The Royal Chef At Home: Easy Seasonal Entertaining

N o apologies here—this tea menu is quintessentially British. And that is how it should be! I’ve included some of the favorite tea cakes and sandwich fillings enjoyed by her Majesty. Since I have made each of these what seems like a million times, I can honestly say that each recipe is perfect. Potted shrimp is likely the most unfamiliar dish here for Americans but it really is a terrific addition to anyone’s favorite tea recipe list. Basically it is a well-seasoned dish of chopped cooked shrimp is preserved under a thin layer of clarified butter. Spread thinly on toast, it is a rich buttery bite to be sure, and a little goes a long way. Of course there is nothing fixed about a “traditional” English tea. It can be lavishly appointed tiered trays filled with delicate sandwiches, painstakingly decorated tarts and clouds of whipped cream, or just a simple plate of freshly cut shortbread. But youmust have a nicely brewed pot of tea to go along. It’s not that difficult even for novice tea makers to brew a great pot. Here are some simple pointers: • Start with fresh cold water in a kettle • Preheat your teapot by pouring some of the hot kettle water into the pot, swishing it around and discarding it. Now the pot’s interior has been warmed up and the finished tea won’t cool too quickly. • Use high quality loose tea and just toss it into the bottom of your teapot. Not too much either. With standard black tea leaves, you want a thin layer of tea leaves across the bottom of your teapot. If you find the finished product too weak, just continue adding more tea leaves to subsequent pots until you find your perfect tea strength. • Pour boiling water over the tea leaves, leave the lid off and wait. Two to three minutes is a good place to start and up to five minutes if you like a strong brew. When you are ready to drink, place the lid on the pot and pour the tea through a strainer into your (already warmed) cup or mug. Add milk and/or sugar to taste. Now where are those shortbreads? AN ELEGANT TEA

FALL · AN ELEGANT TEA

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