Vintage Tea & Cake Company has opened in the former Mamadou’s space in Arlington Center. This looks to be their third location after Belmont and Lexington. It’s a very inviting space, as seen through the big front window, and they have a $30 tea, pastry, and finger sandwich price fixe menu. There is a GF and vegetarian option, as well as a kids version for $18. Interestingly, I did not see noted what kind of tea they brew.
“Sip a flavorful cup of Buckingham Palace Garden Party tea” - from the first page of the site you linked to.
I appreciate that they have a veg option.
The teas available for Afternoon Tea are at the bottom of that menu page.
https://www.vintageteaandcake.com/afternoontea/
So they are apparently the second place in Lexington that offers afternoon tea, along with the Inn at Hastings Park, which has “High Tea” on Saturdays for $65. I thought High Tea was served at home later in the day without the fancy touches, at a higher, dinner table.
There’s a lot of confusion between what’s high tea and what’s afternoon. It does appear that “high” seemed to have originally referred to a later meal, at which tea was served. There are sites that talk of “higher tables” but since this was a working-class practice I doubt that higher tables were maintained for just this purpose. Sites that suggest that the name came from high-back chairs seem to me to offer a more plausible explanation of the term. But, perhaps, high-tea was taken at a kitchen work table that might have been counter height.
These days, though, the term is used pretty much interchangeably with afternoon tea.
There was lots of talk about this on Chowhound that suggested that some establishments in the US used the term “high tea” to appeal to Americans who might assume that was a “higher”, more upper-class version of tea.
I have no idea how the terms are used in Australia, Canada, etc.
However, an argument about this is the last thing any of us need, so sorry for introducing it.
In any case, it is interesting to see there are more opportunities to experience afternoon tea in the Boston area, and the differences and similarities in their menu offerings and pricing. I look forward to hearing reviews of the quality and experience!
Not arguing. Sorry if it seemed that way.
Just saw on a FB food board that Dianne’s Fine Desserts on Graf Road in Newburyport (formerly Alden Merrill) is closing their onsite retail operations on December 23rd.
I mean who produces their tea. Like, is it from Mem Tea? Not that you can select peppermint or English Breakfast- I do see the list of varieties.
We had plans to visit a cousin in Birmingham in August. Those plans fell through, but while scouting I ran across this variant: high chai.
Sorry, I didn’t notice that point. I have seen Mem Tea and other tea producers specified on several Boston area restaurants who do not serve afternoon tea. It’s an interesting omission.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest you were arguing.
I was referring to the fact that I’ve seen many spirited discussions in various forums in vigorous debate about it (don’t have the references, this is all my perhaps faulty recall.) Some say that any establishment who calls it “high tea” is catering to Americans who consider “high” to = “elite” and those establishments and patrons don’t understand the cultural significance.
Again my perhaps faulty memory: I’ve read several articles about afternoon tea availability in Rhode Island (fairly recently, for a granddaughter in Rhode Island) and/or Greater Boston area, and the only place who called it “high tea” was the one at the Inn at Hastings Park in Lexington.
And that especially in these times, I didn’t personally want to start an argument about which is correct, etc.
Again, my apologies for not making myself clearer.
Dang, in the UK. I would totally go for that high chai!
Went for one last visit to No. 9 Park. The prune gnocchi with foie gras remains outstanding. And the tasting menu remains a good value.
Our waitstaff (excellent) says the property is getting a new owner, keeping the team intact. They can’t use the name “No. 9 Park” so it will be called No. 9 or 9 Park. I imagine Barbara Lynch’s signature dishes will be history.
Apparently Kismet was the working name. It now appears to be “Imagine”. This may require a subscription, but:
Loved reading about the Ivanovic family. Also great to see that Nick Zappia (talent of former Blue Room fame) is now part of Iggy’s team.
The detail about many of Iggy’s flours coming from La Milanaise in Quebec stood out for me. La Milanaise is likewise one of the sources for Pastaio Via Corta in Gloucester, and we enjoy her pasta very much as well. Craft and ingredients!
Really fun read, thanks for posting it!
Looks like an Irish bar called McCarthy’s is going to open in the location formerly occupied by Christophers (Porter Sq, Mass Ave in Cambridge, MA), which closed during COVID and never reopened.
It has been reported elsewhere that the couple who are the owners of the Burren in Davis Sq, Somerville are opening McCarthy’s.
Fat Boy BBQ had their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony today in Quincy. Located at 649 Hancock St (the old Momo Cafe space). I assume this is the same owners of the old Fat Boy BBQ in Chinatown.
The Page and Leaf Cafe opened today. It is inside University Hall (Lesley University) which I guess is what the old Sears building is called these days, right next to the new location of Porter Square books.
1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA