Fancy That's Walpole Tea Room launches custom blend called "Smitten"

Fancy That is “Smitten” with its new House Blend of Tea

Fancy That introduces its own house blend of tea called “Smitten.”

Fancy That, a busy Victorian style tea house and gift shop in Walpole, Massachusetts, whose Facebook fan-base of over 11,000 draws “likers” from around the globe, has just launched its own blend of tea they are calling “Smitten.”  “We are proud to bring wonderful teas to the table for our guests to enjoy,” Sarah Erlandson, proprietress of Fancy That says.  “So it seemed fitting to offer our own blend of tea containing our favorite flavourings.” 

“Smitten” is a blend of Pai Mu Tan (or “White Peony”) certified organic white tea, rose bud petals that are certified organic, Lemongrass from Egypt also certified organic and Orange Flower Water from France.  The mist-shrouded mountains of the Fujian Province in China is where this white tea is grown.  White tea is the least processed of all teas – never rolled and only slightly oxidized.  It is only picked in the spring and only on days where there is no rain.  It is loaded with favonoids, catechins and other antioxidants and has a proven health benefit.  The taste is distinctively “tea” with a rich golden color to the liquid.  The addition of rose petals and French Orange Blossom water gives Smitten its gentle aroma and comforting notes of honey.

“My husband and I fell in love with the ethereal taste of Orange Blossom water while planning our wedding,” Erlandson continues.  “Our wedding cake was flavoured with French Orange Blossom water.  We have been smitten with the flavour ever since, so you can see where the name came from,” Erlandson says with a smile.  “Working with local blender GayGrace Teas (home of the original Mobile Tea Truck), we came up with the perfect combination of ingredients to create Fancy That’s signature, house blend tea.  We are thrilled to add it to our tea menu.”

“Smitten” joins Fancy That’s tea menu alongside over 30 teas from which patrons may choose when they have Afternoon Tea at the tea room.  “Initially Smitten will only be available by the pot when you have Afternoon Tea here, “Erlandson says.  “But later this year we will begin to offer Smitten for sale in our gift shop, so that our house blend can be enjoyed at home, too.”

Fancy That is a “reservation only” tea house, serving a classic Victorian style Afternoon Tea Thursdays through Sundays.  Reservations are running approximately two weeks out on weekends and one week out on Thursdays and Fridays.  For reservations call toll free 1-888-323-2832 or email reservations@afternoontea.com.  The Gift Shoppe is open to the public during regular hours, Thursdays and Fridays 10am – 3 pm,  Saturdays and Sundays 10am – 5pm.

October Sandwich of the Month - Apple Cheddar on Raisin (with recipe)

Happy October everyone! Here we are in the midst of "pumpkin everything" and "apples galore."  Well, here at Fancy That, our love of pumpkin and apples brings us to this month's selection of the most delicious Autumn combos.  As we mentioned last week, the cupcakes are a pumpkin with a cream cheese frosting.  Now for the fun:  the sammie!  In addition to two English cucumber on pumpernickel, and our fancy chicken salad (with apricot jam and white raisins) on wheat bread, we introduce the October sandwich:  Granny Smith apple and Vermont white cheddar cheese on raisin bread.  YUMMY! 

Admittedly, we have oodles of fun in "test kitchen" exploring flavour combos and sampling a treat or two.  Do you want to help in "test kitchen" sometime?  :)

Here's the recipe to a great fall-flavoured tea sandwich.

2 granny smith apples
1/4 pound (about 6 slices) of Vermont white cheddar cheese
1 loaf of raisin bread
1/2 cup plain whipped cream cheese (buy it whipped...don't bother doing it yourself!)
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Ready two large granny smith apples by washing, and peeling the skins off.  Have the Vermont white cheddar sliced thinly (about the thickness of a credit card) - not paper thin though. 

Buy your favorite raisin bread - we use a Peppridge Farms Cinnamon Raisin Swirl bread.  Set out four slices with four more slices for the tops.  Generously spread the whipped cream cheese on the "inside" sides of each piece of bread.

