The Grateful Muses

08/25/2026

And I will always love you....

03/13/2024

Afternoon tea consists of tea (offer at least two choices) served with three courses. You can make each course as simple or elaborate as you want:

1) The sandwich course is the largest course, which may as an option, also include small bite size savouries such as mini varieties of quiches, sausage rolls, scotch eggs and pork pies.
Traditional sandwich fillings include: cucumber; egg mayonnaise with cress; smoked salmon with cream cheese; Coronation chicken and ham & mustard.

Allow for at least two rounds of 3 servings per person (total of six items per person). Offer sandwiches with a choice of 3-4 filings on a mixture of brown and white bread. If including savouries, a choice of one or two options is perfectly sufficient.

For example, you could serve: cucumber sandwiches on white bread as the vegan/vegetarian option, smoked salmon & cream cheese on brown bread and coronation chicken on sourdough bread. With a savoury option of mini cheese and tomato quiches.

2) The scones course, served with clotted cream and strawberry jam. You may wish to offer a second preserve such as lemon curd, but not in replacement of strawberry jam. Scones may be offered with the choice of plain or fruit and should not usually be presented already assembled (except for large catered events) serve warm when possible. Depending on the size of the scones, allow up to two scones per person or estimating 1.5 per person is usually a safe bet. Clotted cream is rich and sweet in taste, thick and spreadable like butter. Clotted cream recipe https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/257734/chef-johns-clotted-cream/

3) The sweet course is cakes and small individual desserts. Normally presented as a choice of two traditional whole cakes such as Victoria Sponge/Sandwich, Lemon Drizzle, Coffee and Walnut, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Fudge Cake or Fruit Cake. Plus optional smaller individual bite sized desserts such as mini puddings (ganache, mousse, jelly etc.) and French pastries (tartlet, eclairs, macarons etc)

For example if you included desserts, you could offer one cake such as lemon drizzle cake and macarons. Or if you eliminated the whole cake option, extend to three desserts i.e. tartlet, eclairs and jelly.

For two people, a three-tiered stand is perfect for serving the three courses of afternoon tea as organised as in this picture or also sometimes displayed with the scones on the top level. As this is usually the smallest sized plate, the scones can be piled and kept wrapped in a linen cloth to keep warm. Sandwiches are always on the bottom level. For larger groups use a mixture of serving plates, silver trays and single tier cake stands. You may wish to pre portion on plates for larger catered events, separating as vegetarian or meat.

A royal afternoon tea is when ch*****ne is served with afternoon tea.

Sending hugs ❤️ Claire

03/07/2024

Pretty in pink 🌸🌷💕💫

02/01/2024

Special Release ✨ Indulge in our charming and delicious Strawberries & Cream Scones with this exclusive recipe from our current issue!

Invite your “best-teas” to a lovely afternoon tea for Valentine’s Day, with treats, fun crafts, and pink-and-red décor galore. Our January/February 2024 issue of TeaTime magazine features a delightful menu for a children’s afternoon tea party, complete with scones, savories, and sweets. Preview the menu and snag the recipe for our delectable Strawberries & Cream Scones: https://teatimemagazine.com/valentines-day-tea-for-children

01/08/2024

If you're having afternoon tea, you've got to do it properly! 😂

12/09/2023

Cookies!

Cookies this Saturday!! Snack on some cookies while shopping our Santa Sale! 10-50% OFF Sales throughout the store..just look for Santa!



The items in these photos may have already sold.

Questions? Call us at 520-777-7275 during business hours.

Mon-Sat: 10-6
Sun: 10-5

*Midtown Mercantile Merchants*
4443 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson AZ
Between Swan & Columbus

[email protected]

10/08/2023

Serving Sandwiches at Afternoon Tea

Cut sandwiches into dainty sizes with crusts off. Allow for at least 3 servings (and up to two rounds) per person and with a choice of 3-4 fillings on a mixture of brown and white bread.

Traditional sandwich fillings include:
cucumber;
egg mayonnaise with cress;
smoked salmon with cream cheese;
Coronation chicken (served at The Savoy, Claridge's, The Landmark and several noted establishments, also a deli/supermarket favourite)
ham and mustard.

The order of consumption is sandwiches (also sometimes served with small bite size savouries such as mini quiche, tartlets, mousse, pork pie etc) followed by scones and finally the cakes/sweets.

If presenting on a three tiered tray, in graduating order from bottom to top is sandwiches, scones then cakes. Sometimes the scones are presented on the smaller top tier and wrapped in a linen cloth to keep warm.

Scones may be offered with the choice of plain or fruit and should not be presented already assembled, serve warm with pots of clotted cream and strawberry jam.

It would be generous to present an assortment of at least two cakes, avoid large chunky portions. Popular tea time selections include Victoria Sandwich/Sponge, Fruit Cake, Lemon Drizzle, Coffee and Walnut, Battenberg, Chocolate Cake and Carrot Cake. Or replace a large cake with a selection of smaller individual bite sized desserts such as mini puddings (ganache, mousse, jelly etc.) and French pastries (tartlet, eclairs, macarons etc)

A cream tea consists of only tea (offer at least two choices) and scones.

Afternoon tea includes the full three courses of sandwiches, scones and cakes.

A Royal tea is afternoon tea served with ch*****ne.

A tip from Mary Berry
The sandwiches can be made the night before, or in the morning before an afternoon event. Butter the bread, fill and stack no more than six sandwiches on top of each other. Put them, uncut, on large trays, cover completely with cling film, then a damp tea towel. Transfer to the fridge. No more than 2 hours before serving, trim the crusts from the bread using a very sharp knife, then cut each sandwich into either 4 triangles or 4 domino (finger) shapes.

Additional tip
If catering for large numbers, stack sandwiches in finger or domino shape, it's easier to arrange and doesn't squash with the weight.

Image: The Landmark London

Enjoy! Sending hugs ❤ Claire

09/18/2023

Happy Wife Appreciation Day!! Bring her in to Midtown to show how much you appreciate her.