Dining with my friends Phil Krampetz and Kyle Stewart is always an event. We once shared one of the grandest dinners ever to be enjoyed on this side of the Atlantic when the chefs and sommeliers of the Paris Ritz arrived via private jet along with their food, wine, plates, glassware, silverware - even their own pots and pans - for what can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime evening: a sensational recreation of "An Evening at the Ritz". The only detail we needed to provide was the art of conversation...an easy task for the illustrious guests at our table.
Phil and Kyle are experts in the field of specialty teas and coffee and travel the world to find the finest selections for their on-line emporium "The Cultured Cup". (Kyle is one of only approximately 60 Certified Tea Specialists in the world.) I dined with them again last week and as always came away with - not only a better understanding of the enormous complexity of these beverages - but with a promise to myself to make my daily tea-taking a ritual for the senses and the soul.
In the year ahead I'll be looking at tea in a whole new way and writing occasional posts on my experiences and observations.
Right now I'm hooked on Mariage Freres The' de Fetes - Tea of the Holidays - A China Black Tea with Essence of Citrus and Vanilla with a very long finish. It's exquisite.
Have a special tea you'd like to share?
'The Cultured Cup' is my favorite source for the finest coffee and tea.
Please visit 'The Cultured Cup' website by clicking HERE . You can sign up for their very informative newsletter and also visit them on Facebook.
Top Photographs Shot at The Cultured Cup Tasting Room (c) C. Andrako 2011 All Rights Reserved
Japanese Tea Ceremony photo - Wikipedia - public domain
7 comments:
Oh I was just making a pot...a pedestrian Earl Grey, I'm afraid, but I do love it. Raised in a tea family, it was our 'house tea.' I do like many other teas but have been remiss in tasting a lot. Occasionally I go to a tea house here in DC (Teaism) & also have lovely new-to-me teas at a friend's home.
Back to the computer crisis at hand. Looking forward to visiting The Cultured Cup when I can.
xoxo
Catherine,
thank you for these "flights of tea", I thoroughly enjoyed them! I drink tea first thing in the morning and again in the afternoon. My favorite is an organic Earl Grey, bought locally at a Viennese tea company (Demmer). So far, no other brand comes even close to the exquisite taste of Demmer's selection.
Small world, to find Giulia here, mentioning one of my favorite places in Washington DC, Teasm. I love their Bento box with the tea-smoked salmon, scrambled egg with fresh coriander and caramelized onion nan bread!
OMG! I loved the store in Dallas and was sad to see it close. I bought my first drinking chocolate there(both kinds!) Lots of good memories. I can still smell the store in my mind. So glad they are on line.
I can imagine that having tea with you would be very much like having tea at the Ritz - except better. I look forward to your upcoming posts on this.
Catherine, I want to hear more about this dinner, it sounds so exciting...I'd like to have a cup of thé des fêtes with you ! I used to go to this tiny Mariage Frères tea room in Le Marais in Paris and it's true they're the best !
Have a great week end dear...
xo
Lala
Catherine,
Oh what a divine post! I can only imagine how incredible that dinner must have been....I too love tea, and as I drink less wine with age, I drink more tea! I love Mariages Freres, and always visit their shop in Paris when I am there. Babington's at The Spanish Steps in Rome is a favourite stop too.... I love a nice lavender earl grey, and my daily morning cup is good old Good Earth ....I also love Trader Joes Holiday mint green tea...
I followed your link here, and will await more Tea time from you!
You made me laugh with your comment, yes I am all over...one has to be these days I guess. I never really get twitter though, although I occasionally tweet. I hope you are well, have a wonderful weekend and a fantastic Thanksgiving...it appears that you are off to a good start!
xo, Nathalie
Lovely photos.
And so nice to see from your profile page, a Thomas Hardy devotee.
He is one of my favorite authors.
Everything good to you.
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