With a parring knife, slice the apples into thin slices about the thickness of a credit card.  No need to core the apply.  Just slice along one side, then the opposite, and then the other two.  Discard the core.  Turn all the apple slices into a bowl, pouring the lemon juice of the slices then mix gently so all the pieces of apple are covered with lemon juice.  This will keep them from turning brown before you assemble the sammie.

Lay one piece of cheese on the "bottom" slice of bread.  Take the slices of apple, patting them dry, then lay on the cheese.  Cover with the "top" slice of bread.

With a sharp knife, gently slice the crusts off the four sides.   Take the sandwich, and cut it in half with a thickness of about two fingers (ah!  the reason they are called "finger sandwiches!").  Chill for about an hour then serve.  This recipe yields 8 finger sammies.  

Thanks for stopping by!  OH!  Helpful cooking tip for today:  When mixing up your scones, use OUR secret ingredient - BUTTERMILK!  Never use whole milk or skim milk for scones.  The Buttermilk makes the taste and texture PERFECT for your scone.  Enjoy your Afternoon Tea!

October's flavours for Afternoon Tea

Here at Fancy That, we are excited about how our Afternoon Teas have grown.  We love to hear the Shoppe full of people enjoying Afternoon Tea.  The stories we hear from our guests warm our hearts and make us realize that what we are doing is more than just serving up tea - we are creating an event that will be remembered for quite some time.

So, here we are, with our foot at the door of Autumn and October.  Planning for Afternoon Tea involves our selecting menu items that we change each and every month.  We change the scone flavour (fresh baked on site daily and NOW WE SELL THE SCONES as well), a mini cupcake and at least one sandwich (Sammie for short).  We decided to share that planning with you as soon as we make our decision.  Starting monthly, we will give you a sneak peek at the menu for the coming month.  If you look at the pictures and think "yum" you should also think about making reservations and come to tea!   Hang around here as well.  We will start including recipes that you can use for your own Afternoon Teas.

October's menu for Afternoon Tea is set!  See below for some of the sweets.  A post next week will have the savory along with a recipe that you can try yourself.  

Pumpkin Cream Cheese mini Cupcake is one of three desserts for October

Raspberry with White Chocolate chips is the flavour for the scone for October

Thank you for stopping by!  We'll see you next week with the sandwich flavour and recipe! See you then!

Making Tea the Center of Happy Hour

Our Press Release for Tea Infused Cocktails....

For Immediate Release

Local Tea Room Puts a New Spin on Drinking Tea

Fancy That’s Tea Room in Walpole, Massachusetts is making tea the center of “Happy Hour.”

Fancy That, a Tea Room and gift shoppe is expanding their line of tea for sale to include tea infusers that steep in alcohol rather than water.  Fancy That is a tea room and gift shoppe where customers can enjoy afternoon tea by reservation, shop for tea, imported jams, beautiful gifts and accessories in an inviting environment with a warm, personalized atmosphere.  “Our customers feel like they have walked into my home,” says Sarah Erlandson, proprietress of Fancy That.  And they have, because Erlandson lives upstairs.

To launch this new line of tea infusers for cocktails from Tea Forte, Fancy That is hosting a ticketed Tea Cocktail Event the evening of July 11, 2014.  The excitement over a new product line is apparent in the number of customers who have expressed interest in getting tickets to the Tea Cocktail Event.  “We haven’t made the tickets available yet and customers are already asking for two, four or more tickets” Erlandson says.    Tickets to the Tea Cocktail Event July 11, 2014 will be made available to Fancy That’s mailing list first and then to their Facebook followers.

The tea infusers for cocktails come in the following flavors:  Lavender Citrus containing white tea, lavender petals and lemon balm; Lemongrass Mint containing lemon myrtle and spearmint; and Silkroad Chai containing black tea, cinnamon, ginger and cardamom.  “The tea infuser is steeped in an alcohol like rum or vodka instead of water, poured over ice and mixed with a juice or cocktail mixer,” Erlandson explains.  “One cocktail we will be making at our Tea Cocktail Event will be a Lavender Pear Martini.   Perfect way to end the week and welcome the weekend.  It is the perfect way of taking tea during cocktail hour,” Erlandson quips.  The Tea Infusers (less alcohol) come with a cocktail recipe booklet and can be purchased at Fancy That during their gift shoppe hours Thursday and Fridays 11am – 3pm and Saturdays and Sundays 11am – 5pm. 

