4. SELECT FOOD TO ACCOMPANY THE TEA

What makes High Tea a bit more than grabbing a "hot cup o' the bud" as roguish tea drinkers say, is the food.

Light snacks, desserts, maybe a small, hot dish

The food served at tea is generally light snacks and desserts - basically, anything that can be held in between the finger and thumb. You can save your baked ziti or rack of lamb for a nice backyard wedding.

If late enough, a small, hot dish may be served, but in general (and especially in warmer months) all dishes are served cold. We do hope that we don't have to specify that does NOT mean leaving a hot dish out until it becomes sufficiently cold.

There are many recipes for all of the edible elements you can employ. Game, chicken, and/or ham is popular as a spread or as finger sandwiches, as are salads and fresh fruit. The delicacies that are most associated with teas are the sweets. Various cakes, breads, fruit tarts, custards, cream puffs, and anything that would make Charles Dickens twitter are appropriate, nay, demanded. Demanded like figgy pudding. Use a bit of each, and display the foods in the sort of presentation that you think will receive gasps. Of joy.

Again…scones and jam…good. Snickers bars…mmm…no.