Learn about English Tea at Cuppa Tea Co.

Afternoon Tea
Presentation on English Tea Traditions
Book Signing with Jane Pettigrew

Where & When:
One North Morris Street
Richmond, Virginia, 23220

Friday June 6, 2008
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

RSVP by noon Wednesday, June 4th.

Call 254-8322 for reservations.


The following books written by Jane are available at Cuppa Tea:

Afternoon Tea
Tea in Paris
Menu


Welcome Drink:

Green Tea Mango Cooler

Starter:
Iceberg Lettuce Wedges and Blue Cheese Dressing and Edamame

Tea Sandwiches

Garden Salad on White

Roast Beef, Provolone,and Arugula Pin wheels

Ginger-Lime Chicken Salad on Poppy Seed Tartlets

Tuna Nicoise and Baby Green on Ciabatta

Pastries

Pound Cake with Fresh Raspberries and Blueberries and Lemon Whipped Cream

Banana,Chocolate, and Jackfruit Egg Roll served with Caramel Sabayon Sauce

Mini Sweet Potato Pie

Coconut- Almond Macaroons

Finale
Poached Peaches with Masala Chai Ice Cream and Shortbread cookies

Teas

Strawberry Cream Green
Coconut- Almond

If you go, make sure to say hello to owners Lurline and Alan. Both are super sweet and can help you find any type of tea you desire. The chocolate varieties and the Venezia (a creamy tea with a flavor similar to cappuccino) are worth picking up while you're there.

New Cosmetics Worth Buying

So, I went on a cruise about 2 weeks ago and like any cosmetics-obsessed girl, I took this as an opportunity to stock up on new products, especially in travel sizes, and seek out some new favorites. Here's a roundup of the ones I'll definitely be buying again.

La Roche-Posay Hydraphase UV

I bought this moisturizer after seeing a similar product by the same brand written up in In Style. This proved one of my favorite products and I will continue to use it daily. Although the moisturizer contained an SPF of 30, it went on and absorbed quickly and smoothly. In the past when I've tried moisturizers with a higher SPF they've clogged my pores or sunken in slowly leaving a white residue or rubbed off if I rub my face or felt like they didn't do much actual moisturizing. This did none of the above. It soaked into my face and left no greasy residue. It also had a light scent that was pleasant but not overpowering. My boyfriend forgot to bring moisturizer, used this one and actually loved it too. He still asks to use it. After the success of this product, I may look into more La Roche-Posay skincare when I buy more moisturizer.

Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion

This proved the perfect arm lotion for evening. It was lightly moisturizing (hence why I say perfect for arms, not legs) and had a bit of shimmer that looked pretty in evening lighting but not like I was some 13-year-old coated in glitter. It also did feel like it did moisturize lightly, which most shimmer lotions don't manage to do. Again, it had a light pleasant scent but nothing so strong I couldn't use perfume. The key ingredient in the product is Royal Jelly, a special food that honey bees create and feed to young bees that are going to grow up to be honey bees. The numerous nutrients in Royal Jelly are believed to soften your skin and enhance its natural radiance. All I know is I put it on, and liked the light shimmer. It's definitely something I'll keep on hand.

Oscar Blandi Dry Shampoo

I've always been a fan of Dry Shampoo, but I picked up this particular version because of the small container. I had visions of using it for quick changes and refreshing during the day. This product is basically a powder with a pointed applicator. You sprinkle it through your hair, brush it through, and voila, less grease. It was a bit harder to use than the spray versions because you had to be careful not to get too much concentrated in one area, but once applied it worked just as well. Plus, the Oscar Blandi version had a refreshing lemon scent that makes grease hair smell great. The fragrance lasts all day long too. If you're like me and you love having great-smelling hair, this product is worth buying both for scent and the small, easy to tote size (perfect for a gym bag too!).

MAC Splashproof Lash

All I can say is finally a waterproof mascara that actually lengthens lashes. This is by far the BEST waterproof mascara I've ever tried. It wasn't clumpy and did it's job. My lashes looked long and after I climbed up a waterfall in Jamaica and got totally soaked it was still on my eyes and not running down my face. This will be another standard addition to the makeup bag.