For further information, contact:

Brad McCracken, General Manager, Fancy That

888-323-2TEA (2832)

272 Main Street, Walpole, MA 02081

www.AfternoonTea.com

ExtravaSconeZa!

ExtravaSconeZa!

Celebrating one year of serving tea with an Open House

Walpole, Massachusetts.  Fancy That, serving Victorian-styled Afternoon Tea, selling tea and gifts and offering rentals of vintage English china, is pleased to announce a celebration of one year of serving Afternoon Tea.   An open house at Fancy That, 272 Main Street in Walpole, to be held on Sunday, May 18^th from 1pm to 5pm will highlight various fresh-baked scones.  The celebration is being called an “ExtravaSconeZa”.  Different flavours of scones will be available for complimentary sampling and for purchase.

Sarah Erlandson, proprietress of Fancy That points out, “we are celebrating our eleventh year of renting vintage china, the third year of our gift shoppe and now, one year operating the Tea Room where you can escape the stress of the day and unwind with a cup of Tea.”

“When you enter our Tea Room, it is intimate and welcoming as if you walked off the street into our front parlor,” Erlandson said.  “We love welcoming guests for Afternoon Tea.  It’s appropriate for us to host this open house – our way of giving back to our customers and the community with a free, open to the public event.”  Fancy That plans to have for sample different flavours of fresh baked scones and tea, offered in the comfy atmosphere of the tea room and gift shoppe.

FancyThat’s Tea Room is an elegant Victorian-inspired tea room with an air of genteel sensibilities.  Afternoon Tea is served by reservation only, Thursdays and Fridays at noon and Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 2pm.  You may make reservations by ringing up-888-3232-TEA (1-888-323-2832) or email Reservations at AfternoonTea dot com [spelled out to prevent spam-bots from using the email address].

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For more information, contact Brad McCracken, General Manager, Fancy That, 272 Main Street, Walpole, MA 02081.  Email brad@afternoontea.com  Phone: 1-888-323-2832  Fax 1-866-551-2194.

Somerton Green Fine Bone Porcelain and Fancy That in Walpole MA

Firstly, when you see this picture, you just have to ask out loud - "beautiful, aren't they?"....and of course the answer is "they are simply stunning."  These beautiful teapots and matching cups and saucers are the introduction line of Somerton Green from Australia into Fancy That's Tea Room.  And soon, carried in our Gift Shoppe.  When you have Tea in our Tea Room, you may be served your tea selection in these wonderful Somerton Green tea pots.  Keep an eye here and on our Facebook Page for more information about ordering one these beautiful tea pots, cup and saucer sets, for your own collection and more items of Australia's Somerton Green line.  Thrilled!  We are just absolutely thrilled to have Somerton Green in Fancy That's Tea Room and Gift Shoppe.  Thanks for stopping by!

Fancy That in Walpole, MA announces "Cream Tea To Go"

Fancy That is pleased to announce our Cream Tea To Go!  You can call ahead and in two hours or less, we will have your Cream Tea ready in a box, to go!  Don't quite know what Cream Tea is?  Cream Tea is a scone or scones, served with clotted cream, strawberry jam and English Breakfast tea.  Cream Tea is also known as Devonshire Tea, Devon Cream Tea or Cornish Cream Tea.   Very popular in the South West of England, Cream Tea is served in many of the tea rooms in the UK, and now is catching on in the USA as well.

