“Christmas Tea” with the Huntingtons

by Nancy Armitage

(Christmas “Cream Scone” Recipe at the end of the Blog)

There is nothing more festive then a “Christmas Tea” in December. The house or in the Huntington’s case their mansion(s), already stunningly beautiful but especially during Christmas time. The Huntington mansions were adored with beautiful Christmas wreaths, large Christmas tree(s), Nativity Scenes or Christmas Creches, greenery, & Christmas garlands around staircases. And of course, Mrs. Arabella Huntington’s prized art collection of “Madonna & Child” paintings. The Huntington’s head butler, Alfonzo Gomez, informs us the Mrs. Arabella Huntington absolutely adored Christmas, the decorations, the celebrations and the “entertainments” she called them. But most because Christmas was about her family being together & the giving of gifts. Document: HEH Coll. HEH MS 19/1-18 (Alfonso Gomez interviews – HEH’s bio file) at Huntington Library, San Marino, CA

Mrs. Arabella Huntington held a “Christmas Tea”(s) or attended & hosted many teas in New York City, the San Marino Ranch, & Paris. Mrs. H. E. Huntington also enjoyed Christmas tea at her other mansions, too. She might have had a “At-Homes Tea” or two on her estate called “the Huntington Homestead” at Throgg’s Neck in Westchester Co., NY, during the Christmas and New Year holidays; the Huntingtons enjoyed this property on the weekends year round. ”The Huntington Homestead” was close to the Huntington New York City mansion. There was evidence that some of the Huntington servants worked at both New York City residences at No. 2 & Throgg’s Neck went back & forth to each of the residences.

Also, Mrs. Huntington could have had “Christmas Tea” in San Francisco, & England. We really don’t have the luxury of any calendars or diaries made by Collis, Arabella, or Henry E. Huntington. Or they haven’t yet to be found by researchers. So we are not sure of all of their locations & whereabouts at Christmas time of all the Huntington family from 1870’s to1920’s. We know a good portion, though. We do have HEH’s brother-in-law diaries: Edmund “Burke” Holladay does give us some of the Huntingtons locations & dates. Also, Caroline D. Huntington Holladay (HEH’s sister) in her 1890’s diaries, she was very helpful on locating some of the Huntington locations & dates & “entertainments” of Belle’s in NYC or SF and long train trips from NYC to Sand Francisco, CA. (Burke journals, Huntington Library, San Marino, CA)

I have compiled food lists, of gourmet stores, candy stores, bakeries receipts, & monthly tallies of the Huntington’s groceries in NYC & Pasadena, CA. We also have the luxury of viewing some of the Huntington’s fancy multi-course dinner menus. Many of those are for the Southern Pacific Co. annual banquets in San Francisco, CA. Some of these railroad Southern Pacific elegant banquet dinners were actually held at the Collis P. & Arabella Huntington’s Mansion at 1020 California Street on Nob Hill in San Francisco, CA.

So I will separate my tea information per Huntington Mansion(s) & the cities. I’ve compiled teas with all the menus, invoices, & receipts from that particular mansion, estate, & city. Chateau Beauregard is not included because HEH & ADH were never at the Chateau Beauregard during the Christmas or New Years season, they were only at the Chateau in the summer & the autumn. I have never found a Huntington Family “Entertainment Book”, or a journal of Huntington mansion entertaining, Household expense book, or Household Acct book, or a Head cook – Menu book from any of the Huntington mansions.

How did Mrs. Arabella Huntington decorate her Christmas tea table? She loved white damask, red damask, & green tablecloths & white lace table clothes. She liked formal damask white napkins with “H” embroidered on them. This information was depicted in the Inventory of the Huntington mansion at the San Marino Ranch.

Her Christmas plateware is a bit of a mystery. I never did find her special “Christmas plates” in my research. Mrs. Huntington had quite an addiction for collecting large quality of plateware. She would buy the entire set (Dinner Set, Dessert set, Opera set, Breakfast Set, Luncheon set, etc. of a certain pattern of plates) which including soup bowls, tea cups & saucers dinner & desserts plates. So I think she had many sets of Christmas fine bone china plateware.

