Becoming a Tea Room - Permitting

Remember, if you want to become a tea room, you cannot simply start serving tea.  After hiring the architect (see earlier post) you will then have to begin the permitting phase.  You will need to complete the forms to become a food establishment, even if you are serving just a small group of people.  Don't be overwhelmed:  take it step by step and stay in touch with your Board of Health and your Building Inspector.  Before you know it, you will be getting ready for the big meetings!  You will also have to become a Common Victualler which will require a permit.  So gather your forms, make a nice cup of tea, and enjoy the process!  More soon!  :)  Thanks for stopping by.

Join Fancy That at POSH Upscale Vintage Boutique Bridal Event 1.26.13

Photo from POSH Upscale Vintage Boutique's Facebook Bridal Event Page

We are always delighted to be a part of a local bridal show!  POSH Upscale Vintage Boutique invited Fancy That to be a part of the Bridal Event being hosted at POSH Upscale Vintage Boutique in Norwood, MA from 10am - 4pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013. You can get directions and address by clicking the link above or the link below.  Stop by and see our table, and browse the other wonderful vendors that that will on site.  Be sure to say "HI" when you stop by!  :)

Shall we see you at POSH's Bridal Event?

Becoming a Tea Room - Common Victualler's License

In getting licensed to open as a Tea House or Tea Shop, we have found out two important things: 1 – It is always easier to find a commercial property in a proper zone than it is to find a nice property and try to get a variance and 2 – you will need to get licenses. If you are serving tea, you will become a Common Victualler (pronounced VIT-ler). The only way to become a Common Victualler in the USA is to get permitted through a license. Let’s look at the process right now:

A Victualler is traditionally a person who sells foods or other provisions, serves food or other provisions, similar to a grocer, and in particular, British usage can be used to mean a person licensed to sell alcoholic beverages (of course, that is another license in the USA).  Here’s a summary (very generic) of how to get open, properly with licenses in hand….

Step 1 - get the architectural drawing of how the kitchen or food prepare SHALL BE (there is usually a certification affidavit that you will sign with the Common Victualler application that says you will do the work as drawn – you will provide that affidavit with the drawing.)

Step 2 - take drawing to Board of Health and Building Inspector (be prepared to leave a copy with them for review) for their approval - providing initial spaces or signing spaces would be perfect. If they choose to sign elsewhere that will be up to them).

Step 3 - Complete application for Common Victualler and submit along with the fee to BOS (Board of Selectmen), Town Aldermen, or designated board. They will notify when a public hearing will be accomplished.

Step 3 A - for the application: letter and/or lease from owner; affidavit of workman's comp; affidavit of tax payments made to department of revenue; bank reference.

Step 4 - Appear before the Board of Selectmen Public Hearing with a copy of package for each selectman and answer any questions. Getting supporters to join at this meeting would help! :)

Get Victualler's License and start construction. Upon Final Board Of Health inspection and their permit issued, OPEN!

More very soon!  :)



Boil your Rooibos! Boil your red tea!

Red Tea.  Or not a tea at all?

Tisane? Or not herbal?

Rooibos (pronounced Roy-boss) has been enjoyed for centuries by indigenous peoples of South Africa. Rooibos is a broom-like plant of the legume family growing in South Africa. The generic name comes from the plant Calicotome villosa, aspalathos in Greek (scientific name is Aspalathus linearis). This plant has very similar growth and flowers to the redbush.

Rooibos teas can be herbal infusions made from a South African red bush and other ingredients like ginger, blueberry, mint, chocolate, chai, and on and on. Rooibos by itself is sometimes called "red tea." There are also green Rooibos teas that are just as delicious as the popular red teas but much harder to find on the regular market.

Now for the part that will set your sensibilities alight – boil the rooibos! Yes, boil! If you have had rooibos in the past and you “just couldn’t get over the taste” then you obviously made it like tea (you know, that Camellia Sinensis leaf). If you boil tea, it turns bitter. We all know that. But rooibos is not tea.

Try this. Take rooibos and brew it like tea. Steep it for about 3 to 4 minutes. At the same time, take some of the rooibos and add it to boiling water and boil hard for about 2 minutes. Strain.

Taste both. You may find you like the boiled rooibos much MUCH better.

Now grab a good book, turn your mobile device off for an hour and enjoy your boiled rooibos!

The Season of Silver and Gold - Shining Silver

The Holiday Season is the time of year when your favorite silver pieces appear after a long year in storage.  You may have Sterling, or you may have silver plated.  Regardless, you are now faced with the task that so many have before them this time of year - shining the silver.  Of course, if you use the silver all the time, the shining is much easier.  Using silver frequently does not allow the tarnish to build up.  But, for the sake of today, let's assume you do not use your silver all the time and treasure it for once-a-year-use - like the Holidays!

The first and strongest tip is to keep rubber away from your silver.  ALL RUBBER.  Don't use rubber gloves, no rubber bands, and whatever you do, do NOT place the items on a rubber mat when drying.  Rubber causes tarnish that is almost impossible to get off. 

OK, that warning aside, let's move on.  You can buy expensive and caustic cleaners that shine well.  But why?  Just get a pair of plastic gloves, open your fridge and take out the baking soda.  Yes, baking soda.  You use baking soda for so many other things, is it any wonder that you can use it to shine silver as well?  Make a paste of the soda and water and work it gently into the silver.  You can use a soft toothbrush to get into the cracks if you wish to take away all of the patena.  Wash gently with soap and water, and allow to dry.  Buffing with a soft cotton cloth is all that is left to do!

Have you seen those electrolyte trays you can buy to clean silver?  If you have had  a sleepless night this time of year, you have seen those magic trays that take all tarnish off.  You can spend the money, or just go into your pantry and pull out the aluminum foil and, you regular table salt.  Lay a sheet of aluminum foil in a glass pan (shiny side up works best).  Place your silver items on the foil.  Add a quart of very hot to near boiling water and a 2 tablespoon of salt.  You will see the tarnish lifting off.  Note:  if you have raised items on your silver and you love the black lines highlighting the decoration, this method will remove all tarnish...ALL TARNISH. 

There you have it!  No chemicals and as the perfect host or hostess, your silver will be shined and beautiful to match your napery and table settings.  Now that you ahve saved all this extra time and don't have to spend hours and hours hand shining your silver, get out there and PARTY!   Happy Holidays Everyone!  :)