CO Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint

I saw these last year but none of the colors blew me away. This season I bought Magenta Mint and Plum Mint. I've always been a fan of the basic Mentha Lip Shine, but the Lip Tint is the same great burst of mint with a sheer glossy tint that's perfect alone or over lip stick. I kept one in my bag at all times during the trip. It felt so refreshing after laying in the sun or walking along a hot street. It's for sale at Bath & Body Works, but if you go on the CO Bigelow Web site right now, some of the colors are on sale for $5 each!

Dermalogica Solar Defense Wipes SPF 15

These towlettes come in a little package like makeup-removing face wipes, but each towel is saturated with SPF 15. Plus they have other antioxidents like Green Tea and Vitamins A, C and E, and skin calmers like balm mint built in. They're perfect for wiping off with when you're feeling hot and sweaty. Rather than making you feel greasy, these wipes make you feel like you're cleaning off but really you're adding sunblock. They're perfect for laying by the pool or when you're walking in the sun.

Dermalogica Ultimate Buffing Cloth

I was sold on this buffing cloth to help prevent ingrown hairs on my bikini line (apparently exfoliating helps keep that from happening) but ended up using this cloth everywhere. It exfoliates with any scrub and feels more effective than depending on those little crystals in exfoliants to hit every spot. Plus, it's machine washable and lasts up to a year. For less than $20, you don't have to buy exfoliator again for a while. Heck yeah!

Ode to my Gucci Joy Medium Boston Bag

My use of my economy stimulation check arrived yesterday in the form of a white Gucci Joy Medium Boston bag in the white GG Plus fabric with platinum leather accents. This is my first Gucci purchase to date and I'm jumping off the walls because I love it SOO much. I was undecided on whether to go with the "large" or "medium" size and ended up with medium. It's perfect. Big enough to hold my wallet, a cosmetic bag (there will be no lipstick on the lining of this!), sunglass case and some important papers and still shut easily. But it's not big enough that it resembles a small suitcase. The GG plus fabric is a canvas with a light coating. I picked it in hopes that it will protect the white and keep it from getting dirty quicker. Although it was a pricey purchase, it makes me feel so glamorous when I'm walking with it on my arm, it was totally worth it!

Achieve Airbrushed Perfection From Home

So I don't know about you, but I'm always SO jealous of people with flawless looking skin. I feel like even if I start out that way in the morning by 10 a.m. or so I'm looking shiny and makeup-less. Or, I go into the bathroom and notice some really ugly makeup streak I somehow missed during my morning attempt at blending.

Well, my latest purchase, MAC's Studio Mist Foundation has saved the day. People complain that you spray this stuff on a brush or on your hand (not directly on your face) so it's not as cool as real airbrush, but I don't care. All I know is that when I spray it on my brush and then brush it on my face, I get that effortless, flawless nice skin look I've been craving, especially if I set it with powder. And, several hours later I still look fresh and non-shiny.

If you're in the RIC, you have to head to Stony Point Fashion Park for this miracle spray bottle. It's only sold at MAC boutiques and not in department stores. It's definitely worth the trip though!

CLIF Chocolate Brownie Bar: It’s Tasty!

In my ongoing struggles to lose weight, I’ve started, yet again, going to the gym before work. Since “waking up early to work out” for me means tearing myself out of bed at the last possible second, I always have to change at the gym and therefore end up needing a quick, portable breakfast option. Of late, I’ve been sampling different varieties of protein bars trying to find one that’s got the right amount of calories and a decent flavor.
I’ve eaten plenty of CLIF bars in the past, and they’ve all been pretty good. Nothing amazing that I’d eat over an omelet, but they’re fine. Then the other day I bit into the Chocolate Brownie flavor. Now I was skeptical even buying a chocolate flavored protein bars. Anyone who’s ever experimented with bars knows the chalky, artificial chocolate taste often found by an adventurous sampler. I gave it a shot anyway.
I bit into my bar while reading my email and wasn’t really paying much attention. All of a sudden, I was torn away from my computer because I noticed this delicious, brownie-batter-esque flavor in my mouth. I couldn’t believe how good it tasted. There was still a bit of the bizarre protein-bar texture, but the taste was some of the most natural, creamy chocolate flavor I’ve ever sampled in a “fitness” bar.
Label-wise it has 240 calories, 5 grams fat, 1.5 grams saturated fat, 44 total carbs, 5 grams dietar fiber, 22 grams sugar and 10 grams protein. A bit high on the sugar, but otherwise pretty good. Perfect for a post-workout breakfast!

