Tea Travels™…Lady Mendl's Tea Salon
by Ellen Easton ©2009  - All Rights Reserved

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Photos By Ellen Easton ©2009 - All Rights Reserved.

Check out more of Ellen Easton's Tea Travels articles and recipes.

Learn about the History of English High Tea and more delicious Afternoon Tea and High Tea Recipes.
 


Lady Mendl's Tea Salon

The Inn at Irving Place
56 Irving Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 533-4600

website: Lady Mendl's Tea Salon

 


Lady Mendl's Front Parlour
 


Lady Mendl's Front Parlour Mantle
 

Any minute, one expects Sherlock Homes to pop into Lady Mendl's tea salon to ask Edith Wharton a question. An absolutely charming establishment tucked away inside New York City's Inn at Irving Place. Located in the heart of the Gramercy Park historical district, when one ascends the front staircase, one enters a splendid 1800s townhouse replicating a world gone by. The atmosphere is the closest one can experience afternoon tea in a public venue as if one were in one's own home.


Lady Mendl's Table Setting
 

The Inn has several tea parlours in various sizes, accommodating from a small party of ten to larger groups of fifty, each maintains a working fireplace and private restroom facilities.

The tables are individually set with crisp white linens, lovingly collected antique porcelain, silver and crystal patterns. A small bouquet of graceful flowers adorns the tops of all surfaces. 

The attention to the table's detail is noticed with renowned sugar artist Reva Paul's hand decorated rose sugar cube on the side of each teacup, as well as tea enhancers of hand cut candied ginger, milk, honey, and lemon slices.

The wait staff is both knowledgeable and seamlessly attentive to your every need without being intrusive.
 

 

Lady Mendl's five-course seasonal menu follows the traditions of an English tea, but often with an added modern surprise. Implementing French, Russian, and English serving styles, each course is served separately.

The first course, the chef surprise of the day, can vary from a mini quiche to a non-traditional mixed salad.

Twenty Layer Crepe Cake
Twenty-Layer Crepe Cake
 

The second course, an assortment of seasonal crustless tea sandwiches, served twice, consist of smoked salmon with dill cream cheese on pumpernickel bread, thinly sliced cucumber with mint crème fraiche on brioche, classic egg salad on rye bread and smoked turkey with cranberry on seven grain bread.

The third course, freshly baked warm scones (one plain and one with currents) with Devonshire cream and preserves.

The fourth course is what has fast become Lady Mendl's signature, a tissue paper thin, Twenty-Layer Crepe Cake filled with French pastry cream.

The fifth course ends with an assortment of tea cookies and a chocolate dipped strawberry.

All tea service includes freshly steeped, estate grade, loose-leaf tea served decanted at tableside.



Special events are often held to mark the opening of film, as was the case with Marie-Antoinette.  A French theme menu, with tea pairings, was served:
 


Check out the full menu: Afternoon Tea a la Francaise



Tea classes and lectures, by Ellen Easton, are held by appointment, for those who wish to learn the proper etiquette, serving and history of afternoon tea.

Comedienne Fran Capo, The Guinness Book of World Records' fastest talking female, achieved on an episode on her show called "Fran's World" - Fran's attempt at refinement.

It's no wonder Lady Mendl's has been named one of America's favorite tearooms. Whether one is celebrating a special occasion, a new engagement, or just one who wishes to have a relaxing afternoon, from individuals to international celebrities, all are welcome.
 


Noted Guests:
 


Anne Kaufman - producer & daughter of America's playwright George S. Kaufman
and
Miriam Margolyes,OBE - illustrious English actress, BAFTA Award for The Age of Innocence
 


Broadway Composer, Charles Strouse - Tony & Emmy Award winner of Bye-Bye Birdie and Annie
and
Broadway Actress, Karen Ziemba - Tony Award winner of Contact
 


Authors Ellen Easton and Mara Purl

 

  

Ellen Easton is a lifestyle industry leader, tea and etiquette authority, author of Afternoon Tea~ Tips, Terms and Traditions, A Tea Party Planner and Tea Travels™ For The Holidays (RED WAGON PRESS), as well as a hospitality, design and retail consultant, whose clients have included The Waldorf=Astoria, The Plaza, and Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon.

Easton’s family traces their tea roots to the early 1800s, when ancestors first introduced tea plants from India and China to the Colony of Ceylon, thus building one of the largest and best cultivated teas estates on the island.

REVA PAUL, an internationally acclaimed confectionery artist, hand decorated floral sugars and mints are available by special order for teas, weddings, and special events. Wholesale/Retail - Bulk & Gift boxed. All prices on request via RED WAGON PRESS (212) 722-7981.

AFTERNOON TEA...TIPS,TERMS and TRADITIONS
 By Ellen Easton
72 pages of how to’s, 27 photos, history, etiquette and FAQ about afternoon tea, serving styles and more. “Tea is the luxury everyone can afford!™”

TEA TRAVELS™FOR THE HOLIDAYS
By Ellen Easton
64 pages, 21 color photos. A complete holiday menu includes 25 easy to prepare recipes; theme teas, decorating & gift ideas; invitation template and secret sources.

Each 5 x 7 paperback book fits into an A-7 envelope for easy mailing, great gift or party favor item. Each book is $20.00 post paid. Continental US Only. Final sale. (Wholesale and Fundraising accounts are welcome. Call for Special Prices) Please include your name, address and telephone number for shipping. Please make check or M.O. payable to: RED WAGON PRESS and send to: RED WAGON PRESS, 45 East 89th Street, Suite 20A, NYC, NY 10128-1256

TEA TRAVELS™, Wishing You Happy TEA TRAVELS!™, “Tea is the luxury everyone can afford!™” and Good $ense For $uccess™ are the trade marked property of Ellen Easton/RED WAGON PRESS.