Having High Tea Without Hats

Well, I’ve totally blown my “eating out” diet. I had the opportunity to stay at the historic Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia and I fell off the wagon at teatime. This five-star property is a stones’ throw from the State Capitol, and has been genteely entertaining and accommodating our nation’s leaders and celebrities since the late 1800’s.

Elvis has stayed here, as have 11 Presidents, and a long list of the movers and shakers of the world. The hotel offers top-tier Southern hospitality in a grand setting. After checking into the sumptuous Governor’s Suite, my sister, Judy, and my two nieces Karen and Jenny, joined me in the lobby for an elegant afternoon tea.

Offered Thursday through Sunday afternoons, the tea is very popular and since seating is limited, you’ll need reservations. We were seated in a cozy nook overlooking the grand staircase and mezzanine, and our server Megan explained in detail the several different teas offered. I tried one of the hotel specialties, the Richmond Blend, a spicy black tea laden with cinnamon, orange peel and cloves that was taken from a Colonial Williamsburg recipe. Jenny had the traditional Jefferson Blend, an English blend of Keemun, Darjeeling and Ceylon, and Karen tried the light Ginger Peach.

Our three-tiered silver caddy held an assortment of finger sandwiches, two varieties of scones with Devonshire clotted cream (my favorite), and an assortment of tiny chocolate, hazelnut, and mango bite-sized tarts. There was a group of ladies who were decked out in their Sunday best, and all of them had on wide-brimmed, flower-laden hats…they were the epitome of modern day Southern belles, and we decided that the next time we have tea at the Jefferson, we would need to wear hats too. www.jeffersonhotel.com