A Crisp Fall Morning Moment

This morning is the most beautiful, crisp fall morning that I have seen here in recent memory. The sky is is blue, blue, blue. While most of the trees continue to be green throughout the year, I noticed traces of fall color.  And the view to the Saddleback Mountains from my home office window is crystal clear.

I am preparing for a day of laying foundations for upcoming meetings and presentations. My companion this morning is ‘Thé des Esprits,” a sample courtesy of my friends at American Tea Room (who have launched a new website I hear).  Gene says this blend smells like an orange creamsicle, and I have to agree. A black tea blend, it has so many of the elements I associate with this time of year: apples, almonds, cinnamon and vanilla.

So, with a full cup and a sense of purpose that can only be induced by the realization that I only have 16 hours in which to cram a 30-hour work week, I wish everyone a happy November Tuesday.

A Good Housekeeping Moment

I’ve been back from my lovely Parisian trip for 3 days now, though in some ways it seems a lifetime ago. Coming home to Edie after missing her terribly, and not getting to personally parade her as a rather reluctant bumblebee on Halloween, it’s just a wonderful thing to be back. And of course, there’s the re-immersion in day-to-day reality.

I'm the Bee's Knees!

In addition to the joy of having my whole family back together again, I was thrilled to see the arrival of a package from my friends at Naivetea. Though they didn’t say it, I believe they noticed my inexcusable lack of oolong moments and wanted to help me correct the error of my ways. My education of oolong has begun!

What better way to understand this tea that is not quite a green and not quite a black – in fact, it is sometimes referred to as ‘blue’ – than to begin with their 2009 World Tea Expo Flavored Oolong World Champion, Lychee Oolong. As I eased into my weekend, I chose this undisputed winner to accompany me. I loved watching the tightly balled leaves unfurl in my infuser, whispering all their secrets into my cup.

The soft, yet distinct, floral aroma surprised me and transported me to the kitchen of my dear friend, D, who lives on the other coast. I remember years ago during one of my visits she mentioned that she only ever drank oolong – ‘isn’t that the one that they always serve in Chinese restaurants?” she asked as an after thought.

We met as 19 and 20-year-olds in the common room of our dorm at a small university in the heart of the Southwest – a lark for both of us, though for different reasons. She was from the world of “grinders” (sub sandwiches) and “bubblers” (drinking fountains), and I was a flannel-wearing Pacific Northwesterner through and through. We ended up as roomies, danced together, rescued each other from awkward moments, visited each other after our sole semester as ENMU Greyhounds, were in each others’ weddings, and have now shared the laughter and tears of motherhood – though now not as often as I would like. Whenever I have visited her, I am always struck by her ability to create coziness and warmth. Her home, like her mother’s, is the cleanest, tidiest, and most comfortable at any given moment. AND, there is always something baking or roasting on the oven. I really don’t know how they do it.  She knows exactly what you need before you even know you need it. Her sixth sense of how to make everyone feel at home is mind-blowing.  I admire her ease in reading the room, playing the perfect hostess, monitoring the progress of the meal she is cooking, and keeping an eye on the likely-present kids, whether neices and nephews or, now, her own little ones. The beautiful and brilliant D has a B.A. and M.B.A, and yet she needs to be awarded an honorary doctorate in hospitality, for that is where she shines like no other.

I say all of this with the absolute highest respect and awe, because it is an area where I am woefully lacking. Martha Stewart and Rachael Ray have nothing on my friend!  I remember D once worrying that her floors weren’t clean enough because she only washed them every other day, and her sister-in-law-to-be washed hers every day. I unwisely expressed my admiration and said we were lucky if I thought to wash ours once a month. The silence on the line spoke volumes, though she quickly recovered and changed the subject to food. And I wonder why she has only visited my house once in recent years. Hmm…

As I slowly brought the world-renowned Lychee Oolong to my lips, admiring its medium gold color, I wondered what my reaction would be to the always exciting, always most-satisfying first sip.

Oolong! Where have you been all my life?

