Stephen Starr’s The Dandelion bar and restaurant in Rittenhouse is renowned for its afternoon tea service — held weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m. So there is no surprise that the local hotspot is heartily celebrating International Afternoon Tea Week, Aug. 12 to 18, with further twists on the tradition of high tea.
Though initially written about by Irish author and social critic Jonathan Swift in his satirical etiquette guidebook, ‘A Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation’ (1738), the ritual observance of the custom of afternoon tea wasn’t put into everyday practice until the 1840s. That’s when the Queen Victoria’s Seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna Maria Russell, began the refined practice of serving hot tea and light meals as part of an afternoon’s relaxation. Eventually, the Brits made it into an afternoon break and the tea practice became commonplace.
Still, there has always been a special place within British aristocracy, and all “ladies who lunch” to take to the haughty high tea with delicate, elegant finger sandwiches, pates and bite-size pastries served as a snack.
“We are a traditional British pub, located just steps from Rittenhouse Square with everything in our restaurant being house-made and inspired by traditional English establishments,” said Mark Crookston, GM of The Dandelion. “We honestly strive to recreate an authentic experience, giving guests a true taste of how one might enjoy afternoon tea in England – right here in Philadelphia.”
The Dandelion does the high tea on the regular, even adding special cocktails that incorporate tea from its “Mad Hatter Tea Party” menu selection to the event, such as its English Breakfast Tea and Darjeeling Early Grey. But August’s celebration of International Tea Week at The Dandelion goes several steps further with food and beverage specials during their regular afternoon tea hours, an outdoors scavenger hunt in Rittenhouse Square (Tuesday, Aug. 13) where a hidden tea pot offers an invitation to redeem complimentary afternoon tea for two at The Dandelion, and Start team members dressed up in Victorian costumes.
“This is a truly unique experience that you won’t find at many restaurants in Philadelphia,” said Crookston of The Dandelion. “We’re always looking for fun and creative ways to engage with our neighbors and guests and hope everyone enjoys the excitement of searching for the hidden teapot on Tuesday.”
To go with special teas such as “The Dormouse – High Tea for Tots” served for kids with grilled cheddar sandwiches and dark chocolate ganache brownies – and the “Posh Nosh Tier,” Executive Chef Liam Geoghegan brings some of the his most special items from The Dandelion’s menu to bear on International Afternoon Tea Week.
“These are some of our most favorite menu items, creatively transformed into tea sandwiches,” said Geoghegan of high tea nosh-ibles such as their Chicken and Duck Liver Parfait (with grape chutney, fraiche, cucumber, cornichons), their Steelhead Trout Crudo (with lime crème fraiche, radish, olives, trout roe) and their famed Roast Beef (with Watercress, madeira shallots, lemon truffle dressing). “This allows our guests to enjoy a delightful afternoon tea while savoring the unique flavors we offer throughout all our meal periods, but in a charming, tea-sized format.”
