A Nice Cuppa

A Nice Cuppa Needs You

Cate O'Malley — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:00:44 +0000

Whether you want coffeehouse culture, the latest tea craze or anything in between, it’s all covered in this caffeinated blog. If it has caffeine, the buzz is on A Nice Cuppa.

Looking for additional writers to add to our team. Want to join in the fun and get your buzz on? Drop us a line at info@wellfed.net. We’d love to hear from you.

Tea Parties at Bemelmans Bar

Cate O'Malley — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:08:26 +0000

Tea parties almost seem like a tradition of the distant past … one that could use a resurgence. Although I don’t drink tea, if given an excuse to entertain a small group of friends and make dainty little tea sandwiches, I am so there. But, if you’re in the mood for a tea party of your own, you needn’t go to too much trouble. Just make a reservation at New York City’s The Carlyle, where they host the Madeline Tea Party every weekend in their infamous Bemelmans Bar (named after the late author of the Madeline book series, Ludwig Bemelmans).

Every Saturday and Sunday, Bemelmans Bar hosts a delightfully playful afternoon and sing-a-long for parents and children alike. Enjoy Madeline’s Children’s Buffet, afternoon tea, and an á la carte menu for adults while listening to songs from the Madeline Song Book with Tina de Varon.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes had a get-together there back in November for their then-19-month-old daughter, Suri. Now that the hubbub of that has died down a bit, you probably can snag a reservation for yourself. Enjoy!

Photo from The Carlyle.

Spiked Hot Chocolate - Perfect for Valentine’s Day

Cate O'Malley — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:16:20 +0000

Find yourself ODing a bit on chocolate today? Want to find a new way to put it to use? Then you may want to mix up this Spiced Hot Chocolate Drink from the folks at Martha Stewart’s Blueprint magazine. Chocolate, Kahlua, coffee beans … I bet it goes down real smooth, and a perfect way to warm up your insides.

Spiced Hot Chocolate
Serves 2

1/2 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup whole coffee beans
2 oz semisweet chocolate (61% Valrhona), chopped
2 tablespoons Kahlua
1 teaspoon confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon dark chocolate-covered coffee beans, chopped

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, 1/2 cup cream and whole coffee beans. Bring to a simmer, turn off heat, cover and steep beans for 1 hour. Strain liquid and return to saucepan; discard beans. Bring the milk and cream mixture back to a simmer, add chocolate, and whisk until incorporated. Remove from heat; whisk in Kahlua. Whip remaining 1/2 cup cream and the confectioners’ sugar until soft peaks form. Divide the hot chocolate between two cups and garnish each portion with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of chopped chocolate-covered coffee beans.

Image credit: © Andres Rodriguez - Fotolia.com

Making a Coffee Centerpiece for Your Next Gathering

Cate O'Malley — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:00:30 +0000

Although the winter months are nearly over, there’s still time to relish that cozy, keep-warm feeling, and what better way than to put together this quick and easy centerpiece that was featured in a recent issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray?

Designer Mark Brunetz, from The Style Network’s show Clean House, used juice glasses and orange votive candles and wrapped it all up with a little bit of craft store raffia. Although he used lentil beans in the pictured centerpiece, you could very easily use coffee beans for a unique twist. If that doesn’t scream warmth, coziness and come-in-out-of-the-bitter-cold, I don’t know what does.

Photo from Every Day with Rachael Ray.

Keys to a Successful Tea Party

Cate O'Malley — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:00:00 +0000

Risa Provincio, an event planner in San Clemente, California, has many successful affairs underneath her belt. In a recent issue of Tea Time magazine, she shared her top three keys to success when planning an event, which you can easily use when putting together your next tea party:

* Something to do (Don’t overlook activities during the party.)

* Something to see (Fuss over details that appeal to the senses.)

* Somewhere to sit (Space planning is a must.)

Photo from MorgueFile.com.

Third Annual Coffee & Tea Festival

Cate O'Malley — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:00:22 +0000

Mark your calendars now, lest you forget. The Third Annual Coffee & Tea Festival will be held April 12th and 13th at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

Enjoy the opportunity to explore coffee, tea and confectionary vendors, taste samples and attend lectures, classes and demonstrations.

For more information, call 631-940-7290 or visit Coffee and Tea Festival.