Of course, we do have to mention the different ways of preparing your Cream Tea.  (said with a grin, of course).  In the USA, it is "as you wish."  But if you are Cornish, or having Cornish Cream Tea, your jam goes on the scone first, and the "cream" (or clotted cream) goes on top of the jam (sometimes also called the Cornish Split).  The Cornish are very, VERY proud of their cream and like to ensure that it is the top of the heap when it comes to the scone.  "Devon Cream Tea" is the method of preparing the scone with the "cream" on first, and the jam on top.  The scones should be split in two, either with fingers or a spreader, and each half prepared.  Butter is rarely ever present since the clotted cream serves that purpose and much better at that!  Milk, whole, is what is put in the English Breakfast tea.  After all, cream is for coffee and milk is for tea.

So there you are!  You know what Cream Tea is.  And now you also know that Fancy That has Cream Tea to Go - Thursdays through Sundays.  Call ahead toll free (888-32-32-TEA) and we will have your cream tea ready to go when you are!  Cream Tea To Go - now available at Fancy That!  Thanks for stopping by!  :)

Author of "Great American Tea Rooms" stopping by for Book Signing

We are very excited to welcome Bruce Richardson to Fancy That for an Afternoon Tea, a presentation of his new book "A Social History of Tea" and a book signing.  While the tickets for the Afternoon Tea and presentation are SOLD OUT, Bruce will be available on December 6 2013 from 2pm to 3pm to sign books.  This book signing is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  And if you don't have your new "A Social History of Tea" book or "Great American Tea Rooms of America" you can purchase them at Fancy That then have Bruce sign them....all at the same time!

So set your timer, and make a note in your calendar....December 6th 2013 from 2pm to 3pm, Bruce Richardson will be at Fancy That in Walpole, Massachusetts to sign his new book and his older books.  You may bring your book you already purchased or purchase one or three of his books at Fancy That.  The book signing is open to the Public so just stop by!  :)  See you on December 6th!

Stop By Our Open House December 1, 2013!

(c) Jamie R Doyle Photography

Save the date of Sunday Dec 1st (from 1:30-5pm) for our Holiday Open House! Sample Holiday Tea (black tea spiced with citrus, almond, clove and cinnamon) and our delish cinnamon tea bread! Also, we're super excited to have Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant, Lisa Lee at our open house this year! You'll have a chance to shop for gift sets or stocking stuffers, learn a glamorous new holiday look or book a pampering appointment for yourself or your loved ones. This event is open to the public, so no need to RSVP Just stop by between 1:30 and 5pm on Sunday December 1st .

Thanks for stopping by!  :)

The Posset Cup or "Loving Cup"

Fancy That recently acquired a cup with two handles.  We have been asked what is the reason for a double hand, so we thought we would share some ideas.

A cup with two handles, or double handles, is not really a tea cup at all.  In European circles, tea cups have one handle.  In Asian circles, there are no handles as the cups are a little more squat making them a little more adept at capturing the smell and nature of the brewing tea leaves.

Double handled cups are often thought of as consomme or bouillon cups.  You may see soup bowls that have saucers or underplates and a handle on each side.  They may be called bouillon cups or cream soup cups.  They are usually larger in size and utilitarian.  If the hostess wanted to serve soup without lugging a tureen from the kitchen (or she had no staff to lug) she would fill the double handled cup with an underplate and deliver the soup straight to the table.

Then there is the "loving cup."  Shaped after a winner's cup or trophy cup, these were decoration or keepsakes for a significant event - christening, birthday, birth, et cetera. (The picture above is similar to a "loving cup" done in a "Fragonard Style.")

The double handled cup was a cup also made for the weak, infirm or those drinking a warm ale, curdled milk, or warm wine.  British will call that a Posset Cup.  After all, Posset is a drink that warms the hands as well as the soul.  Why not take it in a double handled cup named after the warm beverage...the Posset Cup.  Posset Cups were given as hostess sets especially during the "big wet" or damp season when common colds were as prevalent as the rain drops.

Loving cup, Posset Cup, Consomme or others, but rarely a tea cup.  Now you know!  :)  Thanks for stopping by!

The Tea Napkin or Serviette

When setting your table for Afternoon Tea, remember the napkins.  A tea napkin, or serviette, is a dainty napkin of 9 inches to 12 inches square.  From the British or Old French, "serviette" (pronounced ser VEE Ett) is a piece of cloth that goes on the table during tea service.

