Foothill Flavors

In Sutter Creek: How Sweet It Is!

By Antoinette May Herndon

Seems like sugar’s gotten a bad rap lately. But don’t we all need a spoonful once in awhile? Didn’t someone even write a song about that?

Now, think sugar and spice and everything nice. Isn’t that what little girls are made of? Yet how often do we get to indulge ourselves in a true sugar fest?

Happily, Fran Perry and Kristi Winter at Sutter Creek’s TeaEra have discovered the perfect means to add sweetness to our lives while honouring some lucky little girl on a special occasion in her life.

Fran and Kristi offer Princess Teas on an ongoing basis, sometimes expanding them into Lord and Lady Lunches. Shouldn’t a little guy also get a break? I don’t buy into that snips and snails and puppy dogs tail stuff, do you?

Fran, the Tea Mother has devised a sumptuous soiree to charm the heart of any birthday boy or girl ranging in age from say four to eight. “It’s true,” Fran admits, “that boys do tend to get a little more physical, but they enjoy the tea, cakes, games, and gifts just as much as the girls do. her, All have been little gentlemen— nothing’s been broken yet.”

The birthday teas also double as sugar coated etiquette lessons. Upon arrival each guests is introduced in turn to the reigning royal. Most recently it was Princess

Reese Shrader. Princess Reece, who just turned five, invited seven girls to share the milestone event with her.

After curtsying dutifully, each took a seat and removed her napkins from its silver ring, then placed it on her lap. No bibs! No slurping or burping either, just lots of pleases, thank yous and excuse mes.

Tea with freshly baked scones, clotted cream and preserves was served as a spontaneous cry of “Yummy!” went up. While the girls dined on spinach salad, assorted finger sandwiches, devilled eggs and fruit, Fran, the Tea Mother, read a story to them.

Finally came the dessert—a stacked presentation of cupcakes. Of course everyone sang happy birthday to Reece as she blew out her candle.

The girls were introduced to tea cosies and learned the tea cosy game. Then—finally—the moment for which everyone had been waiting. THE PRESENTS WERE OPENED! Lots of excited squealing there. One gift, appropriately enough, was called “Friends Forever.”

It recalled to mind for me that I had first learned about the Princess Tea when I dropped into TeaEra for lunch with an out of town friend, Diann Morgan, the week before. Years ago, when Diann was four, she gifted me with a tea set on my fifth birthday. Some memories last forever.

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VITALS: Having heard about the Princess Tea, I just had to attend and invited editor- photographer, Mike

Taylor, and my husband, Charles Herndon to come with me. They took their lumps like men, but neither overdosed on all that sweetness. Guys definitely go to TeaEras too. The china may look like fragile museum pieces, but there’s something solid and inviting about the exposed brick walls of the 1890s building.

A Princess Tea, priced at $25, includes refreshments, a lesson in tea etiquette, party games, stories, favours, goodie bags and a special dessert. Reservations are required with a minimum of six children. TeaEra was born when Fran and Kristi, two stay-at-home moms, met through their children and discovered a shared love of fine china, whimsy and tea. Why not open a tea room?

Just try a cup of their Ceylon Supreme, a mellow, smooth orange pekoe with a subtly sweet flavour, or perhaps a rich, full-bodied Earl Grey scented with oil of bergamot. Kristi, now a worldwide tea broker (teashop.net), really knows how to pick them.

Besides Princess Teas, lunch and catering (most recently a do at the governor’s mansion) Kristi and Fran do candlelit dinners on request for ten or more.

34 Main St., Sutter Creek. Phone: 267-0333. Lunch served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations desirable—most particularly on Saturdays. Credit cards accepted.