Bear Cuisine

The St. James Tea Room: August 2012

This visit to the St. James found us seated in Styles. Styles was the fictional setting of Agatha Christie's first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, which led to an outstanding career as a mystery writier. Christie eventually held a Guinness World Record for being the best selling and most translated writer of all time, second only to the Holy Bible in world-wide distribution. In their passport of The St. James Tea Room British Greats, we find this description" "what she brought to her stories was not just a great understanding of plot, suspense, character creation and simple reading enjoyment, but also a delight in highlighting grace, civility, beauty, gentility and excellence. You never see the modern immoral, ends-justify-the-means anti-hero in her writing but always a high moral character, utilizing grace and tact instead of force in the solving of crimes, and settings that were decidedly civil and genteel." Christie's writing embodies the virtues that the Tea Room holds dear.

This month's theme has been The Knights of Camelot; as always the savories, breads and sweets were delectable.

King Arthur's Meat Pie, Sir Galahad's Roasted Pepper and Goat Cheese Tart, Sir Lancelot's Pork Tenderloin and Peach Chutney, Pendragon Zucchinini Spiral and Guinevere's Radish Sandwich.

Paired with English Breakfast Black Tea.

Merlin's Soda Bread with Butter and The Sword in the Scone with Lemon Curd and Clotted Cream.

Paired with Blueberry Festival Scented Black Tea.

Sir Gawain's Summer Pudding, Sir Percival's Figs and Raspberries in Lavender Cream and The Black Knight's Chocolate Financier.

Paired with Iced Orange Flower Oolong Tea.

The St. James Tea Room

One of the pleasures  of travel is the discovery of places and experiences that you don't find at home. An even greater pleasure is discovering something new and wonderful in your own hometown. Such a place in Albuquerque is the St. James Tea Room. 

I have always loved the British Tea Cermony known as Afternoon Tea. With its leisurely pace and fablous sweets and savories, Afternoon Tea makes a "cuppa" a civilized beverage that is without peer in western culture. Albuquerque is an unlikely place for a first class tea room, but the St. James is a lovely tribute to the English tea room.It even has a listing in Bruce Richardson's The Great Tea Rooms of America. Founded in 1999 by Mary Alice Higbie, the St. James provides a respite from the frenetic pace of our lives and a chance to reconnect with old friends or deepen frienships with new ones.

 

The Library
Part of the charm of the St. James is found in the cozy dining areas that have been created. Private nooks, similar to British parlors, are separated by curtains and given names like Chartwell or Magdalen. . Each alcove is furnished with period chairs and sofas and Victorian bric-a-brac. You really do feel as if you have stepped back in time.

Kay was most pleased to be whisked away to this enchanting place in the Land of Enchantment.

Each month a different theme is chosen and a different menu, offered. We now count ourselves amoung the devoted tea room regulars who keep returning to find out what new delicacies have been created for our pleasure.

In June of this year, the theme was "Last Stop Paddington Station," a tribute to Kingdom Brunel.

The traditional cream tea scone with clotted cream and lemon curd is always on the menu.This month this course was paried with Yin Hao Jasmine Green Tea.

The Savory Course paired with Earl of St. James Traditional Black Tea

 Turkey and Avocado Sandwich,Curried Lamb Sweet Potato Pasty,Tea Sandwich: Cucumber with Green Olive and Pecan Cream Cheese,Cold Pea Salad, Quinoa in an Endive Caboose

The Sweets paired with Iced Summer's Bounty Scented Black Tea

Cherry Claflouti.Train Car Chocolate Biscuit Cake, Honey Thyme Panna Cotta with Roasted Apricot Puree

When you visit Albuquerque, be sure to add the St. James to list of must-visit stops.

 

The St. James Tea Room:July 2012

In July the theme was The Wind in the Willows--one of my favorite childhood books. I still enjoy reading it.

Prelude: Toad Hall's Lemon Buttermilk Ice

Savories included Egg Salad Sandwich, Smoked Chicken Blueberry Salad, Parmesan Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus,Cherry Tomato and Melon Salad and a cucumber with strawberries Tea Sandwich.  Paried with Lady Londonderry Scented Black Tea.

Breads: Chelsea Buns and Cream Scones paired with Island Garden Pouchong Tea

Sweets: Chocolate Blossom Cookie with a Blackberry, Cream Puff with Berry Mousseline, Coconut Friand paired with Iced Afternoon in Mansfield Park Black Tea.

One very happy patron!