Going to Paris without leaving California!!

As an aspiring innkeeper, one of the things I would love to do with our inn is to create an afternoon tea event.  Tea, in general, will always be available for breakfast and throughout the day, but I'd also like to have tea for guests and serve finger sandwiches and fancy desserts as part of a once-a-month 'event' of sorts.  One of the ways I've approached my research is to go to as many afternoon 'teas' as I possibly can and see how they're done and what I like and don't like about each of them.

Last week, my daughter and I visited Paris in a Cup, in Old Town Orange, California.  Old Town Orange is an exemplary location....it is the home of The Perfect Circle Cupcakery, known for its presence on Cupcake Wars on the Food Network AND the home of Heavenly Hostess aprons.  I will talk about these in a future blog.  For now, I want to concentrate on this gem of a tearoom.  I've been here twice now in two different years, so I can tell you that I just didn't visit on a 'good day.'  All days at Paris in a Cup are incredible!

Let's start with the exterior.  Paris in a Cup is located on the main street of Old Town Orange--it's surrounded by lovely eateries, antique stores, and the entire place will just take you back about 50 years...it's charming, to say the least.

outdoor seating in very French black and white damask

the front window is filled with goodies to entice you and draw you inside!

Once you're inside, the front part of the 'tea salon' as they call it, is filled with everything that is 'tea' related....from handkerchiefs that have the 'the tower' on them to sugar cubes to jewelry to some of the very teas that they serve in the restaurant.  There are sample 'jars' to sniff....and some are simply amazing!

this pomegranate infused black tea was out of this world!

Right in front, they have a glass case that is home to their scrumptious macarons! A macaron is a small cookie made almost entirely of eggwhites and sugar.  It is then baked and filled with a variety of fillings from custard to ganache.  Some are tart and fruity while others are rich and chocolatey.  Each are $2.00 and are baked offsite by a French pasty chef who ONLY bakes for Paris in a Cup.  We were told he literally bakes thousands each year and many are oftentimes ordered for weddings.  He even does a macaron 'tree' for special occasions.  They are delicious and beautiful!

The macarons can be seen on the top shelf...very hard to resist!

The menu is extensive and includes homemade soups and breads.  The salads are fresh and bountiful and delightfully prepared with slivers of almonds, nuggets of blue cheese, or fresh berries, depending on which kind of salad you order.  Sandwiches are oftentimes served on fresh croissants that are flaky, buttery, and flavorful.  Of course, a never-ending pot of tea accompanies most of the selections and they have many fine teas from which to choose. Some of their best teas include: Harney & Sons, Mighty Leaf, Dammann Freres, and Republic of Tea.  They also carry their own signature line of quality loose teas.  

There is an a la carte menu as well

We have had several of their soups, sandwiches and salads and I can honestly say that all were absolutely delicous! The decor is luxurious and you'll feel pampered by the waitresses who wear Heavenly Hostess aprons while serving you! When we were there, the tea salon was bejeweled with glittery pumpkins and Fall decor....and even the bathrooms are elegant and refined!

the muted tones with white linens and tableware are simply elegant!

Paris in a Cup is a special treat.  While were were there, two birthday parties were being served and the women were all smiles as they opened gifts, chatted, and sipped delicious tea!

We will definitely go back......Merci Beaucoup Paris in a Cup for a delightful lunch....until we meet again!

The grand parlor doors separate the dining room from the gift shop in front

Paris in a Cup is at 119 South Glassell Street, Old Town Orange (714) 538-9411

                          

                                                                  

                                                                

                                                                      

                                                                            

                                                                      
                                                            

Wedding Colors & the Story of a Cupcake Tower

the cupcake tower with ribbons and pins

When my youngest daughter got engaged, she received a ring from Tiffany's.  She didn't ask for a ring from Tiffany's, but she did want a diamond that was ethically mined.  At first, she wanted to 'recycle' a diamond and she looked at many rings from estate sales, etc.  Her husband-to-be, however, wondered about the authenticity of the diamonds and doing some research found that Tiffany's did only choose ethically mined diamonds.  

That's NOT the point....the color of the box became the main color theme of the wedding, along with chocolate brown.  My daughter seemed to fall in love with the color combination and so I set out to make that dream come true.  On a trip to New York City, she visited the Magnolia Bakery.  The Magnolia Bakery became famous because of Sex and the City because the girls in the show frequented the little shop for its sinful delights! The most famous of those delights, however, is the "vanilla vanilla" cupcake.  The vanilla vanilla is pretty much as it states--a lusciously moist vanilla cupcake with creamy buttercream vanilla frosting.  Buying the cookbook was NOT enough--at higher altitudes, the recipe had to be adjusted, modified, baked, and of course, sampled....many times!!

350 degrees for 14,  15,  16,  17,  18 minutes....

So, now we have a cupcake tower and some cupcakes....now what?  Well, to get more of their personality into the masterpiece, I found some gorgeous damask ribbon that captured the brown and tiffany blue theme.  I added pearl-headed push pins, a silver spray on the entire tower, and lighting that was wrapped in blue netting along the bottom of the tower.  Silver doilies camouflaged the connection areas and a special cake topper was created to capture the spirit of them both.  The bride, at the age of 3, said she'd be married in a white gazebo.....and the two of them have two dogs: a collie and a yellow lab.  Put those elements together and what do you have?

a yellow lab, a collie, and I DO

So, what do you get when you put them all together?  

Well, let's see....

Wedding Site: The Della Terra, Estes Park, CO

Photographer for Wedding:  Rick Ney Studios 

Desserts:  ME! The REAL GIRL- website to come! 

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.  ~Emily Brontë