Unpretentious and charming, Tea Party by Tracy Stern takes the age-old tradition and eliminates the stuffy connotations, making it instead, well, a party! Stern, who hosts a tea salon in Manhattan and is the creator of the popular BEAUTEA and SALONTEA product lines, transforms the art of drinking tea into a stylish affair without the pomp of High Tea—every suggestion renders a light and joyous celebration. Stern’s expertise ranges from organizing tea soirees for celebrity-ridden events such as Fashion Week and the Tony Awards to hosting simple parties among friends and loved ones, which she claims are her favorite.
The introduction reminds readers of well-mannered practices, such as taking the time to send a handwritten invitation as opposed to an impersonal email, and provides small inspirational touches, such as using lollipops as stirrers or giving each guest a bag of loose leaf tea to take home as a favor. For each celebration, Stern states a theme and covers all aspects of the party, providing tips on décor, music and floral arrangements. But it is her knowledgeable food and beverage pairings and recipes that truly make the fêtes unique and pleasurable.
For instance, the Moroccan Valentine’s Day Dinner sets the scene with floor pillows and votive candles; guests can sip on Moroccan mint tea or indulge in rose petal martinis before partaking of fresh scallop-and-mango skewers and jasmine tea-scented couscous. Or for guests of all ages, celebrate a birthday (or an “unbirthday”) with the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which encourages zany colors, kooky garden accessories and the wearing of all kinds of hats. The young and young at heart will enjoy the tasty menu composed of cherry tarts, “eat me!” cupcakes, and blue cheese, walnut and pear finger sandwiches. An earl grey tea or a pink lemonade with kiwi will wash down the delectable treats. For those seeking a more refined celebration, the Fashionable French Tea Party calls for chic black-and-white décor with a gourmet menu of Darjeeling tea and champagne as drinks and grilled tuna nicoise salad and lavender tea-scented crème brulee for the main dishes.
Whatever your cup of tea may be, Stern’s themes are diverse and sure to satisfy every type of hostess. So if you want to throw together a laid-back garden party or treat your husband or father to a Gentlemen’s Tea, dive into this fun book, stare at the beautiful photographs and find every reason to celebrate.