Gilded Age “Christmas Tea“ at the Huntington Mansion(No. 2 East 57th St. NYC)

When Mrs. Arabella Huntington had a “Entertainment” like a Christmas Tea: she would have brought out her fanciest porcelain plates, tea cups, & decorations. At Mrs. Huntington’s Christmas Tea; it is highly likely she had a set of French plates that were Red & Gold (Limoges, Sevres or Havilland) or English Minton made by Tiffany & Co for example: pate de pate) or Green & Gold (maybe Limoges, Minton (made for Tiffany & Co. or Sevres) or gold & white (Copeland & Garrett). She had red and white Transferware and she had green and white transferware, too.

We know Mrs. Arabella Huntington collected all of these elegant porcelain plates: French (Sevres, Limoges, Haviland) ornate Viennese plates, English plateware: Royal Crown Derby, Wedgewood, & Minton and Dresden & many more. Mrs. Arabella Huntington could have also chosen elegant gold & white plateware for her Christmas Dining-Table. But red & gold has a certain elegance on a dining table at Christmas time. I do know that she had fancy Royal Crown Derby dishes that were highly gilded on the rim & landscape in the middle. They would have been stunning on her table.

But gold & white plates would have been perfectly acceptable at Christmas. She could have decorated with fragrant red roses or red poinsettias. or red wrapped Christmas presents on each plates. She could have had ruby red wine & champagne glasses at each place setting. She had numerous white & gold fine bone china & porcelain plates (Copeland & Garrett “Best” porcelain plates at San Marino Ranch). Mrs. Arabella Huntington was particularly proud of these plates, they had a gold lattice pattern with lots of curves. Gold & white fancy plates that would have been acceptable at Christmas Tea. Mrs. Arabella Huntington own several set of gold & white Haviland plates “Marquis” & Homer Laughlin gold & white plates. She had dozens of stunning plateware.

Elegant Christmas Tea in the Gilded Age (Huntington Mansion No. 2 57th St. New York City, NY)

A elegant “Christmas Tea” in the Huntington’s New York City mansion would be a perfect entertainment for Mrs. Arabella Huntington and friends and family. A tea party or a “At-Home” tea would have been a much easier “entertainment” then a 10-16-course formal dinner party. The Huntington’s New York City mansion would have been decorated for Christmas & looking beautiful. In the Gilded Age, when Arabella was Mrs. Collis P. Huntington, they often had the house filled with house guests & family members at Christmas time. The Huntington’s entertained a lot in their NY mansion with teas, At-Homes teas, receptions, & formal dinners.

Tea was served everyday at the Huntington mansions also at “At-Homes” & at “5 o’clock Teas”. So during the month of December, Mrs. Huntington could have hosted several “Christmas Teas”.

Tea was a great way to introduce Mrs. Arabella Huntington’s friends, her new house guests, & close acquaintances to each other. Mrs. Harriet Crocker Alexander was a dear friend to Arabella Huntington. Arabella often met Mrs. Alexander for tea at each other mansions; whether it was in NYC, or in Paris. Mrs. Huntington often attended charity tea & fundraisers with her daughter-in-law Mrs. Archer M. Huntington (Helen). Many of these charity times were published in the New York Herald & the New York Times. Those charity teas were located at the Plaza Hotel, the Ritz Hotel, & the Hotel Astor, & other hotels in New York City. For many different charity causes like the Metropolitan Museum, Opera House, NY Hospital, etc.

After 1913, Arabella Huntington was married to Henry “Edwards” Huntington & the tradition of Christmas at No. 2 E. 57th St. NYC continued. The Huntington’s NYC Mansion was filled with friends & family, & holiday sweets and special Christmas foods. Mr. & Mrs. Henry E. Huntington (Arabella) would have invited his son, Howard & Leslie & their 6 children to NYC. HEH would have invited his 3 daughters to NYC. Arabella & “Edwards often had Archer Huntington & his wife to dine with them.