Liquid sunshine! Mild but very bright. Not grassy like green teas or dominant like black teas or delicate like whites can be. It was almost the best of all those attributes. The floral scent accented the sunshine, and I was left with a slightly sweet aftertaste. Almost a hint, a mere suggestion, of pepper and mint, but from 50 yards away. If I tried to concentrate on them, they disappeared. Complex, yet perfectly simple. Actually, simply perfect.

Savoring this new discovery, I let my imagination picture living a few doors down from D. A Saturday morning. Gene has taken Edie to the park to play. I’ve finished tidying the kitchen and have even considered washing the floors. Next week perhaps. I call D and see if she’s free, which of course she is. (It’s my daydream, after all.) I stroll over, and as I enter her inviting and picture-perfect home, I smell baking bread and Lychee Oolong. We sit at her kitchen table, and she pours the fresh brew into two beautiful teacups from her wedding china.  Her morning housework is done, windows sparkling, floor so clean I would eat off it, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal digested, and here we share a most refreshing reward to warm conversation between two old friends.

A Mariages Freres Moment

Ah, Paris! How I love thee! For our 10th wedding anniversary, Gene and I went to one of our favorite destinations – Paris. And while I have several adventures to report, I have to start with one of my favorite moments: a pilgrimage to Mariages Freres.

After hours of searching and searching for the elusive 30 Rue Bourg Tibourg, we found a mecca of tea experiences at this famous tea market and salon at 5 p.m. Upon arrival, we were immediately welcomed and ushered through the market and to the salon itself. This airy, British Colonial-feeling room let in showers of natural light from the skylight that was nearly the length of the room.  All the servers were wearing white linen suits, and they were just so nice!

Black teas and green teas and white, oh my!

The menu, itself, was overwhelming – with hundreds of choices: white teas, green teas, black teas, breakfast teas, afternoon teas, evening teas, flavored teas… Where to begin??? I let myself off the hook and started with a time of day – Afternoon Teas. Even there, there were nearly 20 choices! So without dithering too much, I chose the “Gentleman” blend for Gene, and “Fils de France” for me.

The blur you see is the master of tea!

Much to my delight, I was facing the counter at which the ‘brewmaster’ (my term, not theirs) was working his magic. His sole purpose was to take the tea orders, and brew the perfect pot of tea for each patron. It was a fascinating dance, and he did it with such ease and speed – he moved so quickly I couldn’t even get a good photo of him! Note the HUNDREDS of tea blends on the wall behind him.

Fils de France

And so, our perfectly brewed pots of tea arrived at our table. While I expected a hearty black tea, mine showed us as such a light golden liquid, I wondered if I had inadvertently ordered a white. It was a darjeeling blend, as it turned out, and had a quiet strength that I found quite lovely. Gene’s Gentleman blend was a dark, dark amber and presented itself as any manly man would – bold, confident, and direct.

The salon was hopping the entire duration of our visit. There was a constant flow of tea enthusiasts of all bents and backgrounds: families with children, old friends, the lone tourist, the gal pals, the comfortable couple.  There was no feeling of being rushed, and the constant flow worked perfectly with people waiting maybe 5 or 10 minutes at the most.

And then, the tea market. I felt like I had died and gone to tea heaven. The walls were lined with cannister upon cannister of tea. I boldly attempted to explain in French that I ’searched for a strong, black tea. Stronger, even, than the Gentleman blend.’  ‘Ah,’ he said, nodding wisely, ‘a breakfast blend. A strong one.’ He turned to the wall, tapped his chin in thought, and then, with purpose and confidence, he reached for the bottom row, removed the front cannister and reached behind. With a triumphant smile, he removed the cover and presented The Duke of Wellington. I inhaled deeply, then Gene was offered a sniff. Grassy, earthy, heavy.Yes, please.

So happy

It was the perfect experience. The perfect moment. Enjoying some of the best tea with the best possible company. Paris, je t’aime.

A perfect moment

A Russian Moment in St. Paul

While in St. Paul, MN this week to speak at their local multifamily housing Fall Conference, I took one selfish hour to run up the hill from the RiverCentre to eat at a restaurant called Moscow on the Hill. I had originally planned on visiting Teasource, as suggested by @JasonWitt and @Teasource on Twitter, but unfortunately time didn’t allow.

