What's So Weird About Portland?

I've visited Portland several times for business and didn't get to see much, so I was thrilled to change that when I returned a few months ago.  My friend, who doubled as tour guide, packed a lot into the 3 days I was there.  First stop was Cannon Beach.

 Cannon Beach

At the top of my list, 80 miles West of Portland, Cannon Beach alone was worth the visit.  The monolithic rocks were picturesque and somewhat mysterious.  Haystack Rock, the third largest of its kind, did not disappoint presenting a great photo-op and place to explore sea life.

The town of Cannon Beach has quaint restaurants and shops featuring local art, chic home decor and an old-fashioned candy store that sells most of your childhood favorites.

Haystack Rock

  

Tidal Pool Starfish



Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River flows through this beautiful canyon of up to 4,000 feet deep, stretching for over 80 miles forming the boundary of the state of Washington to the North and Oregon to the South.  The above photo was taken from Crown Point lookout.  The building itself has an art deco-like appearance and houses history, photography & artwork, and a gift shop.



Crown Point


A stop at Multnomah Falls was also on the agenda this day, but weather conditions presented good news and bad news. The good news being it was a gorgeous day for enjoying the outdoors and bad news for the same reason. Great weather contributed to larger crowds making it much more difficult to find parking places. The falls could be seen from the road, and as my friend commented, were not flowing as much as usual due to recent hotter and dryer weather.



                                 Stone Cliff Inn -  Carver, OR

The Stone Cliff Inn, not far from Portland, has a beautiful wooded area off the parking lot where one of my favorite scenes from the movie "Twilight" was filmed. The large mossy rocks provided the perfect backdrop. There are actually signs on them showing exactly where the filming took place. Being a huge fan, this was a fun stop to take some pictures and marvel in the lush forest setting.



Just steps from the parking lot 





"Twilight" Lion and the Lamb scene 

                                                                     The City


 Before leaving, I wanted to check out the tea scene and found a great little shop downtown.  The Tea Zone & Camellia Lounge is located in Portland's Pearl District. The shop sells loose leaf teas, brewing equipment and accessories, has a great Sunday Brunch and even live music.

We went on Sunday and had Brunch. Lots of great entree choices, plus extras. We included their famous scones served with Devonshire Cream and Lemon Curd. I would have been happy just eating the scones. Talk about "to die for". So rich and melt-in-your-mouth wonderful. Topped it all off with a hot pot of tea and an Earl Grey Chocolate Truffle. Great experience! 

Tea & Truffle


Time didn't allow me to visit the Japanese Gardens or Voodoo Doughnuts, (probably the coolest doughnut shop ever) famous for their Bacon Maple Bars and assorted cereal topped doughnuts.

There are signs in the city that say "Keep Portland Weird".  One of my Facebook friends posts pictures frequently with the same caption.  I'm not exactly sure what the "weird" part is, but I know there is so much more to see and experience. Perhaps I'll find out on my next visit!

http://teazone.businesscatalyst.com/tea-shop/

http://teazone.businesscatalyst.com/sunday-brunch/

Sereni-Tea ~ Mandarin Oriental, LV

On a recent trip to Las Vegas attending the World Tea Expo, I knew I couldn't leave without scheduling Afternoon Tea at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. I enjoyed my first experience there in February, 2010, and knew then it would be a future haven from the hustle and bustle of the Las Vegas Strip.

This non-gaming hotel on Las Vegas Blvd. South is located in the City Center and exudes a luxury like few others. Gold, glitz and glitter are replaced by lovely minimalist Asian decor: cool, modern and serene.

Afternoon Tea is served daily in the 23rd Floor Sky Lounge starting at 2:30pm with the last seating at 5:00pm. Reservations are recommended, especially if you wish to take advantage of the breath-taking views of the city skyline. One may choose Classic English Afternoon Tea or Veuve Clicquot Afternoon Tea (Classic with Champagne).

Classic English Afternoon Tea includes the following courses: sandwiches, scones & pastries. The first order of business is to choose a tea from their many loose leaf selections. All varieties are represented well: Jasmine Pearl (White), Mandarin Blossoms, Organic Lychee, Matcha (Green), Mandarin Orange Blend, (Black), Artisan Blend Jasmine Earl Grey (Black & Green) Jasmine Green, Osmanthus (Oolong) and Tou-Cha (Pu'erh). I chose Jasmine Earl Grey, a delightful blend of black & green leaves scented with Jasmine, accented with blue Cornflower petals, and flavored with citrusy Bergamot ~ a Mediterranean fruit thought to be a sour orange and lemon hybrid.  Tea is delivered to the table in an attractive glass pot and warming stand with tea candle.

