New Event: Duchess's Tea Party

Guests are invited to join in the conversation around the table at a top secret venue, joining Miss Sue Flay and her fellow guests at this very small 
& intimate Pop-up Afternoon Tea event...

Join Miss Sue Flay and her guests for a *Vintage Inspired* version of 
The Secluded Tea Party!

Saturday 2nd February

2pm - 4pm

£25 per person

An afternoon tea party hosted in honor of the Duchess of Bedford, who was said to have started the Afternoon Tea trend when she felt a *Sinking Feeling* in her stomach between lunch and dinner.

The Venue ... A secret location somewhere near to Cambridge.

This secret location will be revealed to my guests nearer to the time!

Having recently filmed a feature for BBC's "Escape to the Country" at the home of Afternoon Tea, Woburn Abbey, not only will the menu be suitably matched to The Duchess's own Afternoon Tea offerings, Miss Sue Flay will be putting her own spin on her treats and including some more modern twists to excite her guests! - The Duchess would, of course, approve...

Miss Sue Flay will be hosting a luxurious afternoon tea to include the following menu and, of course, copious amounts of top quality loose leaf tea at this Afternoon Tea venue:

Something Sparkling on Arrival

***
Red Onion Relish Tartlets,
served with a side salad

***
Selection of dainty Finger Sandwiches,
crusts off, to include:

Cucumber & Chive Butter
&
Coronation Chicken Toasts

***
The infamous Giggle Cake

***
Raspberry Ruffle Cake

***
Miniature Baked Alaska,
with Homemade Espresso Ice Cream
& Coffee Liqueur-soaked Sponge

***

To book your tickets for this unique event, 
you will find just 6 tickets only at this exclusive venue, available to book now.

To book, visit: 

http://www.wegotickets.com/secludedteaparty

Any questions please do email Miss Flay directly 

at: cake@secludedteaparty.com

To see a short video on Miss Sue Flay's experience at The Duchess's home, do visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sTFzV3LWUw&feature=youtube_gdata

And to read about the day filming at Woburn Abbey, visit:

http://thesecludedteapartyshhh.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/filming-with-bbc-ones-escape-to-country.html

Miss Sue Flay 
x

Tea Guest: A Healthy Dose Of Food-Based Film In Your Life

Introducing a Guest post from a friend of The Secluded Tea Party, the lovely Adam Barker, a fellow food lover and film fanatic - He has an interesting outlook on films!

Over to Adam...  

Being a massive film fan I’ve always looked to them for advice. I know that sounds a little bit silly, but it’s true. I trust films; they help me out when I need help. If I’m feeling down I can put on a comedy to snap me out of it, If I’m feeling scared or worried I can put on a cheerful film to put my mind at rest and so on. Films have this ability to give you everything you need for every part of your daily life, a little like the three main food groups! 

OK, stick with me here, after all Miss Sue Flays' blog is all about food and all. 

  Let me explain how getting the right balance of film into your daily life can improve your appreciation for the art form. Let’s have a quick reminder of the Three main food groups shall we?

·         Carbohydrates: Involves sugars and starch. Releasing slow energy to the body in order to keep going. Too many carbs and not enough exercise can turn to fat and that’s not good - You need to find the right balance.

·         Fats: A healthy balance of fats is good to keep your body warm as it stores most of it. As we all know too many saturated fats can be dangerous & extremely bad for you. Not something to indulge in.

·         Proteins: Your fuel. Needed to keep your body in good condition. Not enough fuel can leave you weak, a little like not putting enough petrol into your car. Your body needs enough daily protein to keep steady, but too much can be considered unnecessary and indulgent to some.

 

I’m not a health expert so excuse to blatant blagging, if you are offended by a fat man’s attempt to explain the nutritional values of food then I apologise, I got most of it off Google.
 

Right, that out of the way, I hear you ask “What are you talking about you strange little man?” Well, let me explain my reasoning for this post. Like the three groups written above, you need a decent balance of them in your daily life to fully reap the benefits from them. The same could be said about films in general. 

Below is the three films grouping that you should all take note of and apply to your daily life.

    Carb Films: These Films involve lots of sugary scenes and starchy characters. The film usually involves lots of energetic moments released throughout, without much build up. This would include lots of “Action Movies” and “Horror Movies”. Characters that are often poorly described and filled out with chunks of dialogue to bridge to gap to the next energetic chase scene or fight scene. Too much of these types of films can cause your brain to be accustomed to undeveloped plot points, characters and predictable narrative. Over time if you only indulge in "Carb Films" then your film health could be damaging.

Examples of Carb Films: “Transformers” “My Bloody Valentine” “Fast and The Furious”

   

·         Fatty Films: These Films involve lots of warmth, cosiness and comforting. Most of these films will give you a nice dose of turn your brain off, sit back and enjoy cheesiness. You will experience lots of cheesy expedition, corny dialogue and feel good scenarios that will leave you content and happy for a short period. This would include “Laugh out Loud Comedies” and “Romantic Comedies” as well as “Chick Flicks”. Often used as a source of comforting, too much "Fatty Films" exposure can completely ruin your film health. If indulged too much, then your brain and imagination will begin to believe that every relationship has a happy ending, every best friend who is a guy will be the perfect boyfriend, every trip to the airport will result in a romantic embrace and Hugh Grant is indeed your dream man. Take these films carefully. Have a healthy balance else your film health will suffer and then delusion can easily creep in.

