13 Afternoon Tea Recipes to Enjoy as You Watch Bridgerton Season 3
Credit: Serious Eats / Kelli Solomon; Tim ChinGentle Reader,When one asks a friend or suitor for tea, it is never JUST for tea. It is an opportunity to present oneself in the highest regard in the most elegant settings available in the light of day. And when one has a tea party expectations are even higher. One’s dress should be elegant yet appropriate for the occasion. And comportment must be refined at all times. But no shrinking violets here—you must be prepared to sparkle with wit and charm throughout the conversation.And, yes, even though you have invited your guests for tea, additional refreshments must be served. For eating, yes, but more for dazzling your guests with the thoughtfulness and planning you put into the event. You must not be outshone by the latest fete of the season; always start with a showstopper.CroquemboucheSerious Eats / Amanda SuarezOnce your guests have arrived, bring out the pièce-de-résistance. A croquembouche relies on puffs―a lot of them―made from pâte à choux, piled sky-high and held together with strands of shiny caramel. A mountain of sugar indeed.Genoise SpongeSerious Eats / Amanda SuarezLighter-than-air genoise sponge cake is not just a nice-to-have; it is expected at a proper gathering. Possibly the most elegant of sponge cakes, it relies solely on air to rise (not unlike certain gentlemen). It requires more than sophistication to pull off; technique is everything.Giant Eclair CakeSerious Eats / Jen CauseyCould you make regular éclairs? Certainly. But that would not provide the wow-factor of this magnificent éclair cake. Light and airy choux is baked in a large ring and then filled with vanilla crème mousseline topped with a glossy chocolate glaze. Truly a feast for the eyes.Japanese Fruit SandoSerious Eats / Debbie WeeFruit is an edible way to add color to your tablescape. Studded with strawberries, kiwis, or mangoes, these sandos are dainty yet lavish thanks to a velvety-smooth, mascarpone-enhanced whipped cream. A lady with this in hand will appear as colorful and cool as these sandwiches themselves.Shortbread CookiesSerious Eats / Amanda SuarezLeave shortbread off your menu, and a certain author will certainly think it was an oversight. The Scots have truly made their mark with this treat. Each bite is rich and buttery, with a tender, crumbly texture that melts in your mouth. Make sure you have a handkerchief at the ready to remove any lingering evidence of your satisfaction from your chin.Cucumber SandwichesSerious Eats / Victor ProtasioCool as a cucumber may not be how your guests will feel if certain royals arrive, but at least they’ll have these sandwiches for refreshment. Don’t forget to salt your cucumbers—no one wants to soil their gloves with a soggy sandwich.Bakery-Style Cream Scones With Milk Chocolate RecipeSerious Eats / Vicky WasikNo tea is complete without scones and cream. Since plain scones are so last season, opt for ones speckled with dark chocolate instead. The more cacao, the better. And instead of jam and clotted cream, surprise your guests with, gasp, fruit-flavored whipped cream instead.Onde-Onde (Malaysian Sweet Palm-Sugar Dumplings)Serious Eats / Michelle YipA favorite teatime treat in Malaysia, onde-onde is a fluffy, chewy green ball flavored with aromatic pandan filled with melted palm sugar and covered with coconut. Small bites are a must, as etiquette dictates that you be dainty and not open your mouth too wide when eating—wise advice for any social occasion.Smoked Salmon and Dill Tea SandwichesSerious Eats / Amanda SuarezIn a room filled with confections, do not make the mistake of forgetting to add a savory bite to the menu. Smoked salmon and cream cheese brightened with lemon and dill provide a much-needed respite from sugary tea treats. Remember to remove the crust or risk your guests' judging looks.Daan Tat (Hong Kong-Style Egg Tart)Serious Eats / Tim ChinSweet egg custard and crisp and tender puff pastry is a match made in heaven. In my opinion, far superior to the British egg custard tart (which often uses custard powder), these Hong Kong-style egg tarts include custard made the old fashioned way.Choux au CraquelinSerious Eats / Debbie WeeOne choux is simply never enough. Choux au craquelin are the true diamonds of the season. They appear humble on the outside with their sweet, crackled crust, but on the inside, they reveal their true nature as luscious, creamy, and positively delectable.Chocolate-Covered Digestive BiscuitsSerious Eats / Vicky WasikTrue, no one comes to tea just for the biscuits, but these aren’t just any old biscuits, they’re quite close to a shop favorite, McVitie's. We don’t use words like knock-off or copycat here. How base. These are, in fact, better than the original. Dare your guests to say otherwise. L'Aventura PunchPhotography copyright: Kelly Puleio © 2019Finally, the marriage mart can be intimidating, especially for those new to society. A crowd-pleasing punch is in order. Vodka-based and flavored with mint tea syrup, amaro, and a full-bodied blanc vermouth, this drink provides just the right balance to set your guests slightly off-balance.Ok, enough. If you’re as excited as I am about Bridgerton returning for another season, you’ll want to host a tea, but not just any tea. For this afternoon tea, break out all your very best and most elaborate cakes, sandwiches, and scones to accompany your very fancy tea (or just your favorite). And yes, you even have a cocktail or glass of bubbly to wash it all down and celebrate, maybe not Regency (because well, yeah, problematic), but the glitz, the glamour, and yes, the drama that only the Shonda Rhimes can deliver. So to that I say, pinkies up!
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