The first course consisted of 4 different sandwiches: below, clockwise from left they are Curried Chicken Salad, Black Forest Ham & Horseradish Cream, Salmon, Cucumber & Watercress Spread, and Egg Salad & Chives on Brioche. All nicely crafted and delicious.

                        

Next came two moist and rich Buttermilk Scones. These were accompanied by freshly made condiments  including Tea Rose Petal Spread, Devonshire Cream, and Citrus Zest, an orange & lemon spread closely resembling the consistency of curd or preserves. The Tea Rose Petal Spread was an instant hit. Its delicate rose scent and deep pink color, along with actual bits of petals, made it unique to anything I've ever tried. 

Last, but always best in my book, were the pastries. Usually changing day to day, I couldn't have been happier with that day's selections. Below, clockwise from left they are:  Raspberry Rose Jam Macaroon, Raspberry Lavender Tart, Opera Cake adorned with Cubed Gelee & White Chocolate Straw, Lemon Ginger Madeline,  Tea Berry Tart made with Chocolate Ganache & topped with a Blueberry, and in the center, Passion Fruit Cake with Mango Cream. Believe me when I say it doesn't get any better than this.

Servers Ava and Nancy were courteous, attentive and knowledgeable; not once flinching at my numerous questions. Stella, Tea Lounge Manager, also stopped by to chat and make sure my experience was nothing less than enjoyable and relaxing. I was genuinely surprised when presented with a gift bag made up solely for the attendees of the World Tea Expo. In it was a full size tin of their signature Mandarin Orange Blend  ~ mandarin orange flavored black tea, with the crisp aroma of freshly squeezed oranges. 

  

I highly recommend staying, or at least, visiting this hotel on your next trip to Las Vegas. If you're not a fan of Afternoon Tea, be sure to try one of their tea cocktails served from 10:00am-10:00pm.  The Mandarin Bar on the same floor has equally amazing views, while offering cocktails and dining.

I overheard a couple in the elevator saying how impressed they were with the guest rooms. Even the Ladies Lounge has a spa-like quality to it, which made me feel the need to go home and de-clutter my house.

For more information about Afternoon Tea and the Hotel's features, please follow the links below.

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas/dining/tea_lounge/

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas/images/tea_lounge.pdf

http://www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas/

Happy Solar Return

In Astrology, birthdays are called "Solar Returns," because each year, the Sun returns to the same place it was located the day you were born. Recently I celebrated my Solar Return, a term used in Astrology to signify the day of one's birth. I've always found Astrology fascinating and hardly go a day without reading my horoscope ~ to me it's highly entertaining and often enlightening. If this bit of trivia is news to my family & friends, they're probably thinking "that explains a lot".  Just so you know, I don't base any life threatening decisions on it, but I do challenge the most staunch non-believer to find one characteristic of their sun sign that doesn't apply to them. What does this have to do with tea, you ask?  Well technically, not much, but I did discover a website that offers teas blended specifically for each sign of the zodiac. A unique gift idea or party favor to coordinate with an Astrology themed tea party (a future post, I'm sure).

In addition, there are numerous websites that
list varieties of garden herbs linked to the sun
signs, as well as interesting facts about each.
You might even try blending your favorite dried
herbs with some loose tea for your own signature
drink.

I hope you enjoy the links below. Please excuse
me now while I finish my cup of tea. Time to read
the tea leaves and consult the Ouiji board!




http://www.adagio.com/signature_blend/blend.html?blend=1554&SID=b3881b4dda32a42f4e1ac2191d3592be
http://www.plantingseedsblog.com/2009/10/an-herb-for-your-sun-sign/
http://www.starlightastrology.com/c-quickies.htm
http://www.home-herb-garden.com/zodiacherbs.html
http://www.astrodivine.com/sunsigns.htm

http://www.gardenwitchery.com/

Beau-tea-ful You ~

To tea or not to tea, that is the question! 

Although tea is my passion, I'm not a hypocrite. I'm the first to admit that my favorite "bistro" coffee is a weekly indulgence. Nothing teases the senses more than the smell of freshly ground coffee ~ a scent like no other, and often, better than the final product's taste.