As you know from previous posts, I had the pleasure of visiting Siberia, Russia nearly 15 years ago and I fell in love with their food and arts. And so, whenever I have the chance to eat at a thoroughly Russian-feeling restaurant, I take it! And Moscow on the Hill did not disappoint.

My cab dropped me off in the historic district of St. Paul, just up the street from the glorious Cathedral of St. Paul. Red brick buildings sat cozily along the slightly narrow streets that had just a hint of the previous day’s snow storm. I stood cozily with them for a moment, thankful for my coat and gloves (which I had to dig out of the depths of my closet, having come from 70+ degree California weather!).

Don't let it fool you. This tea will put hair on your chest.

Inside, the ambiance did not disappoint. Despite being the only patron at opening, I found myself surrounded by the rich reds and golds I associate with the country. On the wall were traditional peasant shirts in the bright hues. Framed photos of Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, and other familiar Moscow landmarks accompanied them.  And the music – one can not be in a Russian establishment with out the requisite Russian folk music (which I love). While the restaurant had no tea menu, just an option of ‘hot tea,’ I ordered it knowing that Russian hot tea is strong black tea regardless of brand. Strong and hot it was – and served with a slice of lemon.

And while many go straight for the known Russian entrees like Blini or Stroganoff, my interest typically lies with two things: Borscht and Pelmeni. While in Siberia, I was taught how to make traditional borscht, a bright red beet soup. Apparently there are 2 main ways borscht is made. In the west (Moscow), you will more likely find cabbage included in this all vegetable soup. In the east (Siberia), however, you will not find cabbage, but you will find beef.   I was also given a recipe for pelmeni, which is very similar to a larger tortellini made with thinner pasta and filled with simply seasoned beef and pork. Typically, it is served in a light broth. Siberian families often make these pelmeni by the thousands to freeze and use throughout the long winter.  Both of these comfort foods are served with a generous dallop of sour cream.

Mmm... Borscht

I ordered these two dishes and spent the next half hour in bliss as I ate, reminisced, and enjoyed the leisurely street scene outside my window on the historic streets of St. Paul as the notes of “Midnight in Moscow” floated around me.

A Strawberry Fields Forever Moment

I love the fall. So many lovely things have always happened to me in the fall. For me, it is a time of new beginnings, adventure, discovery… and sweaters.  (Who doesn’t love a nice, new cozy sweater on a chilly morning?) And although this fall is bursting at the seams already with all of the above, I can’t help but think back wistfully on the summer that feels as though it is finally fading into oblivion.  To have a final taste of summer – is that request so wrong?

My guilty pleasure is being enabled by DAVIDsTEA’s Strawberry Bai Mu Dan – yes another white tea. Bai Mu Dan is a Chinese white tea made from the new leaves and centre needle sprout of the tea plant. It is often considered a separate category of white tea, and many prefer it for its fuller flavour and greater potency. DAVIDsTEA is determined to change my bent against whites and greens, and of course I welcome their tutelage!

Opening this tea, the nostalgic scent of strawberry fields kissed by morning dew washed over me. Here comes the sun!  I was a little uncertain of my choice when the final brew presented a light, golden liquid.  The steeped aroma was an even bolder strawberry, reminding me of the occasional summer when my Mom would make strawberry jam. All those baskets of strawberries would go into the giant cooking pot, simmering as we mashed them into a hot, delicious, pulpy mess. With those happy memories dancing through my head, and with a boldness that only a summer morning can inspire, I took that always anticipated, always lovely first sip. Once again, I found this white tea pleasantly surprising with its even, velvety smoothness, enough body to satisfy,  the lightest reference to strawberry,  and avoidance of any overly sweet berry aftertaste that curses too many fruit flavored teas.

Kari - it's true. You can have strawberry fields forever!

A summer morning in my tea cup – just what I was hoping for. Now I can properly bid that season adieu and embrace this fall of mine that beckons me into places, relationships and avenues never before encountered.