Tea Party Tips

Cate O'Malley — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:00:40 +0000

Risa Provincio is a successful event planner in the San Clemente, California area, and has orchestrated many successful weddings, baby showers, and even tea parties. In a recent issue of Tea Time magazine, she shared her “five musts to remember” when planning your next tea party fete.

Five Musts to Remember

1. Ensure guests’ comfort. If the tea party is outdoors, provide garden umbrellas or paper parasols to shade the sun. If indoors, be equally minded of potential discomforts and distractions. Turn off televisions and keep music at a level that won’t compete with the hum of conversation.

2. Move things around a bit. At the party, encourage guests to mingle while sipping tea and nibbling bite-sized appetizers. After a bit, invite everyone to the table for teatime. Once the tea is over, usher guests to another area or room for an activity or to enjoy a farewell dessert together. Remember, the entire party doesn’t need to be in just one spot.

3. Appeal to the senses - all five of them. Perfume the party with the scent of freshly baked scones and tarts, candles, and, of course, a fragrant tea (Earl Grey is a wonderful choice). Display the beauty of fresh flowers and china on the table. Calm the mind by playing soft classical music in the background. Entice the palate with a thoughtful menu of savory and sweet tea foods whose flavors complement each other. Add exquisite garnishes where appropriate so that food appeals to the eyes as well.

4. Organize little activities along the way. At each tea table, place slips of paper in a small bowl or an organza bag, each with conversation-stimulating questions, such as, “If you could have tea with anyone - from the past or present - who would it be and why?”

5. Make everything as pretty as you possibly can. Borrow or rent tables, chairs, serving wares, and other items if you must. And don’t use paper table linens. One little spill and the setting is ruined.

Photo from MorgueFile.com.

EVENT: Tea 101: Introduction to Tea

Cate O'Malley — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:00:15 +0000

Want to immerse yourself in the history and culture of tea? Then you might want to attend this upcoming event in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tea 101: Introduction to Tea will share “the nuances of different tea varieties, teach you how to brew the perfect cup” and share more basics in this upcoming tea class. It will also include a tea tasting and an exploration of the differences between green, white, black and oolong teas. For more information, call 480-947-3133 or visit Souvia.

No More Breakfast at Starbucks?

Cate O'Malley — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:00:32 +0000

When I first saw this news story, I skimmed it quickly and thought they were adding breakfast sandwiches to the product offerings at Starbucks, but it turns out they’re doing exactly the opposite. They’re nixing them. Either I just don’t get to my Starbucks early enough in the morning, or they never carried them, because I’ve never seen breakfast sandwiches offered at Starbucks. So I guess I’m not going to miss anything, but the rest of you might. ‘Course given some reviews I’ve seen, you might not be missing a thing.

The sandwiches will be completely pulled by the Fall, in an effort to boost the chain’s revenue. Chairman and Chief Executive Howard Schultz recently told AOL’s Money & Finance that this move “proves the company isn’t letting the soft economy distract it from committing to big changes that will pay off over the long haul.”

“The decision and the courage it takes to remove something when there’s pressure on the business - like the sandwiches - is emblematic that we’re going to build for the long-term and get back to the roots and the core of our heritage, which is the leading roaster of specialty coffee in the world,” Schultz told The Associated Press on Wednesday after the company released its financial results for the first fiscal quarter.

Photo from New York Post.

Cocoa with a Side of Spice

Cate O'Malley — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:00:28 +0000

I am very particular about hot drinks. More to the point, I don’t drink them. Despise coffee and tea, but in the dead of winter, I can handle hot chocolate. Although I do drink it through a tightly clenched straw, I can do it.

In a recent issue of Better Homes and Gardens, they gave a recipe for a very unique cup of cocoa, perfect for melting winter’s chill.

Add a hint of heat to your next cup of hot chocolate. Try this formula based on the Aztec Elixir served at NoMI restaurant in Chicago: Melt a square or two of bittersweet chocolate in a mug of hot milk. Mix in a dash of each ancho and chipotle chile powders and cinnamon, then finish with a splash of vanilla extract (don’t forget the whipped cream).

Hot enough for you? If that doesn’t warm you straight to your toes, I don’t know what will.

Photo from Morgue File.