Index of Huntington Mansions 8 “Christmas Teas” Menus (below)

Christmas Tea Menu at The Huntington Mansion (No. 2)

Dutch “Sinterklass” Tea for Children – Christmas or St. Nicholas Tea (No. 2)

Christmas Tea in Paris “The de Noel” (Ritz-Paris, France) (Paris)

Christmas Tea with the Huntington at the Huntington Mansion on the San Marino Ranch (SMR)

English Christmas Tea in London (England)

Christmas Tea at the Huntington’s “Homestead” Estate at Throgg’s Neck, Westchester Co. NY (TN)

Christmas Tea on Nob Hill in San Francisco, CA (SF)

Christmas Tea aboard on a cruise ship (Ship)

Elegant Christmas Tea Menu at the Huntington Mansion (No. 2 East 57th St. NYC)

Huntington Christmas Tea Blend (mixture of Orange Pekoe & India Ceylon Tea) with Christmas spices added like cinnamon, cloves, allspice & ginger and orange peel

Adult Libations (No.2 – Elegant) :

Champagne Punch or Huntington Roman Punch (served in a large ornate silver punch bowl (Gorham or Sheffield) with silver or glass punch cups)

Canapes & passed appetizers (No. 2- Elegant): (on a doily-lined silver round tray; served by the Huntington butler or footman)

Petit Blended Mushroom & French Brie tart

Pate de Foie Gras on toasted rounds of bread

Petit French Cheese tart

Caviar Canapes with chopped egg & onion on toasted rounds of bread

Canapes Washington

Tea Sandwiches (No. 2 – Elegant tea):

Chicken Salad Tea sandwich (with smashed capers & minced celery mixed with Hellman’s mayonnaise & a little lemon juice added)

Egg Salad Tea sandwich (hard-cooked eggs, with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, touch of cayenne pepper); spread butter on the bread, spread egg mixture & another piece of bread. Cut the crust off. Store in refrigerate until eating.

Roast Beef Tea Sandwich on Rye Bread (a gentlemen’s sandwich) with thinly sliced Roast beef, cheese, mayonnaise & Dijon mustard &/or creamy horseradish

Edwardian Bread & Butter tea sandwich

Scones & Breads (No.2- Elegant):

Christmas Cream Scones with Keilers Marmalade from Park & Tilford gourmet store, NYC ) recipe at the bottom of this blog

Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Meyer’s Cream (could be Devonshire Cream or Lemon Cream, I’m not sure; purchased by the Huntingtons at Park & Tilford gourmet store, 1919)

Petit Scone with Currants, served with San Marino Ranch Orange Marmalade, Devonshire Cream, & Lemon Curd

Tea Cakes (No. 2 ):

Irish Christmas Cake with a large red bow tied around white Royal Icing cake.

“Irish Christmas Trifle” with a large red bow wrapped around the trifle glass cylinder (made with vanilla wafers or lady fingers & vanilla sauce, chopped strawberries or strawberry or raspberry jam, whipped cream & chocolate shavings. Served in small bowl with a spoon.

Candies:

Chocolate BonBons

Chocolate covered Almonds or Jordan Almonds

A Children’s Christmas Tea Menu (Dutch St. Nicholas Day (Dec 6th) or “Sinterklaas” theme, NYC “New Amsterdam)

Mrs. Arabella D. Huntington loved Christmas and loved children. In New York City, a children’s “Christmas tea” could have leaned to a festive “Dutch Sinterklass” tea. In celebration of Bishop St. Nicholas Day (December 6th). Bishop St. Nicholas’ story is giving gifts or money to the needy, but in secret. So the giver doesn’t get the credit – there is grace in that. Fun Sinterklass Dutch traditions are to make up funny poems of the children good & bad traits. Also, funny & complicated wrapping of gifts like a box within another box; but mostly humble tissue paper & always home-made gifts signed by Bishop St. Nicholas himself.

New York City was nicknamed in the Gilded Age: “New Amsterdam”; because of all the Dutch immigrants. All the Dutch bakeries in New York City, would have had all the delightful Dutch surprises & goodies for the celebration of St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6th). They would have had spicy “Speculaas” cookies (in the shape of the good bishop), “Bishop Bread” (a raisin bread with Royal icing on top) & “Dutch or Belguim Hot Chocolate” to make a thick delicious Hot cocoa, & “Sinterklass Chocolate candy” in the shape of the bishop himself & Chocolate gold coins.