Recent health studies have revealed the following about coffee drinkers:

• they are less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and dementia;
• they have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes.

That being said, more and more people have become aware of the health benefits of drinking tea.

From calming or revitalizing effects to anti-aging qualities, teas are finally getting their "celeb" status and rightly so!

For starters, the list of available teas is endless making it difficult to get bored. Brewed tea, hot or iced, has become a springboard in the introduction of smoothies, lattes, sorbet, gelato and ice cream. Innovative tea-infused dishes are finding a home on menus worldwide giving our taste buds a newly found appreciation for these versatile leaves. From "traditional" to "dessert teas" we now see tea menus with the volume and variety of a good wine list.

In addition, beauty & cosmetic lines have taken it a step further by adding tea to their skincare and fragrance lines. The trend is not new, but the popularity has increased, especially in the last decade. Some of the same positive effects from drinking the beverage can also be realized by applying it externally. 

A recent article I read listed tea as a remedy for calming sunburns. It said to dampen green tea bags with cool water and apply to the red areas, explaining the combination of antioxidants and cool water quickly diminishes the redness and inflammation. Sounds very soothing!

So to sum things up, tea lovers unite! Whether you eat or drink it, bathe in it, or use it as fragrance, our favorite plant has a multitude of uses contributing to a more beau-tea-ful you!

For a refresher course in the benefits of drinking green tea and for companies using tea in their beauty products, please use the links below.    

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/health-benefits-of-green-tea
http://www.salonteas.com/personal-care.html
http://www.laduree.fr/en/beaute/produits/collection_beaute_laduree
http://usa.loccitane.com/FO/tea-collection.htm
http://shop.elizabetharden.com/family/index.jsp?cp=2879146&categoryId=2588686&page=1
http://us.bulgari.com/department.jsp?cat=cat00175
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/240

For Mom ~ Tea Cup Memories

With Mother's Day almost upon us, here's a personal story I'd like to share.

My first introduction to anything tea related was through my mother's tea cup collection. They were delicate, beautifully decorated bone china cups and saucers, each unique and none matching. My father started her collection by buying one in each of the many towns he visited on his sales trips during the 1950's. His business trips lasted a week at a time, returning home on the weekends, and would never fail to bring back a gift  for us. For me it was some little trinket he thought I would like, although I have to admit, I was usually more fascinated by soaps/matchbooks collected from hotels and restaurants along the way. My mother would get a gift-boxed tea cup. I still remember the look on her face when she opened one: a combination of joy, pleasure and genuine gratitude.

 Years later, she displayed them on the shelves of a maple hutch purchased to match her dining table & chairs. It was definitely the focal point in our dining room making her extremely proud. One weekend she was preparing to entertain family and friends at a holiday meal in our home and decided to move the hutch out just slightly from the wall. Not realizing the upper portion had become top-heavy and listed forward, a large number of the cups and saucers came crashing down. I think it had to be one of the saddest moments of her life. She cried for days: mad at herself for taking on such a task, but more than that, the gestures of my father's love were beyond repair and irreplaceable. As time passed, the pain of her disappointment faded and she forgave herself. 

She passed away at the age of 75, only two weeks before her 52nd wedding anniversary. After my father died years later, I became the proud owner of the remaining tea cups, now my most treasured possessions. Nothing gives me more pleasure than drinking my favorite tea in them and remembering when they first made their way into our home.
 

Happy Mother's Day ~

Mother's Day Tea

I think one of the nicest gifts for Mothers on their special day is to present them with a meal they didn't have to cook! Taking Mom out to eat is great, but not always plausible, not to mention the crowds, the noise and most certainly, the expense.

Here are a few suggestions for an easy Mother's Day Tea. Most all can be done the day before, allowing more quality time with Mom.

* Prepare your table. Set out a pretty tablecloth, napkins, plates, cups & saucers, silverware, serving trays. Use one tray as a centerpiece with teapot, sugar bowl, & cream pitcher (if desired). An electric kettle is handy for keeping the water hot. Purchase a small bouquet of fresh flowers to display in a flower pot or extra teapot if you have one. Small tea lites or a votive candle make it cozy. Make sure they're unscented.

