boiled water. Tea is served in a porcelain cup and saucer. A small amount of cold milk is poured first, followed by the hot tea; sugar is optional. Pouring the cold milk in first, avoided damaging the treasured porcelain with very hot liquid. For laborers, tea was accompanied by a sandwich or baked snack (such as scones). For the upper classes, afternoon tea was accompanied by luxury ingredient sandwiches (customarily cucumber, egg & cress, fish paste, ham, and smoked salmon), scones (with clotted cream and jam,) and cakes and pastries (such as Battenberg cake, fruit cake or Victoria sponge). In hotels and teashops the food is served on a tiered stand. Generally one works up the stand, starting with the sandwiches, progressing to the scones and finishing with cakes and pastries.
That's me in the corner