For a Christmas Tea with children, Mrs. Arabella Huntington could have picked a plateware that was more playful. Like her Transferware plates that have pictures & landscapes & they tell a story. Mrs. Arabella Huntington loved her Transferware (she had red & white/ green & white perfect for Christmas time).

Red transferware plates often have winter scenes or scenes of Santa Claus, some have Sinterklass (Bishop St. Nicholas). They have delightful illustrations & they all tell a story. These are my guesses that Mrs. Arabella Huntington might have purchased: Red transferware was mostly English Royal Stafford or Spode with castles or English houses on them. Or Christmas Spode – “Winter’s Eve” or “Christmas Tree” with a green band or red band around the rim, Royal Stafford- “Red Santa Sleigh”, Josiah Wedgewood- “Christmas Eve” (with Christmas tree & wreath & a fire in the fireplace), Spode Christmas tree with a red transferware pattern on the rim made by Johnson Bros. – “Merry Christmas” with a green transferware Christmas tree & wreath & fire in the fireplace. I’ve also seen several European porcelain company have plates illustrating Bishop St. Nicholas or “Sinterklass” Dutch St. Nicholas.

Sinterklaas Christmas Tea Menu (Dutch celebration) (Children & adults welcome)

Celebrate St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6th) (at Huntington Mansion at No. 2)

Tea Blend (No. 2-Sinterklass- Children Christmas Tea ):

Huntington Tea Blend: ”Christmas Tea Blend” with spices) (mixture of Orange Pekoe & India Ceylon tea) with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, & orange peel

Bishop St. Nicholas Punch (Seville oranges, lemons, apple cider, cloves, brown sugar, mace, nutmeg)

Hot Dutch Cocoa with Peppermint Candy Cane in the coffee cup

Adult Libations (No. 2- Sinterklass):

Victorian “Bishop Punch” (Claret red wine, apple cider, cloves, allspice, orange slices, & cinnamon stick)

Apricot Cordial (we know HEH courted ADH, by bringing her some)

Savories & Tea Sandwiches (No. 2- Sinterklass- Children’s Christmas Tea):

Peanut butter& Raspberry jam tea sandwiches on white bread (for the children)

Bay Shrimp & Cheese Canape (small French baguette cut in slices, 1 -2 t. mayonnaise, garlic clove, 1 lb. bay shrimp chopped, parsley, dill & mixed cheese. Spread on bread. Broil until golden brown & bubbly. or Bake 425 for 15 mins.

Chicken Salad tea sandwiches with mayonnaise & a squeeze of lemon & minced celery on white bread

Egg Salad Tea Sandwich (Deviled egg chopped with mayo, paprika)

Scones or Bread (No.2- Sinterklass- Childrens Christmas Tea)

Christmas Cream Scones served with Devonshire Cream or Clotted Cream, Raspberry Jam & Apricot Jam (SMR)

Dutch “Bishop Bread” (Cinnamon bread with raisins, frosted with royal icing- really delicious toasted with butter)

Tea Tarts (No. 2- Sinterklass) Children’s Christmas Tea:

Petit Chocolate ganache tarts

Petit Cranberry or Raspberry Tarts (shortbread cookie dough with raspberry jam inside & topped with a raspberry

Marmalade Petit Tarts (1 1/2″ or 3″ size)

Sweets & Candies (No.2- Sinterklass- Children’s Christmas Tea) maybe a visit from Bishop St. Nicholas himself

Biscuits or Cookies

Dutch Speculaas Cookies (with image of Bishop St. Nicholas

Dutch Peppernoten Cookies

Lots of oranges

Candies (No. 2 -Sinterklass- Children’s Christmas Tea):

Chocolate gold coins candy

Poems to each person (with their good and bad traits)

Chocolate molded candy shaped like Bishop St. Nicholas image.

Chocolate Bon-Bons (NYC Huylers candy store, Huntingtons had a monthly acct. there)

Peppermint BonBons (monthly purchases at Huylers candy store NYC, NY)

Jordan Almonds (silver or gold) & Salted Almonds

Bishop St. Nicholas prayer at each plate

“Tokens”

Huntington chocolate dipped Red Strawberries

Hot House grapes with assorted Dutch gouda cheeses & water crackers

Tea Cakes (Sinterklass- Children’s Christmas Tea – No.2):

Louis Sherry’s Fancy Cakes & Chocolate BonBons & Peppermint Bonbons. Bonbons or candies placed in Red candy papers & placed on a silver tray with doily on it.