If the weather allows, have it outside on your patio or bistro table for a more casual setting. Even if space is limited, a few potted plants/herbs will make it garden-like. Serve the tea iced if a warm day is expected.

* Plan your menu. Be sure to purchase Mom's favorite loose leaf tea and one or two others to give as her gift. Shop for menu ingredients and specialty condiments: lemon curd, preserves, clotted cream. A small jar of honey, lemon slices and grapes for garnish add a nice touch.

* Do your food prep. Keep the menu simple: Tea Sandwiches, Scones and a few petite Desserts. Prepare your sandwiches and store each kind in a separate container. Place a slightly damp paper towel over them before covering to keep the bread moist. Scones can be made from one of the many great mixes found in your grocery or specialty foods store. Desserts can be as easy as making brownies or lemon bars, cut into small squares, and mini cream puffs/eclairs (found in your grocer's frozen food section). A small assortment of gourmet chocolates add some elegance.

* Tea Time. Turn on some soft music and enjoy. Have a picture taken of the two of you enjoying tea and present her with a silver frame for displaying it. Make it even more memorable by sending her home with a new tea cup.
Above all else, cherish this time you have together.

Happy Mother's Day ~



*** I've provided some links below that may be helpful. I love Paula Deen's video of making "engagement ring" sandwiches: very easy and great tea fare as well. Include egg salad & chicken salad sandwiches for variety. World Market & Pier One have unique and reasonable gift and decorating ideas.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/easy-party-finger-sandwiches/11005.html
http://www.worldmarket.com/home/index.jsp
http://www.pier1.com/catalog/browse/0500.home-decor

Royal Wedding Commemorative China

With the royal nuptials just hours away, we Americans may be wondering what the commemorative china looks like. Here is a peek at the collectible pieces available from The Royal Collection.

“Each piece bears the couple’s entwined initials in gold and silver surmounted by the coronet of Prince William and the wedding date. The range is decorated with a pattern of doves, white ribbons and hearts in silver, gold and grey, set against a pale-grey striped background. Handmade exclusively for the Royal Collection in Stoke-on-Trent using methods that have remained unchanged for 250 years…”

The china bears the wording, “To Celebrate the Marriage of Prince William of Wales to Catherine Middleton. April 29, 2011.” Many china patterns are NOT dishwasher and microwave safe. This pattern is no exception.

The following items are available for sale:

Tankard
(Royal Wedding version looks like a china coffee mug. Some traditional tankards resemble a beer stein.)Cost: $58.24 US / £35

Eight Inch Plate
Cost: $66.56 US / £40

Pill Box
Cost: $41.60 US / £25

Tea Towel

Cost: $13.23 US / £7.95

Souvenir Mug

Cost: $33.28 US / £20

Commemorative Decoration

(Similar to a Christmas ornament)Cost: $21.55 US / £12.95

All US prices are approximate and reflect today’s conversion rate of $1.00 US to £1.6635 GBP (Great Britain Pound.) This, surprisingly isn’t too bad compared to our visits to London in 2003 and 2005 when the rate was 1/1.78.
 

If you plan to order a piece of history, please note that your credit card or PayPal may charge a currency conversion fee. Also, pay special attention to shipping fees to countries outside of Great Britain. If you are fortunate enough to descend upon the UK to make your purchases in person, please comment here to tell us all about it!

The website currently states that purchases may take up to 21 days to ship due to an unprecedented number of online sales. Descriptions of commemorative china quoted from The Royal Collection.

Click here to order directly:

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=898

Guest post courtesy of GlamboGirls:
www.GlamboBlog.Blogspot.com // @GlamboGirls on Twitter

Empress Scones

This highly requested scone recipe was such a hit at their tea service, they had it printed on tea towels and sold in their gift shop. Enjoy ~

                          AFTERNOON TEA AT THE EMPRESS  
                                 Makes 35 scones regular size 

                                          2 lb., 4oz. Flour
                                             9 oz. Sugar  
                                          9 oz. Butter (hard)
                                        2 oz. Baking Powder

                                            6 oz. Raisins

                                             5 1/2 Eggs
                                      16 oz. Whipping Cream
                                             Pinch of Salt

