Tea Tasting Notes – Countess Grey
It’s National Afternoon Tea Week so I’m drinking plenty of tea and it seems like a good time to share some of my favourite teas with you. A while ago I wrote a short review of Twinning’s Peppermint tea but, as a tea geek, I’m always trying new teas and would love to share some more of them with you. I’d love to hear which teas you’re enjoying at the moment too or do you prefer to stick to one type of tea?
I recently picked up a box of Fortnum and Mason’s Countess Grey tea bags. This tea has rocked my world. I actually tried it first a couple years ago when celebrating a friends birthday with afternoon tea in their Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. I tried to get some at Christmas but they had sold out so I guess that’s a good indicator of how good it is too.
Among tea lovers it may seem a bit controversial to have opted for tea bags. Don't get me wrong I love a properly brewed loose leaf tea but sometimes I just need a decent speedy brew. You obviously don’t get the same cup of tea that you would from loose leaf tea but the standard of the tea bag teas from Fortnum and Mason is so good that I really don’t mind. In fact there are moments in life when I’d drink just about any tea you pop in front of me, surely I’m not alone!
So lets get down to it. As John Torode might say, first you get the comforting bergamot aroma typical of Earl Grey but it’s quickly joined by delicate yet refreshing citrus notes. For me this tea is perfect in the morning, I have to have a cup of tea in the morning but I also enjoy a glass of juice so for me it is kind of like drinking tea and orange juice without that horrible taste in your mouth. I love the uplifting orange citrus and I think it would be a perfect pick me up in the afternoon too. They recommend trying it with a slice of orange or lemon and I plan to try this too.
Fortnums offer a range of luxury teas available in tea bags or loose leaf. The packaging is a gorgeous shimmery Fortnums green, the Countess Grey comes with a strip of hot pink and every time I get a packet out I feel like I’m being a bit decadent, yes such is the life of a tea geek. At £3.75 for a box of 25, thats only 15p per tea bag, I think its pretty reasonable and you they are available online too.
I hope you guys find this useful, I know there are plenty of tea geeks among you, so will you be taking afternoon tea this week?
Please note I have not been paid or sponsored to write this post, all opinions and photos are my own.
Sneak Peek: Street Feast London
We recently swung by Dalston Yard to get a sneak peek into Street Feast London and find out how street food is rocking the London foodie scene. It’s running every Friday and Saturday evenings 5pm-Midnight right through to 27th September. We’ve heard great things and from the looks of it, this is a street food arena as it should be. They are offering a rotating variety of street food stalls alongside regulars including Pizza Pilgrims and B.O.B’s Lobster. For more information and this weeks line up click here. For now we hope you enjoy our behind the scenes sneak peek!
Blogcademy Round Up
Photo Credit : Holly Booth Photography http://www.hollybooth.com/
I’m keen to get straight to the point here, I’m not going to waffle on about what Blogcademy is, there’s a ton of info out there, but instead offer up a roundup of some of the fabulously talented and creative bloggers I met at Blogcademy that I’d highly recommend you check out! There were around 30 of us, sadly I can’t share them all but there’s something for everyone, the fashionista, the crafter, fitness and music.
Still Life Workshop
So briefly, if you’re a blog nut you’ll know all about Blogcademy and it’s super star bloggers, Kat, Shauna and Gala but if you’re not then it may seem pretty alien to you. I have just experienced the two day Blogcademy course in London which was ram packed with resources, tips, advice, activities oh and a photobooth and the best goodie bag I’ve ever received. It was a blogger’s dream come true but perhaps the best bit was meeting all my fellow blogcadettes so without further ado…
For the Fashionista in you check out…
My Darling Girl
Why? You’ll be rewarded with stunning, no I mean it stunning, photos of fabulous outfits, and where to find them but the best bit is that Meischa is a beautiful Aussie gal in London so expect to discover some fabulous brands from distant shores (which often ship so you can still get your hands on the brands).
I love…the mix of Aussie and vintage fashion and the striking shots, especially of London.
Dip your toe…Candy coloured buildings, polka dots and Audrey Hepburn eat your heart out style click here!
For the Crafter in you check out…
Beak Up Crafts
Why? Crafting news, tutorials, printables, competitions and more, Kate is passionate about crafting and I have no doubt we are going to see exciting things from her over the next year so keep your beaks up and eyes on this blog if you love crafts.
I love…her tea inspired greeting cards and tutorials available in her Etsy shop, here.
Dip your toe…It’s all about the tassles and this is one easy crafting project to pretty up your home, party, wedding, here.