Christmas Plum Pudding

Irish Christmas Cake (with a large red ribbon around the cake & red berries decorating it.)

Cookies or Biscuits (No. 2- Sinterklass- Children’s Christmas Tea):

Dutch Spicy Speculaas Cookies (windmills or image of Bishop St. Nicholas) Lotus & other Dutch cookie makers)

Dutch Spicy Peppernoten (small 1/2″ round cookies flat on the bottom)

Irish Shortbread Cookies (Mrs. Huntington always hired many Irish cooks & staff)

Homemade Irish Chocolate Fudge & Peanut brittle & Honeycomb dipped in Dark chocolate

Petit Mincemeat Tarts & Oranges (tangerines “cuties”)

Mixed Nuts (in small candy/small muffin papers with Christmas decor on them)

Jordan Almonds in gold or silvers or [Gold chocolate coins]

Document: HEH Collection HEH MS Box 198 (HEH Huntington NYC Bills 1919)

Christmas Tea Menu in Paris (Paris Ritz)

Through investigation, I have found that Mrs. Arabella Huntington was in Paris at Christmas in 1901 (she came home to NYC on the “Oceanic” in February 1901/ she was also in Paris in 1903 during Christmas & New Year’s holidays.) In 1901, she was traveling with her son, Archer Huntington & his first wife, Mrs. Helen Huntington. So they were in Paris during the Christmas & New Year’s celebrations & holidays. Mrs. Huntington could have hosted a “Christmas Tea” at the Ritz Paris, where she was lodging or attended a tea at the Paris Ritz. The Ritz Paris was/is famous for their afternoon tea especially elegant during the holidays.

Christmas Tea Menu in Paris (Paris & French Theme) (Paris) French Afternoon Tea called “The de Noel”. in the early 1900’s, Mrs. Huntington stayed at the Paris Ritz & the Hotel Bristol. By 1907, Mrs. Arabella D. Huntington she had purchased her 1st large Paris mansion in Paris on 2, Rue de la Elysee & 24 Rue de la Gabriel , then another Paris mansion at 20,4ue de lubeck in Paris. Often, she was staying in Paris for long periods of time, including Christmas. As long as her son, Archer Huntington was with her during the holidays she was happy.

So in Paris, she would have had a lovely French style tea. With classic red roses as the floral decor, but dozen of red roses in main floral bouquet. Tableware: French Limoges porcelain (gold & white or red & gold) or French Havilland or “Old Paris” porcelain plateware.

Parisian Tea Blend: (Paris)

Parisian Hot Chocolate (thick & delicious) often served in petit demitasse cups with small saucers because it is so rich

Spiced Tea (Lavender or Lemon Verbena called “Tisanes”)

French Coffee with cocoa added

Glass of French champagne (Baron de Rothchild Ritz champagne)

“Kir Royale” (a French aperitif made of champagne, Creme de Cassis -a raspberry liqueur, & a raspberry in a champagne glass)

Savories (Paris):

Petit cheese quiche or Petit French mushroom quiche or tart

Warm Petit Brie with chopped nuts & drizzle of wine in puff pastry canape

Tea Sandwiches (Paris):

Smoked salmon & goat cheese on a petit baguette & sliced

Egg Salad Tea Sandwich with French tarragon tea sandwich

Sweets (Paris):

Peach Melba & Raspberries

Sliced & toasted baguette with Apricot Jam or Orange Marmalade

Fancy Cakes (Paris):

Variety of fancy French petit cakes (Petit fours, small tarts, etc)

Petit Opera cake in rectagular shape (Ritz Paris)

Petit Noel Gateaux (Yule log rolled up with frosting on the inside & outside)

Tea Tarts (Paris):

Petit French chocolate mousse tart

Chocolate ganache tart

French Petit Napoleons

“Bisquit glace a la Chantilly” (Grand Hotel, Paris, France)