A Tangier Tea Moment

An international safe house. The heavy and intoxicating scent of spices in the air. A pirate’s hideout. The center of World War I espionage. Ah, the romance and excitement of Tangier…  All in one perfect cup.

A painting by Louis Comfort Tiffany depicting a market outside of the walls of Tangier.

It’s a Wednesday. Typically, this is my day at home with Edie. No work, no commitments. Just me and Edie. However, October begins tomorrow, and with it comes a circus of events, presentations, travel and adventures.  Today is my day to prepare. For the past week, I’ve felt like a deer in headlights – not knowing whether to step forward or turn and run for the hills. And now, it’s time to get it together and make a plan. And what better way to get one’s thoughts together than over a fresh cup of tea.

Enter my friends at Le Palais Gourmet. Yesterday, I was thrilled to receive my order of new teas. I had asked them for recommendations, and they answered my call admirably. Not only did my order come with their 2 suggested black tea blends and 1 re-order, they also sent samples based on my prior interests. Have I told you lately that I love the Royal Family at Le Palais Gourmet?

And so, I began my day with an exotic trip to Tangier. Upon opening this new tea, eyes closed, I was swept away to a land of intrigue and destiny. The heady aroma of apricot drenched in an evening mist surrounded and enveloped me.  Opening my eyes, I was met with a visual feast – the black, whole leaves of Sri Lankan tea spiked with the fiery red and orange apricot and saffron petals. The anticipation of the first sip was nearly unbearable.  A watched pot may never boil, but a monitored steeping  can seem interminable!

Tangier, take me away...

A clear, medium amber liquid with nearly no sediment, a light apricot fragrance with the subtlest hint of something foreign and floral – I can only guess that is the saffron petals – and then the first sip.  Ah… Light, yet substantial. Mind-clearing and refreshing.  The passion, strategy, cunning and romance of this city’s history is now running through me, and I’m ready to walk confidently into October.

It may be true that I have not physically visited this magical and mythical city of Tangier, but I have experienced it all the same.

A Baby Lizard Moment

Edie had been dropped off to daycare, Gene had left for work, and I was getting ready to start my day of work from my home office. I walked into my bedroom to get something, when I noticed what I thought was a feather that had worked its way out of my pillow and onto my crisp, white sheets.  Walking purposefully over to the bed to scoop up said ‘feather’ and deposit it in the trash, I was halted in my tracks when the feather looked up at me!

This was no feather! This was a baby lizard! In. My. Bed.

In my upstairs bed – where all windows are closed.

How did it get there? Was it alone? How long had it been there? Had I unknowingly shared a bed with a lizard? Had it crawled over me in the night? Was there a lurking Mama Lizard in my room with her brood slowly exploring their new home?  The possibilities were ovewhelming and disturbing.

After getting out of a pinball panic mode of walking quickly to the right to grab a receptacle, abruptly jerking to the left thinking of a better receptacle, jerking back to the right because I couldn’t remember where the 2nd receptacle was located, and so on, I finally managed to grab one of Edie’s stacking cups and a thank you card and encapsulated my unwelcome guest – who was promptly escorted outside.

No, this is not me holding the lizard. But I think this little guy may be a close relative.

What to drink to recover from such a discovery? It was a toss up between something very strong, or something more soothing. I went with a smooth Darjeeling  from California Tea and Coffee Brewery based in Temecula.  It hit the spot, though the question remained – where did this visitor come from???

The current theory is that my dog found a friend in the back yard that morning and decided to bring it in to play for awhile. His favorite place to hang out is on the foot of my bed, so he probably released his little buddy right there.

Obviously, we’re going to have to make the house rules clear: No more lizards jumping on the bed!

A Sound of Music Tea Moment

Do me a favor. Pour yourself a cup of your favorite tea and watch this.  We can be quite the creative, playful, organized, fun-loving species, we human beings.

I don’t know how this came about, but I love it.

A Tea and Scrumpet Moment

My Mom’s brothers and sisters have an interesting thing in common. Those who have had children all have one daughter each. This being the case, I often wistfully thought of my girl cousins as ’sisters.’ Unfortunately, I lived in Idaho and my ’sister-cousins’ lived in California and Nevada, so growing up we only got to enjoy each others’ company during family reunions which were too few and far between for my liking. Thank heavens for Lisa – my one and only girl cousin on my Dad’s side – who grew up just a mile or two down the road!

