“It’s playing lords and ladies,” Mike Morgan said, explaining the growing popularity of high tea in the area. “It’s a different way of sharing food with friends.”
Basically British at 502 E. Third St. in Dayton is also among local businesses that offers afternoon tea, a tradition that according to legend was started by the Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s friends.
Morgan said the menu doesn’t have to be elaborate, saying that the basics include tea or coffee, scones with jam and cream and finger sandwiches or appetizers. But that’s not a rule. Morgan said food can get elaborate and the dress can be fancy.
The atmosphere at Central Perc is relaxed, but some — mostly grandmothers and their grandchildren — dress up for afternoon tea, Morgan said.
Here are a few essentials for a great at-home tea party:
A full stand
To do it right, you’ll need a coffee pot, tea cups, saucers and a three-tiered tea stand for sandwiches, scones and pastries. Rose Morgan said the sandwiches should be on the bottom, the pastries in the middle and the scones on the top. But variations are fine.
“It really not that important,” she said.
A good pot
Look for a tea pot with a nice swooping pouring spout, Mike Morgan suggested. The end definitely shouldn’t be chunky to avoid nasty spills.
A fancy china tea pot can be very expensive, but a decent everyday pot can be purchased for $20 or less. A better one will run $60 to $70.
“There are cheap pots and then there are cheap pots,” he explained.
A spot of dirt
Mike Morgan said you can’t have a tea party without a little dirt.
“The most important part of afternoon tea is gossip,” he said with a laugh.
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