Of course you can use any size napkin you wish, but keeping the napkin dainty near 12 inches square, with maybe a little bit of embroidery, adds that classic touch to your Afternoon Tea.

For points of reference, Luncheon napkins are about 12 x 16 inches, Dinner napkins are near 15 x 17 inches to 20 x 20 inches and "Lapkins" or a cloth to cover your entire lap is over 22 inches square.  Classic linen Lapkins have also been used at Afternoon Teas when a lady preferred to protect her dress from any crumbs.

We hope you enjoyed this little post.  The pictures above are from Fancy That's Tea Room where we use 12 inch square cloth napkins for each tea service.  We find the touch and feel to be reminiscent of days gone by, with a little color (pink!) added to bring the napkins "up to date."  Thanks for stopping by!  :)

Afternoon Tea is popular! VERY POPULAR!

It has been several months since we last posted.  But we'll tell you, it hasn't been slow!  We have hosted over 450 people for Afternoon Tea in those short months since we got our permitting and are continuing to book guests well past the Holidays!  We started with the Dining Room, then added the Pink Room, then added "Yolla's Table" and the Very Little Table.  Then we added an earlier sitting, and a later "4PM" sitting - the proper tea time!  Yes, it has been fun...and busy! 

We continue to enjoy changing our menu monthly to bring some wonderful tea sandwiches and awesome desserts to our tea takers.  We think we have enjoyed it more as we "open" our test kitchen and try out each item.  Diet?  meh!  (grin).

We also managed to host four open houses!  We hosted the May Open House when we celebrated getting all of our permits and began serving Afternoon Tea.  We had a Parisian Open House where we served Paris Tea, Maria Antoinette tea from Nina's and a host of French-inspired desserts.  It was our best-attended open house yet.  We tried an evening Open House where we had Pink Champagne and Truffles.  Well attended.  And most recently, we hosted our Autumn Open House where we sample the fall flavours of tea breads - pumpkin and cinnamon - always a favorite of our customers!

So what's on tap?  We are now serving Afternoon Tea by reservation on more Fridays due to demand.  We added Friday November 15th and December 13th.  You can now book Tea on a select Friday!  We are having a Tea for Thanksgiving (almost fully booked!), a book signing special tea with Bruce Richardson (author of Great American Tea Rooms), Champagne Tea on New Year's Day by reservation, and two sittings with Pink Champs on Valentine's Day 2014 - one at 2pm and one in the evening.  Pfhew!  Check out our Facebook Event's Page for more information on what we have coming up.  We will be posting more often here with recipes from the Tea Room, notes about stories from tea takers, little bits of etiquette, and the like.  We like to say, when you enter our Tea Room, you leave all of your cares and worries at the door.....same here.  When you are sharing your time with our Blog and Facebook Pages, for just a little while, you can leave all of your cares ad troubles behind you.  Sit back, relax, cuddle your "cuppa" and enjoy The Tea Life with Fancy That with our "Cup Of Glee"!  :)  Thanks for stopping by!

Random Thoughs About my Mom

Random thoughts about my mom: 

