Taste is powerful at unleashing memories. That’s one of the reasons I love to select menu items that are not only packed with flavor in each bite, or expose guests to a new sensation, but also ensure to include items which elicit remembrances we hold dear.
Our third and primary sweet item for this luncheon menu was geared towards reminding my best friend, T., of my mom’s pastry cream. It seemed Mom made cream puffs often when were teens, we enjoyed scores of them. Thus this vanilla cream tart topped with toasted coconut was to honor that past. I posted about this fool proof, smooth as silk, patisserie cream a month ago. It is quick to prepare and delightfully vanilla”y”.
Rustic Vanilla Cream Tarts Topped With Coconut….I toasted the coconut at the table with my small brulee torch…I put in lots of pastry cream, have a heavy hand with the whipped heavy cream (which has less than a teaspoon of sugar in it)…so each bite is a “big, flavorful, creamy bite.”
That’s how we finished off our lunch…then each guest snacked on the mini mayo cake cupcakes and the petite oatmeal cookies…I also packed up several “to go” as some had a bit of a drive home. We thoroughly enjoyed Jasmine Downey Pearls, green tea scented with jasmine flowers, from Peet’s Tea with dessert. Perfect ending!
Using table setting pieces which were gifts or family heirlooms is another way I like to extract memories. Using these is more important to me than setting the table with “perfectly” matched items. Here are a few I used for this lunch:
Teapot napkin rings were one of the last gifts my dear dear friend Pat gave me. The napkins were also a gift from a friend who hand-carried them back from a trip to Bali
Darling teapot teaspoons were a gift from my incredible sister-in-law B…
I don’t mind mixing metals as there is a story behind each one of them…
Fine Franciscan Teacup from my Godmother…and “yes” tea does taste better out of these than anything else 
A couple have tiny cracks and are a bit worn around the silver, however, whenever I use these, I think of my spunky, 4′ 10″ Italian Godmother and how she snuck these to me and asked that I not tell her children that she wanted me to have them. She always made me feel special by putting on a tea kettle for me the minute I arrived to visit. Everyone else were coffee drinkers in the family.
In the end, it’s the company you keep that truly makes your tea luncheon a success. My best friend brought me this gift:
Wow! Loved your four part Puttin on a Tea blog! And the food, of course! Very Yummy! Thank you!
Thank you! We need to do this again, but let’s not wait 10 years…o.k.?
What a marvelous post and the food is incredible! I’m hungry!
Thanks, it was truly a fun day full of great conversation as we chowed down (daintily) of course.
Everything looks wonderful, from the delicious cream tarts to the lovely teapot teaspoons and the Franciscan teacup. I bet that was a truly enjoyable luncheon, lucky friends!
It was such fun and full of lively conversation and sharing of fond memories as most of the guests had known each other for decades.
Perfection!
Thank you
Linda..loved reading about your latest tea for 8..your yard and table looked beautiful! Also, The Mission at Riverside sounded like such fun~makes me want to go tomorrow! Keep up the great writing..Patti
You inspired the idea…(thank you)
If you have never been to the Mission Inn, it is so worth a visit…either to stay overnight or for a meal (lunch is always nice, as is tea time) and walk around the many shops…the history is fascinating and the ambiance relaxing and beautiful.
It was truly a fun day and I enjoyed sharing every moment. The day was relaxing and delicious!
Thank you…me too.
Oh wow that pastry looks SO delicious!
Thanks for finding me…love your blog…I love pairing food with tea …but also with beer, wine, single-malt scotches (for my husband)…looking forward to enjoying your blog. Pursuing great tea time spots for me seem analogous to your search for great “happy hours with beer – love it.