afternoon tea Archives - Good Food St. Louis

Little Bites of Happiness

I wonder if the King and Queen of England pause for Afternoon Tea each day? And do they nibble on dainty tea sandwiches? Those who know the answers to such things say yes.

But Queen Elizabeth also had a sweet tooth. From the time she was a wee child, she ate a jam Penny sandwich each day made with strawberry preserves.

But Queen Camilla is a fan of the much-revered cucumber tea sandwich. At last, I have something in common with the Queen. 🙂

The Sum of Its Parts

The classic tea sandwich consists of a spread of herbed cream cheese and sliced cukes between thin slices of white bread. Be sure to use a fine textured sandwich bread, such as Pepperidge Farm Very Thin White to keep the royal tidbits tidy and tasty.

When I made some of the sandwiches last week, all I had on hand was sliced sourdough. I will do better next time.

Traditionally, the dainty finger foods are served without the bread crust. If you’re making these dainties for His Majesty, the sandwiches should be roundish rather than have any pointed edges. Historically, serving food with sharp edges was considered a sign of wanting to overthrow the monarch.

I didn’t see any English cucumbers at the grocery, so I settled for a small cucumber. If you’re going for castle chic, English cukes are definitely a better choice.

The Cuke of Choice

It’s best to use English cucumbers, those that are long and thin rather than the short, chubby ones. They’re available at Walmart and Target. Peel the cukes slightly for even more elegance.

The London Ritz serves the sandwich smeared with butter, rather than cream cheese. But some chefs prefer using butter on one slice and cream cheese on the other. If you want to fancify things, a bit of watercress adds yet another regal touch.

This is how the cucumber sandwiches look with white bread. Much better.

Get Your Tea Times Right

If you have a chance to take in a copycat, royal tea party, it will likely include little sandwiches, scones and cakes, which are eaten correctly in that order. Often these dainties are served on a three-tiered stand. I ate my fancy-fingered sandwiches for lunch and, sadly, absent the scones and cakes.

Americans sometimes confuse Afternoon Tea with High Tea, the latter served in the evening along with meat and vegetables. A morning respite called Elevenses is, as it’s name denotes, a morning teatime taken round 11 o’clock. This is something I could easily incorporate into my daily routine.

The London Ritz Book of Afternoon Tea is keen on the little cuke classic: “The cucumber sandwich is the aristocrat of the tea table! Cool, gracious, impeccable.”

Hmm. . . let me see . . . I think I have enough ingredients left to make a few more finger sandwiches. They’ll be perfect with my peppermint tea.

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 large English cucumber (about 1 lb.), thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. salt
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
2 Tbs. mayonnaise
1 tsp. lemon zest
2 Tbs. chopped fresh dill
2 Tbs. chopped chives
8 slices firm sandwich bread (such as Pepperidge Farm Very Thin White)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, toss the English cucumber slices with salt. Be sure the cucumber slices are thoroughly coated.

Spread the cucumber slices in an even layer on a kitchen towel. Roll it up and let stand to absorb the moisture from the cucumber.

In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, mayonnaise, lemon zest. dill, and chives until smoothly combined.

Build the tea sandwiches, by placing four slices of bread on a cutting board and spread of about 1/4 cup of cream cheese mixture on each. (I use a bit less of the cream cheese spread.)

Unroll the towel with the cucumber slices and divide them between the four slices of bread, placing them evenly on the cream cheese. Place the remaining four slices of bread on top to make sandwiches, pressing down lightly.

If desired, slice off the crusts, then cut in half in triangles, or into four “fingers.” Serve immediately, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.

At the Ritz-Carlton St. Louis for lunch

For years Cyndy and I have been going to the Ritz for lunch on my birthday. We bask a bit in the opulence of the chic hotel before I return to my nearby condo and she to her farmette. For some reason, this year brought back memories of once celebrating a half birthday at Brown’s Hotel Tea Room in London, just down the street from the splashy Ritz with a less historic setting.

The Grill at the Ritz

The Charm of a Hotel Restaurant

Brown’s Hotel was a favorite tea spot for Queen Victoria and a number of English writers. Rudyard Kipling, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Oscar Wilde all penned lines within its walls. Agatha Christie had her own corner table and FDR a favorite armchair by the fireplace.

While the St. Louis Ritz-Carlton can’t compete in the restaurant annals with the history-laden Brown (est. 1837), it makes up for its youthfulness with a warmth and charm all its own. At Afternoon Tea, they serve up buttery scones, petite sandwiches and dainty cakes with the best of them. But like other big city hotels, they also offer a typical soup-sandwich-salad menu at lunch for those wanting a casual bite away from the hurly-burly of everyday life.

A Doorman: A Nice Touch

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the doorman as if we were regulars at the 5-star hotel. Whisked inside to the ornately decorated hallways, we were transported to an oasis of quiet elegance and soaring floral displays. The spacious Restaurant was closed for a private party, so we lunched in The Grill with its cozy fireplace and paneled walls.

My last year’s selection, the Reuben, was still on the menu. Not wanting to appear stogy by ordering the same thing, we went with the Tricolor Quinoa and the Whitefish Tacos. When we told our server we would be splitting the entrees, she offered to do it for us in the kitchen.

A spot of tea. . . which is what I’ll have on my sweater if I’m not careful.

Whitefish Tacos and Tricolor Quinoa

Cyndy proposes a toast

The incredible, edible Christmas town displayed in the lobby. All but the trees, twigs and light posts are designed with food.

Another house in the edible town.

As We Were about to Leave . . .

I pondered why I didn’t come here more frequently to enjoy the cushy carpet, gleaming mirrors, muted music, and soft glow of fireplaces. It’s just blocks from where I live.

Perhaps when I’m a very old woman, I shall come sit by the fireplace after my birthday lunch and read a bit of Agatha Christie. And people will ask, “Who’s the woman that comes for lunch once a year and reads Agatha Christie by the fire?” The friendly doorman will smile, “Oh, she was once a local food blogger,” he’ll say. “And she likes the Reuben.”