My mom loved crossword puzzles and the color red.  She was a "night owl", and we'd often have a midnight snack together.  I have countless memories of laying at the foot of her bed having late night chats about anything and everything.  If she could have lived anywhere, she'd have chosen Hawaii- she visited there many times throughout her life. I loved her with my entire heart. She loved to crochet, and always had a stash of baby blankets on hand. She used to call me "Sarah-Sarah".  Although she never got a driver's license, she learned to drive a standard transmission in Fenway during rush hour.  She sang soprano in her church choir.  When I found out she had cancer, I told her I couldn't live without her.  Bobby pins and craft glue make me think of her.  She was the second youngest of ten children, and she had nine of her own.  Our birthdays are three days apart, and I'm still learning how to celebrate mine without her.  She loved to read.  She didn't like to cook, but she could make a great shepherd's pie.  My friends still compliment her tuna salad.  She was afraid of heights.  She and my sister Faith collected pocket change from the year 1969 (my birth year) and would tape the coins to little hand written notes to me.  I have a pile of them!  Sometimes I feel like I knew everything and nothing about her.  If reincarnation exists, she said she doesn't want to come back.  She loved mystery novels and canned asparagus.  Her favorite perfumes were l'air du temp and Giorgio.  Her middle name was incorrectly recorded on her birth certificate as her first name; I knew her as Dorothy, but her family and my father called her Muriel.  When I was young, one of our favorite restaurants to frequent was "The Magic Pan"; they had the best garlic bread!  She opened a passbook savings account and saved to buy me my first car: A 1977 Chevy Camaro.  As I was getting ready for her wake, a gust of wind from a slightly opened window dislodged a bookmark from a pile of papers and blew it to my feet.   I stooped down to pick it up, and saw it had the drawing of an angel on one side and her name on the other.  She liked to fold paper napkins into shapes.   I still have the last one she made for me, probably for my birthday in 2008.  She was funny, stubborn, gentle, determined, simple, complicated, intelligent, willful, trustworthy, opinionated, dependable, and so much more. 

Parisian Open House at Fancy That sampling Marie Antoinette Tea and Paris Tea plus sweets

Please save the date of Sunday August 4th for our "Parisian" Open House!  This is a public event, so there's no need to RSVP - just mark your calendar and stop by on 8/4 between 1-4pm (there's no charge). 

You'll have the chance to sample some amazing sweet treats (mini "tiffany box" petits fours, imported french macarons while supply lasts), not to mention two really delicious teas:

Straight from Paris all the way to Fancy That's shoppe, we can't wait for you to sample Nina's of Paris "Marie Antoinette" Tea.  This is a black Ceylon tea, scented with delicious fresh apples and rose petals from Le Potager du Roi (the King's Unique Kitchen Garden) at Versailles palace.  It's an honor to be one of the few stockists in the U.S. to carry this blend. A limited amount will also be available for purchase($25 per tin).

 We'll also be brewing the always fabulous "Paris" Tea from Harney & Sons, a fruity black tea with vanilla and caramel flavours, and a hint of lemony Bergamot

 There is no charge!  And, no RSVP necessary.  Just stop by between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday August 4 for our Parisian Open House!

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday August 4th!  :)

Afternoon Tea (high tea) at Fancy That in Walpole Massachusetts

It has been a journey (some of which we chronicled here) from the idea of wanting to serve Afternoon Tea, to the place where we are now - serving Afternoon Tea by reservation on Saturdays and Sundays.  We have to say, we are absolutely THRILLED with the reception!  We are fully booked for this weekend (there are tables available for next weekend!).  With a few moments to spare,  just thought we would share some pictures of Afternoon Tea at Fancy That.  Enjoy the photos!  :)

Mini desserts served at a recent Afternoon Tea

 

 Table for two in the Dining Room

Dining Room with tables set for three guests each

The yummy part of Afternoon Tea!

When making reservations, be sure to request The Pink Room for a private room (up to a group of four)

The Pink Room can accommodate up to four guests

We are crazy about the vintage china we use for Afternoon Tea

The savories

Thanks for stopping by!  We look forward to welcoming you for tea!  :)

Join us for a Parisian Open House, French Macarons, Petite Fours, and Paris Tea

Fancy That is announcing an Open House at our Tea Room, Gift Shoppe and Showroom on Sunday, August 4th from 1pm - 4pm.  We are calling it a Parisian Open House...we will have imported French Macarons and Petite Fours to sample, along with Paris Tea. 

