Redding Garden Club Planning ‘An Afternoon Tea’

REDDING — “An Afternoon Tea,” a major fundraising event for Redding Garden Club, is scheduled for September 14 at Clemens Restaurant.

“This is going to be a spectacular event,” said Committee Chair Catherine Streit, “with a proper tea-tasting, a seated tea with finger foods, a boutique and an amazing raffle. It’s open to the public. We hope everyone who enjoys tea and wants to learn more about tea will join us.”

For the event, Clemens owner Ewa Ojarovska will transform the restaurant’s dining room into a “proper tea-tasting room,” featuring world-renowned Harney Tea. Guests will be invited to sample a variety of teas from around the world. They will also have the chance to enjoy a seated tea complimented with assorted tea sandwiches, miniature quiches, warm classic scones, and a selection of miniature desserts including chocolate dipped strawberries, Linzer hearts, cream puffs and European butter cookies.

Pearl Dexter, founder of The Tea School and editor and publisher of Tea: A Magazine, will be the featured speaker. After living in England for eight years, Ms Dexter established the Olde English Tea Room in Scotland, Connecticut. From there she began teaching classes and speaking on “The History and Pleasures of Tea” throughout the United States.

She is the author of several books, including Tea with Presidential Families, and will be donating a subscription to her magazine as a door prize.

“Wait until you see the fabulous boutique items we have for sale,” enthused Ms Streit. “We’ve got embossed and hand-colored note cards, tea cozies, scented candles, and the most wonderful dragonfly pins. The jams and jellies are out of this world!” A highlight of the boutique will be member-contributed baked goods, including tea breads, cookies and herbal shortbread.

Guests can purchase tickets for a raffle featuring items donated by local merchants. There will be items from Crabtree & Evelyn, gourmet tea, movies, chocolates, dinners, and more.

In addition, Club members will be decorating theme tables for guests to enjoy. Among the tables planned are an Asian themed table, a nautical table, a Halloween table, and a Christmas table.

Proceeds from this event will go toward the garden club’s civic beautification programs as well as its many philanthropic activities, such as providing flowers to seniors and hospice care, and running an Arbor Day program in the elementary school.

“An Afternoon Tea” is open to the public and will take place on Friday, September 14, from 12:30 to 4 pm at Clemens Restaurant, 4 Long Ridge Road in West Redding. Tickets are $35, and should be made payable to Redding Garden Club and sent to Sharon Epstein at 32 Drummer Lane, Redding CT 06896.

For more information call Catherine Streit at 664-1191 or Sharon Epstein at 938-9199. Seating is limited.