Of the out-of-state set, one cousin in particular, Heather, knows my tea obsession much better than most. It was her late mother, my Aunt Jane, who introduced me to tea houses in the first place. Now that we’re all grown up and having families of our own, it’s the rare moment when we actually can get together for tea. The most recent was after Heather’s first son was born and my Mom and I were stopping in for a visit. Heather’s husband was sweet enough to take the baby for the day, shoo us out of the house, and encourage us to go for some ‘tea and scrumpets.’

We ended up in Pleasanton at a little tea room Heather had discovered fairly recently, The English Rose Tea Room and Gifts.  We were well cared for and well-fed (having chosen the ‘Queen’s Sumptuous Afternoon Tea’), and while I can’t remember the particulars of the yummy sweets and savories or what tea I chose, it was one of the most fun afternoons I’ve ever spent with my Mom or with Heather. We shared favorite memories of Aunt Jane, the trials and tribulations of pregnancy, motherhood, or the desire for those things.  My Mom shared stories I had never heard before that had the three of us laughing so hard we could barely breathe. I think our kindly server actually brought us tissues for the tears of laughter that were rolling down our faces.

Shortly thereafter, Edie came along. The tea themed gifts came from a variety of sources. Lisa provided the requisite play tea pot and tea cups. She knew no daughter of mine could possibly go without! And Heather sent a handcrafted set of ‘tea and scrumpets’ (the name stuck, of course) made by a very talented woman in Australia.

Yes, this is what scrumpets look like. Now you know!

They are some of Edie’s playroom favorites (of her own free will, I assure you!).

Heather’s brother was married last month, and it was fun to bring Edie to the house where I have so many fond memories. Standing with my Mom, Heather, and all my girl cousins who were able to make it, I smiled at the anticipation of many tea-and-scrumpet moments to come.

Future tea house crashers!

A “Le Palais Gourmet” Tea Moment

The greater tea community is a wonderful place, filled with kind, generous, passionate folks who have quite a sense of humor too.Yesterday, as Edie and I had some errands to run in West Hollywood, we made a stop at one of these tea community epicenters: Le Palais Gourmet in Beverly Hills. For those who may feel a bit intimidated at entering such a place at such an address, let me assure you: this was no ‘Pretty Woman’ moment. The moment I stepped inside with Edie in my arms, we were greeted warmly by both staff members.

I explained what I was looking for – a strong black tea or tea blend to help kick off my mornings. I love English and Irish Breakfast teas and Pu erh but was looking for something new. The gentleman immediately took two beautiful, giant tins off the shelves and had me see and smell both. The first was Maharajah: One of the best Assams characterized by many golden buds, large leaves, beautiful golden liquor and sublime flavor.  The second, Notting Hill: A classic English breakfast tea blended with Indian Assam and Chinese Yunnan black teas. Edie sniffed both tins too and gave me a look of, “What’s all the fuss?”

I don't get it, Mom.

 We left with a 1/4 lb. of Maharajah and a generous sample of Notting Hill. I couldn’t wait to kick off the following day with a new morning companion!

Beverly Hills Booty

A new day, a new cuppa, and even a proper tea cup! And my favorite thing – the first sip…

Let me just say that I am so glad I took the recommendation of trying Maharajah! (The funny thing is that when I got back home from Hollywood, the owner of LPG had tweeted his recommendation of Maharajah too! Great minds think alike!)

Pure velvety smoothness with hints of caramel! The full-bodied brew hit every point on my palate with a brightness that was the perfect wake up call to open my eyes and jump start my day! The name itself evokes royalty, and that’s exactly what I felt like as I sipped the dark liquid amber in my new home office overlooking the Saddleback Mountains on a clear, blue, southern California morning.

I will happily be the princess to this Prince of Teas!

This “Maharani” is very much looking forward to the next visit to her new favorite Palace in the City of Angels in the very near future!