review march 2011 the face of chelmsford magazine
DESCRIPTION
Chelmsford’s local online and published community magazine is distributed throughout Chelmsford, direct to a registered reader base in excess of 12,500 as well as being available from local distribution points. Featuring printed and online articles about health, beauty, hair, fitness, exercise, relaxation and informative reviews of local businesses, including restaurants and salons. An honest review of restaurants within Chelmsford and the surrounding areas. The Face of Chelmsford provides a wealth of information from the restaurants background through to promotions and details of the special features of the restaurants. With a new restaurant review every issue, be sure to come back and see the next one.TRANSCRIPT
THE REVIEW
TIME FOR TEA - The Review
health | wellbeing | style | retail | food | living | travel | family | prosperity
Afternoon tea is a delight that is really coming back into fashion. There’s nothing quite like a traditional English afternoon tea, with the proper vintage crockery, cutlery and it’s an English tradition that’s definitely worth doing.
After speaking with Anna-Maria from Time for Tea, we were keen to have a Vintage Tea Party and see what it was all about!
The company Time for Tea was set up to literally take you back to a more genteel era, providing everything you need from beautiful vintage tea sets, linens, fresh flowers, dainty finger sandwiches, fresh scones and delicate pastries and cakes. They completely set up your tea party, leave you to enjoy it and then return to tidy away for you after you have finished, so no washing up! Everything that is served is freshly baked using only the very best ingredients sourced, including organic and fairtrade goods where possible.
Nothing could have been simpler. The table was laid with beautiful vintage tea set’s, pretty daffodils, and a whole array of beautiful sandwiches, cakes and scones. We also had a lemon drizzle cake made for us to try which was really very good, and was presented on a beautiful cake stand. We tried the English Breakfast and the Peppermint tea. The tea bags were in little silk bags, the tea had a wonderful aroma.
They have a vast amount of vintage tea sets and will also be hiring them out for various occasions. The fine bone china is really exquisite and unfortunately seen less and less. Some of which are over 100 years old, think of all the cups of tea, all the people... if only they could talk!
A FEW THINGS ABOUT TIME FOR TEA
Gift Vouchers Give the gift of an experience! It’s often hard to think about what to buy as a gift, an experience gives so much more. It’s not just a gift for the day, but it’s a memory that lasts a lifetime. Buying a gift voucher for afternoon tea is an idea present for any occasion and with Mothers Day around the corner, it makes a great gift.
Signature TeasThey have put special effort into choosing a unique range of teas, that are really divine! Choices of Tea include; Jasmine Silver Needle White Tea, English Breakfast Black Tea, Earl Grey Supreme Black Tea, Organic Bohea Lapsung Black Tea, Peppermint and Organic Chamomile.
Afternoon Tea is Perfect for...This delightful meal is a wonderful experience and it will make you feel pampered and special. Afternoon tea is great for so many different occasions including:Afternoon tea with a group of friends, Christening and naming days, Birthdays and anniversaries, Baby showers, Hen Parties, Retirement parties, Celebratory tea, Business, work or office meetings
Little Tea Parties!Just launched is ‘Tiny Time for Tea’ which is designed for children! A different idea for birthday parties a traditional English tea party, including dressing up with vintage hats, bags, jewellery. Kids love tea parties and dressing up, this makes it extra special.
by Jane Holloway
REVIEWFood
www.thefaceofchelmsford.com
The Verdict Outstanding | Excellent | Good | Average | Poor
Food Outstanding – The food was excellent, generous portions, presented perfectly, completely homemade and very, very tasty.
Service Excellent – Both Anna-Maria and Sarah are really very friendly and very happy to assist and adapt, so that your afternoon tea is a memorable experience.
SelectionExcellent – There is a good range of choices and they are happy to alter the menus as desired.
Value Good/Excellent – Prices start at around £17.50 per person for a minimum of 4 people and this includes all the nibbles, 2 choices of tea, all of the vintage crockery and cutlery and delivery, set-up and collection.
DETAILS
OwnersSarah Thomas & Anna-Maria Hawke CuisineTraditional English afternoon tea with vintage crockery. Hours of ServiceMost times can be accommodated, call for more information. ReservationsPlease contact Time for Tea for your booking. Meals ServedAfternoon Tea - morning, afternoon or evening.....anytime, it's Time for Tea! Date StartedNovember 2010 Good forAny and all occasions! Special FeaturesTraditional English afternoon tea experience.
Contact DetailsWebsite - www.essexafternoontea.co.uk
Email - [email protected]
Phone - Sarah Thomas: 01245 281356 07917126630 Anna-Maria Hawke: 01245 607087 07771793704
Address - They come straight to you or any chosen location or venue.
The Face of Chelmsford 01245 290205
EditorJane Holloway [email protected]
www.thefaceofchelmsford.com [email protected]
7 BROOMFIELD ROAD | CHELMSFORD ESSEX | CM1 1SY
THE MENUAfternoon Tea Menu 1 - £17.50 per person
• Dainty finger sandwiches - free range organic egg & cress, prawn mayonnaise, cream cheese & thinly sliced cucumber• Fresh scones accompanied with Devonshire clotted cream & Tiptree strawberry jam• Selection of delicate pastries and cakes• Choice of 2 teas from the tea menu
Afternoon Tea Menu 2 - £22.50 per person• Dainty finger sandwiches - Smoked salmon with fresh lemon & cracked black pepper, carved ham &
wholegrain mustard, free range organic egg & cress, cheese & chutney• Fresh scones accompanied with Devonshire clotted cream & Tiptree strawberry jam• Selection of delicate pastries and cakes• Choice of 3 teas from the tea menu
Afternoon Tea Menu 3 - Champagne Afternoon Tea - £27.50 per person• Dainty finger sandwiches - Smoked salmon with fresh lemon & cracked black pepper, carved ham &
wholegrain mustard, free range organic egg & cress, cheese & chutney• Fresh scones accompanied with Devonshire clotted cream & Tiptree strawberry jam• Selection of delicate pastries and cakes• Choice of 3 teas from the tea menu• PLUS a glass of champagne per person and fresh strawberries
Extras - £15 eachFresh homemade cake:- Lemon drizzle cake, lavender cake, coffee & walnut, victoria sponge with mascarpone & jam filling. All our cakes will serve at least 12 people and are served on our vintage cake plates or stands.
Tea MenuJasmine Silver Needle White Tea - marries the finest Silver Needle white tea with the fragrance of fresh jasmine flowers to create the perfect balance of delicate white tea taste and sweet jasmine aromatics
English Breakfast Black Tea - Assam tea is low-grown and holds a reputation as the strongest full-bodied tea to be found. Perfect for those who love a strong and malty cup of tea, with or without milk
Earl Grey Supreme Black Tea - Made from a base of exceptional whole leaf Ceylon scented with bergamot and sprinkled with cornflowers to create a tea that delights all the senses. You have never tasted such an amazing Earl Grey
Organic Bohea Lapsung Black Tea - Richly and smoulderingly smoky, yet with great harmony and wealth of aroma, full of the rounded almost peaty smoke notes given by cunningly banked fires of local pine. Complex and teasing with a hazel-sweet freshness behind the supple smoke
Peppermint -whole peppermint leaf infusion is striking and strong, with a fantastically fresh and cleansing minty flavour. Peppermint leaf cleanses your palate and aids digestion
Organic Chamomile - The only way to appreciate the floral, summery elegance of chamomile is to put the whole flower in water. The result is a stunning freshness and light, cleansing flavour.