Barrel Thief

Last Sunday I ventured to Short Pump to try Barrel Thief, the new wine store/cafe off Lauderdale Drive. Upon entering, I immediately liked the laid back atmosphere. The wines are simply organized: red Old World, white Old World, red New World, white New World and French. The week's featured wines are displayed at the front of the store near the large case where you can taste any that you're interested in.

We sat down at the wall of tables to sample some of the cuisine along with some Spanish wines. The wine associate/waitress was super friendly and happy to provide samples, even though we were just looking to purchase glasses. I started my meal with a glass of 2006 Onix from Priorat which was tasted fruity and full-bodied with a hint of chocolate in the finish. It was so good I wanted to buy a bottle, but apparently it's the most popular by-the-glass choice right now and they were all out of bottles! Later I tried a glass of 2005 Pazo Senorans Albarinio from Rias Biaxas which was also delightful. It was a heavier white with a tangy fruity flavor. My companion enjoyed a glass of 2006 Naia from Rueda which tasted similar to a pinot grigio but with a citrus-y, grapefruity finish. It was delicious and I could just imagine sipping it outside on a hot summer day. The bottle price was only $13 so I took one home with me.

In the way of food, we started out with a cheese trio that included a sheep's milk cheese, a smoked Gorgonzola and a creamy variety topped with quince paste. Each had a unique, tasty flavor and the choices complemented one another well. For my second course I had a panini with grilled vegetables, olive tapenade, goat cheese and prosciutto. It was a bit salty but still delicious. My companion's sandwich was the celebrity of the meal, though, with a delicious combination of turkey, apples and walnut cream cheese. It was creamy, sweet, savory and addictive.

After the generous tastes, we also took a bottle of NV = 1 + 1 = 3 Cava from Penedes. It was a fruity, crisp sparkler that we also thought was a bargain for only $16. If you've got a wine you're looking for, I've heard the store is very accommodating and will seek it out if they can get it.

All in all, I can't wait for my next opportunity to return to Barrel Thief!

Note: For more on Rueda check out the link below for a story from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/dining/05wine.html?ex=1362373200&en=63801d8c96888b63&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Sweet, Crunchy, Chewy, Rich...mmmmmmmmm

I'm addicted to trying new foods. Now, I know many people suffer from this affliction, but I think it effects me more than most. I can hardly wander through the aisle of Ellwood Thompson's without taking home something crazy like mushroom pate (which was pretty good actually) or a vegan bran muffin (not as good) to sample. Even a stop in for lunch rarely costs me less than $25 because of the random items I pick up on my wanders toward the back corner of the store. I eat meat and don't always eat organic, but over the years I've tried kefir, stuffing-flavored Tofurkey, Quorn Chick'n Gruyere (which is quite tasty), veggie corn dogs, and a host of other random foods where the packaging piqued my interest.

So, recently I've been perusing plenty of food websites and newsletters like The Nibble and I see so many products I want to order. Generally, I try to avoid ordering food off the Internet. I mean, a simple visit to the grocery store is already expensive enough with a problem like mine, so why order even more random foods? Well, I recently gave in and ordered Cacao Nibbles in all four flavors. I can't even remember where I read about these dark chocolate treats, but a visit to the web site hooked me.

Made with quince, dried fruit and cacao nibs (raw, unprocessed chocolate bits), the sweets bill themselves as being for "those of us who care about healthy eating but delight in eating chocolate every day." Now, I don't know how "healthy" you could call these bits, 5 pieces still has about 150 calories and an average of 4 grams saturated fat, but I decided to order because most varieties have 2 grams of fiber per serving and if you actually stick to one serving 150 calories still isn't that bad. Plus, the ingredient list is short, sweet and doesn't include anything I can't pronounce. So, I'll take this over the 100-calorie sweets that still incorporate hydrogenated oils.

Flavor choices are "Date Coconut," "Blueberry Lavender Plum," "Apricot Cranberry," and "Mango Apple." If you don't have a store that sells them in your area, the best deal is to get a sampler pack with one of each for $32, shipping included.

The package arrived Friday. Thus far, I've only bit into the Apricot Cranberry variety, but they are delicious! The chocolate (63 percent cacao) is rich and flavorful; the quince adds satisfying crunch (much more substantial than a Krackle or Nestle-ish crunch which I can't stand) and the fruit adds tang and a bit of chewy-ness. The bites aren't that big, but three satisfied my sweet tooth. I'll definitely be placing an order for Cacao Nibbles again soon!