         1.  Crumb flour, butter, sugar, baking powder & salt

         2.  Add eggs slowly

         3.  Add raisins

         4.  Add cream, mix to smooth dough

         5.  Roll out to 1/2 in. thickness, cut out desired size

         6.  Egg wash, bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes

Afternoon Tea at Lake Louise

A couple of years ago, I visited  Lake Louise, in Alberta, Canada. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and was lucky enough to go at the end of March, when snow showers were still frequent and the lake was frozen. I say lucky, because I live in the desert and very seldom have the opportunity to see a winter wonderland. I'm not a skier, but loved ice skating on the lake's front portion that was cleared of snow daily, and then later taking a walk across it to the mouth of the glacier that feeds it. Frozen waterfalls were prevalent along the way.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where I stayed, is an amazing resort full of old European charm and  breathtaking views. One of the first things I did upon arriving was go to their Afternoon Tea served in the Lakeview Lounge. Reservations are recommended, especially if you prefer a table by the window where the view is spectacular. 

The tea service starts with a glass of sparkling wine or champagne, followed by a fresh fruit combination. The traditional 3-tiered tray is then presented with the daily sandwich, scone and dessert selections: all of them beautifully crafted and delicious. It's a casual elegance that attracts couples and families, as my husband was quick to point out. Not something he would be inclined to share with his "fishing buddies", but an enjoyable first experience with afternoon tea.   

I've been told that I need to return during the summer season to appreciate the deep turquoise color of the glacial lake and I most certainly plan on it!

To learn more about Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, please follow the links below to see photos from their website and view the menu. 

http://www.fairmont.com/lakelouise/GuestServices/Restaurants/AfternoonTea.htm 

http://www.fairmont.com/lakelouise/GuestServices/Restaurants/LakeviewLounge.htm

Afternoon Tea - Not Brain Surgery!

In my first "Tweet" on Twitter, I mentioned some of the things that turn me off at afternoon tea: specifically weak tea, stale bread and clueless servers.
Allow me to elaborate.


TEA

The "STAR" of the show.  Tea room owners/establishments: start with good quality tea and a variety of selections from each category.
This is your opportunity to shine!

Offer some traditional choices, ie, English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, in addition to your black tea blends. On my last tea outing, I was disappointed to find that my tea choice deemed "most popular" from the menu, was, in fact, so popular, they were out of it. This left only two choices of black tea remaining, both of them blends. Believe me, there's nothing wrong with having great blends. Change is good, and the trend in blends seems to be the more innovative and edgy, the better. But some of us old-schoolers may just want our comfort cup of Chai, or Jasmine tea. No bells or whistles!

Educate your servers.  "A little knowledge goes a long way". Some general education about the teas offered and steeping times is most helpful and can be passed along to the guests when the tea pots are delivered. Keep the pots refreshed with hot water, as necessary. In addition to the traditional sugar bowl, offer no-calorie sweetener packets and honey straws. It's not necessary to keep sliced lemon or a cream pitcher on the table, but at least offer them.

Lastly, but just as important, serve fresh food! I recently had tea sandwiches that were all served on toasted bread. The owner may have been trying a new spin on an old standby, but I took it as a way to recycle the bread on hand. Even the mini croissants were "crunchy", certainly not what I was expecting. Fruit should be fresh, whether served as a side or garnish. Make the desserts memorable! They should be nothing less than melt-in-your-mouth decadence. Enough said.

A courteous "thank you for coming, so glad you enjoyed it" will send your guests off feeling appreciated, happy and pampered. Much nicer than one of my sendoffs at a local five star resort where the tea host condescendingly commented on the fact there was no food left on the plates, making my companion and I feel self-conscious. Believe me, we were so looking forward to the experience, we hadn't eaten all day. Even if we had, we would have asked for the remainder to be packaged to go. Times are tough. Afternoon tea can be pricey for most, often reserved for special occasions.
Give us a reason to return!!! 

Tea in Victoria

I must say, the first time I experienced afternoon tea probably spoiled me for life.  It was served in the beautiful conservatory at Butchart Gardens, Victoria, BC, which seemed the ideal place to relax. The surrounding flowers and lily pond presented a perfect backdrop. 

I chose Earl Grey tea, now one of my favorites, and was delighted when the three-tiered tray was set before us. Filled with fancy tea sandwiches, fresh baked scones and delectable desserts, it was too pretty to eat. That lasted about 60 seconds while we took mental pictures, and then proceeded to demolish the whole thing. Maybe not lady-like, but an homage to the nicest experience one could imagine; great presentation, wonderful food, and steaming hot tea.