Christmas Cookies/Biscuits & Candies: (Paris)

French Macaroons (variety of colors & flavors like chocolate or pistachio or lavender)

French Madeleines cookie/biscuits (Ritz Paris in Salon Proust)

French spicy “speculaas” or speculoos cookies or sables (Sinterklass or St. Nicholas)

Parisian Chocolate Bonbons (Chocolate Truffle candy)

Christmas Tea Menu with the Huntington’s (on Christmas Day on San Marino Ranch, CA) (SMR)

We know at the San Marino Ranch, that Mr. & Mrs. H. E. Huntington (Arabella ) hosted a very large “Christmas Tea” on Christmas Day. The Huntington Library guards told me this story. The Huntingtons invited all their ranch employees & their in-house staff & traveling servants to enjoy Christmas music, songs on the piano, & Christmas carols. They enjoyed the very large Christmas tree in the Huntington’s main hall way. Along with Christmas tea food, music & fun, & Christmas presents. Also, Mr. Huntington gave out his Christmas bonuses to his employees; sometimes gold coins (we were informed by Alfonzo Gomez – the Huntington Head Butler). In 1919, at the San Marino Ranch, Mr. Henry E. Huntington employed 110+ people on the Ranch. This very large number of employees was due largely to building “the Library Building” (1919 & 1920). Looking at the Huntington’s Ranch payrolls (SMR & No. 2 where some of them were paid): At this time with the traveling servants, the Huntington’s had about 15-25 in-house staff (1919-1920) people depending on the year. All these employees lived on cottages sprinkled around the Huntington’s Mansion. In the Huntington mansion lived, Mr. Angus McGillvary (Head Butler until he retired) & Mr. Alfonso Gomez (HEH’s valet & Head Butler), several of the Huntington’s Under-Butlers or Footmen, Mr. Temple, Miss Jeanne Reifer (ADH’s ladies maid) Mr. George Hapgood (HEH’s personal secretary) & Miss Caroline M. Campbell (ADH’s personal secretary) Document : HEH Collection HEH 8/9 (San Marino Ranch Papers) and No 2 papers at Huntington Library, San Marino, CA

In 1914, Mr. Henry E. Huntington bought the Wentworth Hotel & renovated it – to the Hotel Huntington in Pasadena, CA (in Oak Knoll neighborhood). They had several tea rooms at the Hotel Huntington, proper English tea, & Japanese Tea Room, also. If Mrs. Huntington’s staff was too taxed with house guests; the Hotel Huntington could have easily catered this Christmas tea event, so the kitchen staff was not working at an Christmas tea event, they were suppose to be enjoying.

Decor: In the 1920’s the Huntington’s elegant Christmas tree located in the middle the main hallway foyer; located in the middle of the grand double staircase. A red poinsettia tree in the conservatory. Christmas Tea buffet would have been served in the Dining-Room. Bright red poinsettias decorated inside & outside of the Huntington Mansion on the Ranch. Large wreaths like the Boys Republic “Della Robbia” wreaths (1920’s) could have been used. With their fragrant greens & fruit, like apples & lemon on all the Huntington double front doors. The Huntingtons had 6 front doors to decorate, by the porte corchore, off the Loggia, & off the Terrace, & maybe the Dining-Room French doors. On the Christmas tree, large Parisian ornaments as big as grapefruits! Christmas Tea given to all the Huntington ranch employees & in-house staff and the traveling servants on Christmas Day.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry E. Huntington’s Christmas Day Tea:

Beverages & Tea Blends (SMR):

Lipton’s Tea (Orange Pekoe tea)

Huntington Hotel Special “Christmas Tea Blend” (black tea Earl grey or Darjeeling tea, cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, & orange peels)

Children Christmas Punch (Red) with Ginger Ale & Hawaiian punch (Bright red & perfect for a Christmas tea; Ginger ale was a favorite of HEH)

Adult Libations (SMR):

Champagne Punch with rum & brandy

Savories & Canapes (SMR):

Caviar canapes (with chopped hard boiled egg & minced onion & baby chives) in small round of toasted bread)

Cheese Puff ( the easy way to make a “Cheese Puff” is a mixture of mayonnaise, finely chopped onion, & parmesan cheese; blend mixture & spread it on small 1 1/2 ” round of white bread. Bake 425 for 15 mins. Serve on a doily- lined silver platter with Christmas cocktail napkins.

