Art Tea

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Certainly, this trip to Ireland has seen more consecutive days of tea-time than I have ever experienced in my life. The Irish conviviality and hospitality are inherent in traditions that surround the ceremony at every turn. At least once a day, sometimes two (or three!) we have shared tea. Simple tea in a pub. Artsy, at the local craft village. Quaint, at Turnip House Tea Room in the countryside and leisurely at the B&B in Donegal. But today's tea party takes the cake...quite literally.

Art Tea at The Merrion 5 star hotel is reputedly the most lavish afternoon tea in Dublin. Here, one is treated to a slice of 19th or 20th-century art served on fine china with miniature sweet creations inspired by the work of J.B Yeats, William Scott, Louis Le Brocquy and others.

Our first course consisted of a tiered selection of savories, sweets and scones to go with our selected teas. The accompanying clotted cream and lemon curd we lavished in dollops atop. Next came the confections created by the pastry chef to represent selected works from the largest private collection of art in Ireland, which hangs in the hotel. Not only were the desserts works-of-art themselves, they were also exquisite culinary delights.

We somehow managed lick the spoons clean (in the most ladylike way possible).

And once we had exhausted our supply of accoutrements, we asked to tote the remaining scones home for tomorrow's tea. Even the take-away bag from this grand high tea was resplendent with an aura of doing whatever one does in the most beautiful way possible. We drank deeply of this cup. Ahhhhhh, good to the last drop!