For your Hungry Fitness side check out…
The Runner Beans
Why? Fun and friendly fitness posts, gym style inspiration and tasty recipes from a recipe pro! Charlie is a runner but tries her hand at lots of other things, including fun class reviews if you’re looking for a new workout.
I love…the recipes, fitness inspriation and her Mum’s guest post on the Tour De France
Dip your toe…this Avocado Chocolate Brownie recipe is officially on my to try list, check it out here!
For new music and discovering tunes check out…
Indietronica
Why? If you’re looking for some fresh tunes or artists it couldn’t be easier with Inditronica! I have spent all morning clicking on tracks and finding new artists to check out.
I love…The snappy info and quick to listen tracks.
Dip your toe…I loved this track by Digitalism, Wolves feat. Youngblood Hawke check it out here.
What do you think? Got some blog recommendations? I’d love to check them out, I love adding to my Bloglovin’ feed!
Fried Chicken and Waffles!
@Teatimetreatery
I recently found myself hungry and grumpy in London – argh! The only thing that made this worse is that London offers an abundance of eateries and making decisions is not something Stacey (my deranged hungry alter ego, as named by my husband, no offence to all the Stacey’s out there) is good at doing.
Fortunately the added grump required a dash of fine fried food and I was keen to try Stax Diner, the dream child of Bea Vo. Yep, you read correctly, Bea Vo, mastermind behind Bea’s of Bloomsbury’s delicious cakes, afternoon teas and lunches is now also offering up some fine Southern cooking in Kingly Court!
My Dad being American and most of that side of our family living in the South I have been lucky to have grown up with some of the great American flavours. Whether it’s been the family visits, Thanksgiving dinners, road trips or Saturday morning pancakes, I have a passion and a deep rooted hunger for Southern food. My Mum spent a year living in Texas so I guess that’s where my love for all things fried comes from! Ok I’m waffling back to the waffles…
The diner was busy when we arrived but they managed to get us in by a window which opened out into Kingly Court, my favourite part of Carnaby Street and a short walk from Oxford Circus. The menus look like fans on sticks, it looked like children could draw on the tables with chalks, the atmosphere is buzzing and the staff are super friendly.
Stax serves up brunch (I will be back for those pancakes!) through to dinner with a focus on the details and getting it to you fast. I was thrilled that fried green tomatoes made in on the menu, did you just say tow-may-toes too? We opted for the fried chicken and waffles, the Big Stax burger, coleslaw, fries, a peanut butter milkshake and a raspberry ice tea. I have always wanted to try chicken and waffles, for some reason the opportunity has escaped me whenever I’m Stateside. It was better than a dream come true because I have always been suspicious of them, could two of my great loves, fried chicken and maple syrup, really be combined?! YES, yes they can people and I urge you to go and try it for yourself now…don’t even bother reading the rest of this, get ye down to Stax!!
Oh, not convinced hey, ok well let me tell you the peanut butter milkshake was devilishly good and as my husband says about a good beer, ‘I wanted to take all my clothes off and dive right in’, unfortunately I had to force myself to stick to having one, ok two, sips and drinking my delicious but not quite so decadent iced tea. Finally, the burger was a triumph too, oh man whoever came up with maple glazed beef bacon is a genius! From the perfectly cooked Sussex beef to the brioche bun, and a bit of all of the above, I found I was now…happy!
I’m still dreaming about the chicken and waffles…what’s your guilty delight? I’d love to know!
Fried Chicken and Waffles!
@Teatimetreatery
I recently found myself hungry and grumpy in London – argh! The only thing that made this worse is that London offers an abundance of eateries and making decisions is not something Stacey (my deranged hungry alter ego, as named by my husband, no offence to all the Stacey’s out there) is good at doing.
Fortunately the added grump required a dash of fine fried food and I was keen to try Stax Diner, the dream child of Bea Vo. Yep, you read correctly, Bea Vo, mastermind behind Bea’s of Bloomsbury’s delicious cakes, afternoon teas and lunches is now also offering up some fine Southern cooking in Kingly Court!
My Dad being American and most of that side of our family living in the South I have been lucky to have grown up with some of the great American flavours. Whether it’s been the family visits, Thanksgiving dinners, road trips or Saturday morning pancakes, I have a passion and a deep rooted hunger for Southern food. My Mum spent a year living in Texas so I guess that’s where my love for all things fried comes from! Ok I’m waffling back to the waffles…
The diner was busy when we arrived but they managed to get us in by a window which opened out into Kingly Court, my favourite part of Carnaby Street and a short walk from Oxford Circus. The menus look like fans on sticks, it looked like children could draw on the tables with chalks, the atmosphere is buzzing and the staff are super friendly.
