Entertaining 101: A California Tea Party
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Food & Drink
Entertaining 101: A California Tea Party
March 28, 2018
Longer days and sunnier skies are made for taking entertaining outside. With the help of our friend Annie Campbell, we hosted an afternoon tea with delicate touches and the leisurely air of a California garden. Ever the creative host, Annie set a sprightly table to serve a spread of teatime treats.
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Looking to nature as a cue for décor, bud vases held spindly pink and white anemones, a sweet and delicate flower that blooms in early spring. Place settings were simple and modern, a relaxing departure from the frilly serveware of traditional teas, favoring earthy ceramics over porcelain or china and natural linen instead of a delicate lace.
Annie planned a perfect menu of non-traditional (and super easy to make) sweets, and we can’t deny that we love a party where the dessert is the main course. The table was a shining example of how to pull off a simple gathering that you too can enjoy as much as your guests. An eye-catching cake acts as both dish and centerpiece, relieving the pressure of pulling out every stop by following our favorite rule of thumb: simple is always best.
Rustic hunks of chocolate bark are not only easy to make, but they’re easy to pack for guests to take home. And for a reimagining of tea party finger foods, simply set out a bowl of strawberries for your guests to enjoy. You can try your hand at this toppling cake by following Annie’s recipe below or simply pick up a few desserts from your local baker—all you need to recreate the tea party vibe is a few close friends and a crowd-pleasing tea.
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The naked cake (named for its lack of frosting on the outside) resembles a tiered serving stand with its towering stack of buttery vanilla layers and creamy frosting between each piece, finished with dots of ripe and juicy blackberries. (tip: if you’re making this cake a day ahead, leave the berries out until the last minute, or they’ll leak around the edges and bleed into the cake.)
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