We Americans fall in and out of love with our Mother Country on a regular basis, but my English grandmother inadvertently nurtured in me a lifelong Anglophile who had already decided to drink tea rather than coffee before the Beatles landed. Now Downton Abbey has brought us there again, and why not? Better accents, better houses, better staff, better stuff, and the good sense to use it all to entertain with style. As close as I would ever have gotten to such goings-on was the great-grandmother I knew, Mary Moss, who left Wales to work in a Great House as a young teen, but said no to the bread and water diet and the cold garret room and left quickly.
Just back from visiting my family farm in Wisconsin for the holidays. Dishes in the kitchen are still where they were 60 years ago, the distant past is still visible. In this farm country dinner is the main meal, served at noon, supper a light evening repast. My English immigrant relatives took the left-over word 'lunch' and used it to describe their 4 o'clock break for caffeine and cake. They wanted to sound American, but it really was their tea. My brother's Chinese export mugs are perfect for tea, and in the wan blue winter light of late afternoon the old kettle roars with steam, the leaves steep and the brew tastes better than anywhere else. I think it's the water, but I'm not sure. First I'd reach for fruitcake, but lemon pound cake would do, or buttered scones, or crumpets with jam or marmalade, perhaps a new one I've brought along, the rare Marrakesh Limetta.
And so, whether hosting a Downton Abbey viewing party in your home (quite a phenomenon), or just spending quality afternoon tea time with friends or family, shopping Robert Lambert will convince your guests you've scoured the Empire for your fare. See the links below to make your presentations extra special:
http://www.robertlambert.com/store/index.html
On the homepage, click on links for:
If you are serving your favorite muffins & scones, make them extra special with this fabulous selection of Marmalade & Jams: http://www.robertlambert.com/store/marm.html
http://www.robertlambert.com/store/jam.html
And picture my Hot Ginger Caramel Sauce spread over a warm, oven fresh scone: http://www.robertlambert.com/store/product52.html
Let's not forget the biscuits (cookies to us Yanks)! See this link to Lambert Signature Thumbprint Cookies: http://www.robertlambert.com/store/recipes.html
And no self-respecting afternoon tea would be quite complete without some artisan fruitcake: http://www.robertlambert.com/store/fruitcake.html
Your tea service will be fit for Yeoman and Royalty alike!
