Deep Sea Tasting Room of Santa Barbara

Beautiful isn't it?

Last weekend I was itching to go on a mini adventure, so I grabbed my mom and went on a day trip to Santa Barbara. We went pretty much without an agenda and decided to see where the wind would take us.

It was a gorgeous day to be out. The sun was brightly shining and the sky was so clear and blue. We were taking a stroll along Sterns Wharf when we saw a big banner for wine tasting, and of course that got me really excited. A closer look revealed the “Deep Sea Tasting Room” right on the pier! With a name like that how could you say no? We decided to check it out and that turned out to be a great decision.

The wines were pretty good, but it was really the breathtaking view that made all the difference. The tasting room is on an elevated level which makes it feel like you’re on the upper deck of a cruise ship (all without the motion sickness and wobblyness of a real ship of course!). At $10 for 6 tastings this experience is a steal! Their award winning 2008 Deep Sea Chardonnay and 2008 Rancho Arroyo Grande Zinfandel were my personal favorites.

Cheers!

Enjoying the sea breeze and wineries

We spent the rest of the day walking around then watching the sunset. It was a lovely day and I wish I could do it all over again!

Next time you’re in Santa Barbara visit the Deep Sea Tasting Room! Hopefully you’ll have as wonderful of a time as I did 🙂

Deep Sea Tasting Room

217 G Stearns Wharf

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

 

How to Host a Victorian Tea Party

Sandwiches, Scones, and Tea, Oh My!

My first high tea experience was at Harrods in London back in early 2011. If you know anything about Harrods, you will know that this set my expectations quite high! Last week I decided to have my own Victorian tea party, and I wanted to share some pictures and tips in the hopes that it would give you some ideas if you would like to host one as well.

Enjoy!

1. The Decor

Your table must be visually appealing. I decided to accomplish this with freshly cut flowers from my backyard.

The Place Setting

Roses From My Garden

Try Adding a Bow to Your Vase!

2. The Scone

As you probably know, the scone is an essential part of English tea. The ones you see below are delicious cranberry-orange scones, and the recipe can be found at food.com.

Cranberry-Orange Scones and Raspberry Jam

3. The Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches can be your chance to experiment with culinary creativity and mix interesting flavors! Below are the four tea sandwiches I served my guests.

Salmon and Cream Cheese Sandwiches (Sprinked with Dried Dill)

Chicken Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts

Sliced Pear and Brie Cheese Sandwiches

Dried Fig and Honeyed Goat Cheese Sandwiches

Colorful labels for your sandwiches are helpful for your guests, and red or pink rose petals make the overall food presentation more lively!

Mmmm!

4. The Dessert

This portion can vary based on your preferences which can depend on your time constraints, baking skills, etc.

Clockwise: Walnut Pastries, Coconut Cookies, French Truffles, Yogurt Pretzels, French Macarons; Center: Walnut Tart

5. The Tea

Ah yes, good tea is integral to any Victorian afternoon tea. After all, with the tea is where it all began! It is a good idea to be well-rounded with your teas and have one black tea, a green tea, and an herbal tea:

Cup of Earl Grey

My Cute Owl Teapot Filled With Orange Blossom Herbal Tea!

Blooming Flower Tea (Green Tea)

So next time you’re wondering what to do over the weekend, throw a fancy tea party! Your friends will rave over the delightful afternoon you prepared for them. I hope you enjoyed the pictures and thanks for reading 🙂