Stax serves up brunch (I will be back for those pancakes!) through to dinner with a focus on the details and getting it to you fast. I was thrilled that fried green tomatoes made in on the menu, did you just say tow-may-toes too? We opted for the fried chicken and waffles, the Big Stax burger, coleslaw, fries, a peanut butter milkshake and a raspberry ice tea. I have always wanted to try chicken and waffles, for some reason the opportunity has escaped me whenever I’m Stateside. It was better than a dream come true because I have always been suspicious of them, could two of my great loves, fried chicken and maple syrup, really be combined?! YES, yes they can people and I urge you to go and try it for yourself now…don’t even bother reading the rest of this, get ye down to Stax!!
Oh, not convinced hey, ok well let me tell you the peanut butter milkshake was devilishly good and as my husband says about a good beer, ‘I wanted to take all my clothes off and dive right in’, unfortunately I had to force myself to stick to having one, ok two, sips and drinking my delicious but not quite so decadent iced tea. Finally, the burger was a triumph too, oh man whoever came up with maple glazed beef bacon is a genius! From the perfectly cooked Sussex beef to the brioche bun, and a bit of all of the above, I found I was now…happy!
I’m still dreaming about the chicken and waffles…what’s your guilty delight? I’d love to know!
Partying 1920’s Prohibition Style
A heady mix of mischief, cocktails, vintage, dancing, gambling, burlesque and secret drinking dens awaits you in London if you know where to look!
Too few era’s offer the potential to relive such glamour and glitz as the 1920’s so we snapped up tickets for the 50th Bourne and Hollingsworth Prohibition party which was held at Bloomsbury Ballroom. I was particularly thrilled to be able to whip out my dazzling outfit from our Prohibition Tea Party for another whirl wind trip to the past.
As we descended the stairs into the ballrooms the genuine Art Deco details whispered tales of a past we can’t really imagine now but added to the authentic feel of the night. Everywhere I looked guests where decked out in pearls, glistening gowns, feathers, suits, braces, bow ties, waistcoats and the ladies pouting deep red lips while the gents tapped their lace up oxfords ready to hit the floor and Charleston!
I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when my husband told me he’d booked us in for the optional Charleston dance lesson, dancing is not something he’s keen on despite laying down some sensational moves at uni. I was so glad he had though, it was so much fun, everyone was friendly and giving it their all and best of all it meant we could have a go later too.
From sipping on seriously strong cocktails and listening to a jazz band while waiting for the photo booth in the first room we could then move on through to the main ball room where we’d had our dance lesson. Two large bars offered another chance to top up our glasses before using our faux casino money at one of the tables, having our portrait drawn or hitting the dance floor while the big band plays, or just stare mesmerised at the professional dancers! The entertainment never seems to stop, from the live music and burlesque dancer right through to the….
Secret drinking den!! Ok, so it wasn’t exactly a huge secret as the tables had maps of the venue on them so you didn’t miss out but you did have to make your way past two shifty looking fella’s, who advised us to tell anyone who asked that we’d given up drinking, and a door emblazoned with a poster proclaiming ‘Closed for violation of the National Prohibition Act by order of the Unites States District Court’ to find it. Passing down a darkened tunnel (ok my imagination was on top form by this point) we entered a room transformed into something that felt secretive, indulgent and naughty! In here we found two new cocktails served in medicine jars, and a chap playing his ukulele! Hats off to the Vintage Mafia for hosting a superb speakeasy!
I will definitely be making my way back for another raucous night of glitzy hedonism and if you fancy it too the next party is being held on 6th September 2014, visit Prohibition or Bourne and Hollingsworth for more details on their tantalisingly fabulous events!
Cheers!
Rattling my tea cup
I never expected to find myself scouring the streets for pennies in order to fund extracurricular education rather than my next tea hit but here I am. I’m going off piste again today but I promise to get back to all things cake, tea and life experiences soon! Actually, this could be an incredible life experience so lets get cracking.
Some of you may know that I am currently trying to get my pennies together to go to Blogcademy in London in July. The opportunity to learn with such inspiring and fabulous women is beyond exciting and I am determined to get there. I just have so much I need to learn, it’s scary! The clock is ticking and I’m eagerly trying to find fun ways to get the cash together and I’m open to suggestions so get in touch!
First up I have made myself available to friends and family to hire for their entertainment! Obviously this is within reason but if they want me to take a buttercream bath, ok! Do their ironing, sure! Teach them some of my baking secrets, great! Basically I’m eager to give something back to get there. When I put the offer out there, I braced myself for all kinds of weird and wonderful suggestions but what I received surprised me some what. While I did get a couple interesting requests and a few very generous donations, two of my friends actually offered donations in exchange for time with me. Now I really appreciate this, it is great to know my friends want to hang out with me (it’s been a tough year so I can’t quite put into words how much it means!) but it made me realise how trying to run a small business can swallow you up whole and isolate you in many ways. So now I’m eager to find some balance and catch up with some of my fabulous friends too.
