My friend and I set out for Hamden this Sunday afternoon to enjoy a proper high tea held at Le Petit Gourmet, a small and quaint spot that shares a space with a used bookstore where one could easily lose track of time exploring. The restaurant only offers tea on Sundays and by reservation. There are two time slots available: 2:30 and 3:30. Our server greeted us and informed us of the tea selections of the day; Earl Grey or Orange Pekoe. That was the only choice we had to make.
Our steaming pot of Earl Grey was poured into charmingly mismatched tea cups. A request for honey was quickly obliged. Being rampant tea connoisseurs we were even more pleased that we didn't have to ask for additional hot water, that our server checked back to keep us in good supply.
We were delighted when warm cranberry scones (yes I did say warm!) were brought over next, accompanied by strawberry jam and the most delightful clotted cream to spread on top. I could have eaten several of these, but was when I saw the assortment of sandwiches and treats that came next, I was glad for just the one scone.
A two tiered tray was placed in front of us laden with four different kinds of tea sandwiches on the bottom, and sweets on the top. The sandwiches were; curried chicken salad, smoked salmon and red onion, ham and brie, and the most amazing cucumber sandwiches I have ever tasted. The desserts included shortbread, sliced tea cake, tartlets and fresh strawberries.
I was reminded vaguely of my time visiting England with my grandparents and how much I enjoyed the simple pleasure of making time for taking tea in the afternoon. It made such an impression upon me as an act that was so highly civilized as well as an opportunity to stop one's day and take a few minutes away from the craziness of life to relax and recharge. Afterwards we decided a good follow up would be to visit Cinestudio at Trinity College. In case you don't know, it was founded in 1970 by a group of students who converted a large lecture hall in the college’s Clement Chemistry Building into a recreation of a 1930s film house. The theater was created as a cooperative, with students overseeing all aspects of the theater’s operation. It is one of the coolest places to see a film with its operational gold screen curtain, balcony seating and capability to play 70 mm film.
The film we saw was a screening of Safety Last, the silent film starring Harold Lloyd who was "considered by many to be one of the most gifted physical (and risk-taking) comedian of the big three silent stars (with Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton), Harold Lloyd brings a modern sensibility to his optimistic everyman, who takes a job at a bustling department store to make enough money to marry his hometown sweetheart (Mildred Davis)."
(playing nightly till May 30th at 7:30pm)
Information about high tea:
Cost per person, $15
Location: Le Petit Gourmet, 1231 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT
Call for reservations: (203) 230-3252
Link: http://www.le-petit-gourmet.com
