My friend Regina and I love to do high tea! We are always searching out new places, and re-trying old ones. What a pleasure to immerse oneself in fragrant tea, civilized napkins, pleasant service, delicate and dainty foodstuffs – and perhaps a hat to suit the occasion!
So last weekend, we finally made it to a place we had wanted to enjoy twice before, but plans had to be changed. This time, all was very, very well, and we arrived at The Tea Cozy Cottage, 7664 Wooster Pike, at 11 a m, for a bewitchingly delightful high tea.
The proprietor, Michelle Boyles and her husband Christian do it all themselves, with creativity, a light touch, a sense of fun. Christian is in charge of food – he is to be commended for the wonderful nutloaf. The space, tucked in behind the old Heritage, is light and cheery – with a wonderful selection of teas, each made in a different pot. I tried a green and a white I had never had before. Aaaaah.
The theme for the day was the Roaring 20s – so we had celery soup and Waldorf salad from the menu of the Waldorf Astoria in its heyday. Each of the presentations was wonderful – just right in taste and portion. The scones, the fruits, the chocolate truffle – could not have asked for more – or better!
Now I have two favorite high teas in town – the Hilton Netherland Plaza and the Tea Cozy Cottage. Very different and very wonderful experiences, both of them. When you want to escape the maddening crowd, and return to a gentler time – I recommend them both highly!