16 | May/June 2019
Afternoon delight –
sitting down to tea
D
o you find yourself needing both a bit
of relaxation and a boost of energy in
the aernoon?
A spot of tea might be just the thing.
e British have long known the value of taking
aernoon tea, serving up sandwiches and sweets
and, of course, tea, with the aim of keeping up
everyone's energy until dinner time. In today's
busy world, that tradition has become less formal
and more hurried than it once was with elaborate
aernoon teas typically relegated to special events.
Either way, though – slow and fancy or quicker
and more casual – there's plenty to like about tea in
the aernoon.
Maybe you want slow and fancy. is is a perfect
vehicle for lots of parties, from bridal and baby
showers to birthdays to get-togethers for the girls.
"It's a lot of fun," said Becky King, who owns
Belmont Village, an elegant historic home that's
now a venue for special events, including aernoon
teas. King has loads of flower-bedecked china,
tiered serving caddies and linen-covered tables, as
BY CATHERINE PRITCHARD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW WONDERLY
F O O D