Paris Tea, one of our personal favorite teas, is a fruity black tea with vanilla and caramel flavours and a slight hint of lemony Bergamot.  The tea smells almost like an Earl Grey but the hint of vanilla catches your nose, and you, off guard!  Then the hint of caramel blends to create an experiece even before you take your first sip.  The tea has a medium body and flavours of black currants along with hints of vanilla and caramel.  Really, you will be wonderfullly surpised at the complex, fruity, caramel-vanilla taste and smell!  It will be a Parisian Love Affair - your Paris Tea and French Macarons!  (grin)

Please do mark your calendar now.  Sunday, August 4 from 1pm - 4 pm we will be sampling Paris Tea, French Macarons and wonderful Petite Fours (while supplies of these items last).  Stop by!  You never know what other surprises we may offer!  Say "Oui Oui!" to joining us at our Parisian Open House!  See you there!  Check out our web site for more information or call us toll free 1-888-32-32-TEA.  Thanks for stopping by!



Becoming a Tea Room - Tea is Served!

The time has come for us to announce that tea is served in Fancy That's Tea Room!  We are thrilled (and a little jittery) that the day is here for us to say "tea is served"!  We have put more information about reservations and times here.  Call on or after May 10th for reservations beginning on Saturday May 25th, and then each Saturday and Sunday thereafter.  Tea is at 2PM on each Saturday and Sunday by reservation only.  If you are a party of one, or a party of 8 you can escape from the stress of the day, if only for a little while.  Sipping tea "far from the madding crowd" is as easy as calling for a reservation.  Shall we see you for Tea?  

_______________________________

and now the "fine print": 

Consumer Advisory and Allergy Notice:

Consuming raw or undercooked meat, poultry, dairy or seafood may increase your risk of food-borne illness and pose a risk to your health.

At the time of your reservation, please advise us if any person in your party has a food allergy.

Open House to Celebrate becoming a Tea Room - Sunday May 5th 2013

Join Fancy That this Sunday, May 5th from 1pm - 4pm as we celebrate becoming a licensed and permitted Tea Room!  We will sample some Jasmine Earl Grey tea and cute mini desserts that we will serve as part of our Afternoon Tea.  If you have ever wanted a mini vanilla bean cupcake, now is your chance!  (grin)

Becoming a Tea Room has started almost a year ago.  We hired an architect, hired a floor installer, hired an electrician, hired a plumber, had inspections by the Town's Board of Health, Building Department, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, had safety and Fire Marshall inspection (and installed additional emergency lighting and fire extinguishers), filed three different applications, went before the Selectmen (Town Fathers) and became a licensed Common Victualler.  Pffffhew!  Time to take a breath, and celebrate.

If you can stop by, please do and say hi.  We will be taking reservations for Afternoon Tea soon.  Our Gift Shoppe is open and has been open through the construction so there is a reason to stop by regardless of the Open House!  :)  Stay tuned here or like us on Facebook to keep "in the know" of reservations, special events, and the like.

Thanks for stopping by!

Becoming a Tea Room - Plumbing Passed!

You may be asking yourself - where has Fancy That been the last month?  Well, getting the Prep Room ready in our path to becoming a Tea Room.  You may recall, we are now licensed Common Victuallers.  Today we passed and have approved plumbing that is required to plate the food and wash, rinse and sanitize the vintage china.  Even if you don't like the looks of plumbing, you have to admit, it is a work of art - what with all the copper!  (PVC is not allowed in commercial applications in Massachsuetts.)

Thank you to our plumber, Norfolk County Plumbing and Heating.  We highly recommend their work, their attitude, and their willingness to help!  Thank you!

On to the last two inspections.  Now that we have the proper fire extinguishers throughout the Tea Room and all tagged, the proper lighting and emergency lighting, the proper signage in the Prep Room, and a little ramp by one of the thresholds (more on that in a later post), we are near ready for the final inspection by the Building Inspector/Commissioner, and then the final inspection by our Board of Health who will then issue our License to Operate as a Food Service Establishment.

Thank you for following us as we continue on the home stretch of Becoming a Tea Room!  :)  Thanks for stopping by! 

Saucer Crackers now at Fancy That's Shoppe

Saucer Cracker are back in stock in Fancy That's Shoppe.  Afternoon tea becomes extra-special with saucer crackers.  Each cracker contains a "snap" and an entertaining scroll to raise a smile or create debate.  Floral style and fun, fun, fun.  Add a snap to your afternoon tea.  :)