Gentleman's Afternoon Tea

I spotted this sign the other day when we were shopping.

I've been to Lady's Afternoon Teas before. They are awesome.

 

The first one is at the Randolph Hotel in Oxford and the second at The Vines in Perth.

Slightly different set up in that the sandwiches were at the bottom and at the Vines, the sandwiches were on the top. Apparently the 7^th Duchess of Bedford invented the afternoon tea in the early 1840's.

“Traditionally dinner was not served until 8:30 or 9:00 in the evening and the Duchess often became hungry, especially in the summer when dinner was served even later. She ordered a small meal of bread, butter, and other niceties, such as cakes, tarts, and biscuits, to be brought secretly to her boudoir. When she was exposed she was not ridiculed, as she had feared, but her habit caught on and the concept of a small meal, of niceties and perhaps tea, became popular and eventually known as "afternoon tea" “ http://www.panix.com/~kendra/tea/afternoon_tea.html

Originally, according to one site, “In the 18th century it was custom for highborn ladies to receive callers with their morning tea while “abed and bare-breasted.” “ http://www.afternoontoremember.com/learn/etiquette

So this was for “ladies” and “gentlemen” apparently. Where did the gentleman's tea originate? From what I can read, this is a new invention.

According to the Telegraph:

“I'm not quite sure what to make of its latest incarnation, the "gentleman's afternoon tea". Up and down the country the traditional afternoon tea has somehow been deemed too ladylike for gentlemen. Instead, starched napkins are being smoothed down in preparation for mini fish and chips, black pudding, pork pies, scotch eggs and "rustic" chunky sandwiches with crusts defiantly on, presumably washed down with a vat of builders' tea. “

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/aug/22/are-gentlemen-too-butch-for-cake

There is a site (at least one I should imagine) that describes exactly how one should behave at an English High Tea from how your spoon should be placed on the saucer to how to split your scones and the order that one should eat your food. http://www.afternoontoremember.com/learn/etiquette

I found one “Gentleman's Afternoon Tea” menu which included:

• Poached oyster with bloody mary relish
• Seared steak with peppers and mushrooms on toasted sourdough

It looked like a 4 course menu, concluding with a cigar and a tankard of Jack Daniels “Gentleman Jack” - whatever that happens to be – to finish off the meal.

No alcohol or cigars for the ladies.

Madeleine

11 January 2013