Foothill Flavors

TeaEras: The Harried Hostess’s Secret

By Antoinette May Herndon

I was heading into four days of writing workshops, two back-to-back. They were both going to be held at my house. My house! I hadn’t even taken down the Christmas tree. To add to the stew, two of the participants were going to be houseguests.

I needed to start things off right. But to make life even more challenging, we were in the midst of a Mercury retrograde.

You know Mercury retrograde? It’s that awful star- crossed time (three times a year, lasting about three weeks) when people get confused and wait for each other at the wrong places, stamps come off envelopes, and otherwise reliable computers trip you up.

Every workshop leader wants participants to go home satisfied and stimulated, feeling that they have actually learned something new that you had the temerity to think you could teach them. (Ideally.)

As the leader, you also pray that they will “play nice with each other,” that there won’t be any rivalry with each other or opposition to the format.

This time most of our participants were coming from out of town and several were meeting for the first time. Lucy Sanna, the co- leader, and I were taking them out for dinner Saturday night but that was all our budget could handle. The logical ice breaker would be to start things off with an elegant little

pre-workshop dinner party at my house.

It was a lovely idea but Lucy wasn’t flying in from Chicago until very late Friday afternoon. If it was to happen it was up to me, just me. So, where was I to find the time to shop, cook, arrange tables, etc. And then there were the ensuing dishes! I’d be up all night, an exhausted wreck before the workshop even started.

By now you should hear the faint sound of a bugle in the distance. My sad tale has a happy “cavalry to the rescue” ending. In this case it was a two woman calvary. Kristi Winter and Fran Perry rode in to salvage the situation. TeaEras saved the day.

Now, most of you know that TeaEras, owned and operated by Kristi and Fran, is a charming tearoom in Sutter Creek.

The team is also known for its catering. I was lucky to have TeaEras do two events in our garden one summer, an elegant wedding and an 80th birthday bash. The food and service at both was nothing short of sensational.

What I did not know is that the dynamic duo will also open the restaurant at night to do private candlelight dinners.

All it takes is a simple phone call. Lifting a phone, that’s all—no planning, shopping, cooking. Best of all, no dishes. The requirement to make this event happen is ten people. A TeaEra dinner would work for any kind of entertaining situation.

In our case it was a no-host dinner. Each person paid $20 which included

tax and tip. Guests enjoyed creamy, clam-filled chowder, a choice of salmon or fillet and a truly over the top bread pudding. It was delicious, everyone was happy.

Nicola Twyst, whose birthday happened to be that night, had a sparkling birthday candle in her serving. Of course she was serenaded. The setting was delightful. Think tiny rose bouquets, exquisitely painted china and lacy tablecloths.

An added treat are the plumed hats and boas that guests can don to fancify themselves for the evening. Men think it’s kind of crazy but are still impressed (or say they are) by how pretty we look.

This dress-up treat, added to the Victorian setting, is like stepping into another time. It’s fun, a perfect ice breaker. Our group of strangers bonded in a single evening. We were off and running—ready for a great workshop.

VITALS: 34 Main St., Sutter Creek. (209) 267-0333. Though wine is not sold at TeaEras, guests are encouraged to bring their own. There’s no corkage fee. TeaEras also serves lunch served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with tea until 5. Event catering. Credit cards accepted. Reservations desirable.

amherndon@sierralodestar.com

Pictures:

Fran Perry, left, and Kristi Winter toast their continued success.

Both intimate and elegant, TeaEras is a special place for a special occasion.

Nicola Twyst, left, celebrates her birthday with Lucy Sanna