Secondly I stumbled across an app and website called Vinted which allows you to clear out your wardrobe and make your items available for sale or swap (or even giveaway!) to others. It’s free to sign up and list your items which appealed to me as it meant I could get started straight away. I only started listing items today so we’ll see how it goes. If you want to check out my wardrobe you can find it here.
And finally, I have an equally eager companion in my Blogcademy saving journey. The fabulous Miss Sue Flay has made her awesome Bell Tent available to hire for last minute bookings over the next few weeks to generate funds to get her to Blogcademy too! So, if you’re in the Cambridgeshire area and hankering after a BBQ or a summer gathering but you know you’ll need a shelter, in case of rain or just fancy an awesome venue in your garden, make sure you drop her a line and find out about hiring the fabulous bell tent at very special rates. It looks so great with the bunting and lamps! Miss Sue Flay has been a huge influence and mentor to me over the last year and I would love for us to be able to go to Blogcademy!
Got any suggestions on getting last minute cash together. I would love to hear them!
A Landmark Brunch
When it comes to celebrating special occasions taking afternoon tea in London is a delicious solution. This year I was looking for something a bit different, in fact I’d had my eye my on the Sunday Champagne Brunch at the Landmark for a while so we booked it early, as with so many of these things booking months in advance is required.
So, what makes Sunday Brunch at the Landmark so special? I honestly don’t know where to start to answer this. The setting is beautiful, of course, you would expect no less from a 5 star hotel in London. The palm trees that stretch up to the natural light that floods the Winter Garden and centre of the hotel create a light and airy atmosphere, immediately transporting you away from hustle and bustle of the dusty city streets. If that wasn’t quite enough we enjoyed live music on both a piano and at the end a harp which even included a pretty version of Lady Gaga song. Delightful setting? Check! But let’s face it we came for the food…
Have you ever stared at a menu and been torn between 5 different dishes on each course and wished you could just try each one? Well here that is exactly what you get to do and not only that you get to enjoy as much Champagne as you can drink, in a lady like manner of course! The tables are arranged so that you can see the brunch options sparkling close by. The variety seems endless and I doubt anyone could try everything in one sitting. We started with the breakfast which included delicious eggs benedict and eggs royale, smoked salmon, sausages, bacon, cinnamon toast, maple syrup and so much more. I could have filled up on breakfast alone but I’d already seen the roasts, salads and desserts nearby so I forced myself to hold back and save room.
While there is no escaping that this is essentially a buffet, it will be one of the best buffets you ever have. There is no rush, you have plenty of time to chat with your companions and enjoy the live music , the food is constantly refreshed right to the end and the champagne glasses top up as if by magic.
We followed our breakfast course with a salad and fish course, there wash sushi and langoustine and a wonderful variety of vegetables and salads to refresh your appetite before gearing up for another trip up to buffet. You can try the food in any order, heck if you wanted to eat only dessert you could, we tried the roast dinner next, where again you can try each cut of meat if you fancy it. Quiches, pasta, rice, baked fish and a variety of sides were also available.
By this point I was ready for a sugar hit and made my best effort to try each thing available. The sticky toffee pudding with sauce was divine and I felt like a child in a candy store picking and choosing each of the mini deserts. I especially enjoyed the mini spoon shaped crème brulees which came in different flavours.
As we savoured the last sips of champagne and waited for our coffee the pianist played celebratory music and personalised cupcakes with candles were delivered to tables celebrating special occasions. The perfect ending to a delightful meal and while I had believed I couldn’t possibly eat another thing there really wasn’t much cupcake left on our departure!
We had a wonderful time, left full and in need of a walk which was available in nearby Regents Park. We met diners who were enjoying the brunch for nth time and even some who make it an annual event. I don’t blame them and hope to go back myself but I’d have to try their afternoon tea next I think!
http://www.landmarklondon.co.uk/
A side note for those with allergies. My father, who joined us, is a Coeliac and as such is unable to eat gluten as it makes him really sick so we made sure to advise them of this at the time of booking. The staff at the Landmark did their best to accommodate him and even made him an eggs Benedict on gluten free bread however it didn’t seem they were entirely geared up for diners with allergies and simple changes would have made this much more enjoyable for us all. For example as each dish had a label to tell us what it was a small symbol to indicate if it was gluten free, dairy free, etc would have made a huge difference. We did make this suggestion before we left so I hope this will have helped them improve the already wonderful service and experience they offer.