While Americans aren’t on par with the British when it comes to tea, author Angel Adoree is making that lifestyle more attainable for us folk across the pond. The once London-based accountant turned her passion for vintage and parties into a career, and nine years later she has four books and a successful event planning business under her name, tailor-made to the line of clients at her doorstep.
As I was roaming through a local bookstore, Adoree’s book The Vintage Tea Party immediately stood out with its quirky cover and old-fashioned aesthetic. With $30 less to my name, I walked out excited to put all of the tips and recipes to the test.
Photo by Rebecca Poole
In other words, I was on a mission to throw a posh tea party fit for a queen, using all of my favorite recipes and pointers from the book.
What followed was 7 hours straight of cooking and decorating. Basically, I was glad to be $30 poorer, because it meant playing dress-up for a day with great people, enjoying the finer things in life. How often do you get an excuse to make finger sandwiches and cut out butterfly-shaped place cards while wearing lace and a fascinator?
Photo by Rebecca Poole
The Vintage Tea Party is set up so you can choose just how posh you want to be. With chapters based around the time of day, you can pick and choose elements from Brunch, Afternoon, Evening, or Style. Or you can stick to one and completely dedicate the party to one theme.
The font, scheme, and careful detail to each page makes the cookbook not only pleasing to the eye (that aesthetic, tho), but useful for any occasion big or small. It’s meant to guide you through a tea party, but Angel’s recipes could stand all on their own too. If you’re bored one day, pull it out and give a go on the Whiskey Marmalade. It’s just that type of book.
Photo by Rebecca Poole
Besides the posh factor, the all-in-one book allows you to unplug for a day. No need to Google what to wear, what kind of invites to make, or how to put on false eyelashes—The Vintage Tea Party comes complete with how-to’s on all of the above and more.
I have a love/hate relationship with cookbooks. They’re expensive, but there’s something about opening up a book and flipping through pages of mouth-watering photography that you just don’t get from browsing online. Still, some tend to collect dust on your shelf.
Photo by Rebecca Poole
Angel Adoree’s The Vintage Tea Party will not only avoid the cookbook buyer’s remorse, but will give your life that posh touch you didn’t know you needed. Recipes like Lemon Scones with Lavender Cream, Cottage Cheese Pancakes, Raspberry Soup, and of course, unique tea recipes will leave your guests impressed and wanting more.
No time machine needed, prepare to become a posh version of yourself while taking a trip back in time with the cookbook for the ages.