Roquefort Cheese Ball with whole almonds (Cream cheese or goat cheese, Roquefort cheese, butter, garlic clove, sherry, Worcestershire sauce, herb salt) with roasted whole almonds to look like a pinecone- super cute.

Stuffed mushrooms with cheese canapes

Tea Sandwiches (SMR):

Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches (chicken, mayonnaise, capers smashed, celery, squeese of lemon juice, French Tarragon or Baby chives or sweet basil chopped fine)

Deviled Egg Salad tea sandwiches (fresh hard-boiled Ranch eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard with minced baby chives) or open face with chives on top

Black Olive & Walnut tea sandwich (with orange zest & cream cheese)

Mr. H. E. Huntington’s favorite cheese sandwich (McClaren’s Roquefort or cheese spread or Sharp cheddar slices, with mayonnaise & Dijon mustard)

Tea Scones or Biscuits (SMR):

“Christmas Cream Scones” with San Marino Ranch Orange Marmalade & Devonshire Cream (or Heavy Cream whipped until almost butter & add a little super fine sugar) (recipe at the bottom of this blog)

Virginia Biscuits with Thinnly sliced Ham & Dijon mustard

Ranch Buttermilk Biscuits with Sweet Ranch Butter or Raspberry Jam or San Marino Ranch Orange Marmalade

Devonshire or Clotted Cream & Jams:

San Marino Ranch Orange Marmalade (SMR)

Loganberry Jam (SMR)

San Marino Ranch Orange Blossom Honey (SMR)

Sweets & Teacakes (SMR):

Mrs. See’s Candy Chocolate BonBons or Chocolate-Covered Honeycomb

California Orange Cake or “Gateaux Orange” (pound cake sliced with layers of orange marmalade & drained canned mandarin oranges with Royal icing spiced mixed with a little orange juice & orange zest and topped with more mandarin oranges. ) This was a cake listed on a menu at the Hotel Huntington in Pasadena, CA in 1924. HEH built the Hotel Huntington open it up in 1914.

Rum Cake (Chocolate, Lemon or Orange)

Peppermint Candy Canes (maybe giving out to the little children, if Santa Claus arrived with a bag of gifts)

Huntington Mansion “Honey Spice Bars” with Royal Icing (Huntington Family recipe by the Huntington dessert chef, Mrs. Kley)

Bullocks Pumpkin Ginger Bread with Cream cheese (Bullocks Tea Room Pasadena, 1920)

Zucchini-Nut Bread

English Christmas Tea Menu (English theme) (London)

Tea Blends (London):

Ridgeway English Tea “Her Majesty’s Blend) -(a combination of India tea and Ceylon tea making Orange Pekoe Tea)

Prince of Wales Tea (1921) – (a mixture of black tea & gunpowder green tea with blueberries or currants added). Typically this tea is served with scones designed for Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, after abdication he was Duke of Windsor.

Tea Scones (London):

Claridge’s Apple Cinnamon Scones (Claridge Hotel London England, HEH June 1913)

English Cream Scones with Devonshire Cream or Clotted cream, Raspberry Jam, Lemon Curd

Homemade “Devonshire Cream” Recipe: 1 pt. heavy cream with 3 T. superfine sugar. In a medium bowl, add cream & sugar. With an electric blender, whip the cream until it is almost the consistency of butter. Place in a fancy fine bone china bowl & place saran wrap over. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.

Savories (London):

English Sausage Roll (sausage wrapped in puff pastry & baked) take a sausage & roll it up in puff pastry or Pillsbury dough rolls & bake. Serve with English mustard or Dijon mustard.

