Being Not-So-Proper over Afternoon Tea: Mel & Mia's
Images: Jingle Jackson
I love bringing you these stories because not only do I get to try new things, but I also get to learn things. For this story, we went off in search of afternoon tea to celebrate a birthday and we landed at Mel & Mia's, a charming little spot in Perrinville (a wide spot in the road on the way to Edmonds.)
Afternoon tea, for those who may not have had this very fun experience, generally consists of tea (duh!), finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and an assortment of petite desserts. I've had tea around the area at several fun spots but this was my first time at Mel & Mia's. It was delicious!
Our lovely host first came in and asked what types of tea we would like. For our table of four, we ordered two pots. One traditional English Breakfast and one a really yummy vanilla rose they were featuring for the month of February.
As a surprise starter with our tea, our first course was a cup of tomato soup which we all agreed was excellent. From there, the star of the show arrived: a three-tier centerpiece tray loaded with our tea delights. The bottom tier held cucumber finger sandwiches, turkey sands and ham & cheese. The middle layer had fresh fruit and chunky chocolate cherry scones. And the top layer had mini cupcakes, oatmeal bars and macarons. This is an event where you need to come hungry and plan to leave really full!
Maybe the best part of going to tea, though, is that it requires you to slow down a bit. You take your time as you pour the tea and make your selections. You chat and marvel over the different delights. To do it all "right," I thought I would check to see if there was any proper tea etiquette before we went and this is how I gained new knowledge. It seems there really is proper behavior for tea. According to several websites, when attending afternoon tea:
Start with small talk and compliment your hosts.
Avoid controversial topics.
Listen actively to what others are saying. Avoid slurping.
Hold the teacup by the handle to avoid spills.
Sip quietly to show respect.
Ha! Jingle's rules of tea are more like:
Ooooh and aaahhh over everything.
Catch up on all the latest stories and gossip.
Wear a fun hat or fascinator. Or not.
If the tea is too hot and you just can't wait to taste it, go ahead and slurp. Then laugh.
Take your time with your wonderful tea guests and enjoy every minute of it.
(I do agree with the guideline to avoid controversial topics and hold the teacup by the handle. With your little finger out. It adds to the fun.)
Mel & Mia's was really fun. They are a low-key, no-hurry kind of spot for tea, compared especially to the Queen Mary or Fairmont Hotel in Seattle, making them perfect for first-timers and/or tea "rule breakers." They are also a very popular spot with locals for baked goods and breakfast and lunch offerings, judging by how busy the main dining area was when we left. We were too full to stop and check it out so . . . gotta go back!
We live lucky my friends! - Jingle
Mel & Mia’s
7530 Olympic View Dr #103
Edmonds, WA 98026
Jingle Jackson grew up in Everett, attended WSU (go Cougs!) and worked a great career at Snohomish PUD. Now, she is working on the pursuit of new adventures and fun wherever she can find it.
