Check out more of Ellen Easton's
Tea Travels™
articles and recipes.
Learn about the
History of English High Tea,
English High Tea Menu, and more delicious
Afternoon Tea and High Tea Recipes.
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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
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Lady Mendl's Front Parlour
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Lady Mendl's Front Parlour Mantle
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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. 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.
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Lady Mendl's
Table Setting
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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.
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Twenty-Layer Crepe Cake
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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 is freshly baked, warm scones, one plain and one current, 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:
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:
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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
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Broadway Composer, Charles Strouse - Tony & Emmy Award
winner of Bye-Bye Birdie and Annie
and
Broadway Actress, Karen Ziemba - Tony Award winner of
Contact
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Authors Ellen Easton and Mara Purl
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ELLEN EASTON, author of AFTERNOON TEA...TIPS, TERMS and
TRADITIONS and Good $ense For $uccess™, is a consultant to
leading hotels and tearooms, including The PLAZA and LADY
MENDL’s, is speaker and designer of related products to the
hotel, food service, retail and special event industries.
AFTERNOON TEA...TIPS, TERMS and TRADITIONS By Ellen Easton
5 x7, paperback , 72 pages of how to’s, history, etiquette and
FAQ about afternoon tea, serving styles and more.
Now available at $20.00 each, post paid. Continental US Only.
Final sale.
(Wholesale accounts are welcome. Prices on request)
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!™ and Good $ense For
$uccess™ are the trade marked property of Ellen Easton/RED WAGON
PRESS.