Mushroom Canapes in puff pastry, or a petit tart with minced mushrooms & cheese

Tea Sandwiches (London):

Bookmaker Tea Sandwiches (made with thinly sliced steak with creamy horseradish (mix with sour cream) or butter or grainy or dijon mustard on a crusty French baguette; sometimes with crispy onions

Coronation Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches (Cooked roasted chicken, mayonnaise with apples, red onions, raisins or chopped grapes, cashews or sliced almonds. Sauté shallots in butter, add curry powder, Major Grey mango chutney, apricot jam, lemon juice, s/p. [Note: It is highly-likely that Mrs. Arabella D. Huntington went to King Edward VII Coronation in 1902 at Westminster Abbey, London, England.]

Cucumber & Dill Tea Sandwiches (soak the sliced English cucumbers in champagne vinegar 1st, dry off & make sandwiches, by buttering the bread or use cream cheese, sprinkle with fresh minced dill)

Salmon & Cream Cheese and Dill tea sandwiches on rye or dark bread

Sweets (London):

Petit Lemon Curd tart with a fresh raspberry on top

Petit Mincemeat tart with pecan on top

Petit Apple Tart

Christmas Tea Menu at “Huntington Homestead” estate at Throgg’s Neck Westchester Co. NY (TN)

Berry & Citrus Tea Blend: Dried Cranberry, dried raspberry & strawberries, rose petals, & dried orange peel (Use a french coffee press when using fresh)

Apple Cider, Spiced

Tea Sandwiches (TN):

Lobster& mayonnaise tea sandwiches

Virginia Ham tea sandwich on Virginia Biscuit with Dijon Mustard

Turkey & Cranberry Chutney or raspberry jam tea sandwich

Pimiento Cheese Spread Tea Sandwich (Philadelphia whipped cream cheese, soft butter, herb salt or garlic salt and 1 can pimientos, drain and chop)

Breads & Tea Scones (TN):

Cranberry Bread with orange zest

Devonshire cream or Clotted cream

Raspberry Jam or San Marino Ranch Pomegranate Jelly

Desserts & Sweets (TN):

Petit pecan tarts (small bitesize) also called “Pecan tassies”

Petit Apple tart

Candies & Cookies (TN):

Oatmeal Raisin cookies,

Peanut Butter cookies

French butter cookies

Ginger Snaps

Christmas Tea Menu in San Francisco, CA (SF)

Tea Blend from the Palace Hotel, SF, CA

Savories & Tea Sandwiches (SF) :

Crab Puff Canapes

Foie Gras tea sandwich (from the Palace Hotel, SF,CA)

Crabmeat & mayonnaise tea sandwich on sourdough bread (Traditional sandwich in San Francisco, CA)

Sweets (SF):

“Petit fours” (a small square bitesize of cake with chocolate gauche or Royal icing as the frosting.) We have seen this dessert on the Southern Pacific banquet menu located at Collis & Arabella Huntington mansion on California St. Nob Hill SF.

Petit Napoleans

Christmas Tea Menu (abroad a ship)

Tea blend of Darjeeling Tea or Earl Grey

Savories & Tea Sandwiches (Ship):

Virginia Ham Sandwich on Biscuits (served on S. S. Olympic 1922)

Shrimp & Dill tea Sandwich on a croissant (with mayonnaise, & dill)

Scones (Ship)

Biscuit or “Cream Scone” with currants served with Devonshire Cream, Raspberry Jam, Apricot Jam, & Black berry Jam

Sweets (Ship):

Chocolate Bonbons

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries “Tuxedo”

Assortment of petit tarts and petit fours (small iced cakes)

Nancy’s Best “Christmas Cream Scones”

These are amazingly delicious cream scones that rise high. You can serve them for Christmas Morning Breakfast Tea or Afternoon Tea.

2 c. Flour

2 t. Sugar

1t. Salt

1 T. Baking powder

1 C. Heavy cream

Preheat oven to 425@. In a large bowl, sift together the dry ingredients. Add the heavy cream, slowly make a soft dough. On a floured board, knead gently to retain the air needed to let scones rise. Roll out to 1/2″ thick. Cut dough into 2″ round or heart shaped cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, leaving 1/2″ space in between each scone. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve immediately while hot. Serve with Devonshire cream or Clotted Cream & Raspberry Jam and Orange Marmalade and Lemon Curd. Let cool.If you want to warm them up, you can put in microwave for 20 seconds to heat up. If giving as gifts: package into cellophane bags & label & tie with a pretty red ribbon.