Guests gather in the Christina's living room on Friday, February 21, as the elegant Valentine Day tea awaits them.  Postponed due to weather, the event offered a lovely break from a season of cabin fever.

The dining table is lush with savories:  egg salad sandwiches, goat cheese in puff pastry, pineapple/cream cheese on croissant, cucumber and curry chicken sandwiches.  The sideboard tempts with lemon squares, brownies, cookies and scones.

Brick Tea from James and Dolley Madison's Montpelier.   The package reads:  "Traditionally used as a method to transport tea by camel along the silk road from central Asia.  The tea was in this form when colonists dumped it from a ship in Boston Harbor during the event that came to be known as the Boston Tea Party."  It is delicious just by itself, hearty yet mellow.

The foggy afternoon of relaxation and socializing was capped off by readings of favorite love poetry and a lively raffle.

Lorraine Danishewski hosted a sit-down birthday tea party for a friend (far left) in her home, the historic 19th century Curtis House. Upon arrival, guests were given champagne to toast the guest of honor.  Here they enjoy the first course:  home-made salad paired with a black peach-apricot tea.    Lorraine set the theme with Victorian winter decorations.

Christina's Afternoon Teas served hand-made sandwiches: pineapple and cream cheese, cucumber, egg salad, chicken curry and open-faced smokes salmon -- paired with a blackberry tea. 
Pictured above:  Scones made from scratch, served with butter, fruit jelly and lemon curd.
Custom desserts, by Pastry Chef Salavatore Settepani of Pasticceria Bruno, were paired with black tea infused with raspberry.

Lorraine's favors are "honey spoons;" just unwrap and stir in your tea, She tied each with pink ribbon to a Victorian printed heart she created herself, and a special tea bag.