Examples of Fatty Films: “Bridget Jones Diary” “Love Actually” “Pretty Woman” “Sex and The City Movie”

·         Pro Films: Everybody needs a good dose of "Pro Films" in their film diet. These films will involve a lot of brain teasing questions, intelligent and thought provoking situations and clever twists to keep you going. The sort of films involved in this would be “Edge of your Seat Thrillers”, dramas as well as the odd documentary. These films are used as a source of informative stimulant, much needed entertainment that keeps your brain going long after the film is over. Not enough of these types of films can cause your film health to be weak and struggle to appreciate the art of film to its fullest. But be careful, as too much can also cause you to become a film snob and potentially a pompous film goer, not allowing anybody else to express their opinions and causing you to suddenly fall out of love with film entertainment and maybe begin to resent them.

Examples of Pro Films: “CatFish” “The Sixth Sense” “There will be blood” “The Artist” , any Art-house movie or Foreign Films

So hopefully with a healthy balance of all three groups you can begin to love and enjoy lots of different types of film. Use this next time you’re planning to watch a film. Sit down and see what sort of fix you need. Don’t be afraid to try new things and indulge yourself from time to time. But remember if you sit down and watch a marathon of Michael Bay films, why not  balance it out with a healthy dose of Paul Thomas Anderson films - you may just start to improve your film health.

Adam Barker @BarkerPodcasts

www.BarkerPODcasts.webs.com

NB - This is not an advertisement or paid blog post, it's purely support and love for fellow bloggers and business people that I allow them to post a "Guest Blog" post onto The Secluded Tea Party Blog. I love the diversity it brings and allows my lovely friends and followers to see and meet other passionate people who have the same love of tea, cake, blogging and business that I do. 

Should you wish to submit a blog post, so long as it's fitting, I would be delighted to chat, just email 

Miss Sue Flay at cake@secludedteaparty.com for a natter. 

Please note, no sales-like emails will be tolerated or replied to, only interested & engaging parties welcome. Many thanks - Miss Sue Flay.

A Lesson In Cakey Love... With Miss Sue Flay

Love is in the air...  

Well, it certainly is in the Flay household and if the mister doesn’t get romantic this Valentines, then gawd help him ; )

I am also sure that there are others out there who are either hoping to be romanticised or even wish to shed a little romance onto their other halves this Valentine’s Day, or even just use this time to spend some quality time with the friends and family that they well & truly love.

You may wish to learn to bake a recipe alone as a treat with friends, or together for some quality time, or perhaps learn even alone to surprise somebody later on.. I am the QUEEN of romance and secrets, so happy to help where I can to make it a mini celebration to remember.

You might even be considering popping that big question to a loved one... What better way than to bake a cake or Afternoon Tea treat than to serve the ring alongside some of the beauties I can teach you to make?

That would be a proposal to remember, I can darn well guarantee it!

 Photography by Debbie Wallwork Photography

 

What better way to celebrate V Day than to get baking?! – The beauty of this offering is that it doesn’t matter if you are in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, London or beyond... I can come to you no matter where you are.

Yes, that’s right, Miss Sue Flay is offering to come to your home or venue of your choice and play “Cupid” with her choice of cakey treats to teach you to bake this Valentine’s Day.

Book between 

Friday 1^st February  - Thursday 14^th February

To receive a 2 hour private baking lesson for up to 2 students

With hands on one to one baking tuition from Miss Sue Flay

and a tailor made recipe book with many extras

For just £40*

(usually per person)

Choose to bake from the following:

Strawberry & Cream Layer Cake with Hand piped Chocolate Hearts

Or

Retro Sweets Show Stopper Layer Cake

Or

Ferrero Rocher Layer Cake

Or

Cinnamon Streusel Scones & Vanilla Cream

Or

Cherries & Cream Cupcakes

All you need is to ensure the ingredients on the shopping list are in your cupboards (All provided to you prior to your lesson), a working oven and a sink for me to do the dishes as we go, I will bring everything else with me for you to bake your romantic Afternoon Tea treats fit for your very own Secluded Tea Party once I leave.

Book Miss Sue Flay now for a baking lesson in your own home at a time to suit you, be it for Valentine’s Day or for another date in your mind, to acquaint you with your own kitchen and help your confidence with some romantic goodies to please a special somebody... 

Come on, get romantic blog readers ; )

 Photography by Debbie Wallwork Photography

Simply email: Cake@secludedteaparty.com

For further information on The Secluded Tea Party 

Baking Lessons, please click here. 

 

* Gift Vouchers also available

  

I look forward to baking with you soon!

Miss Sue Flay

x

 Photography by Debbie Wallwork Photography

 

NEW EVENT: Dine Like Downton

Miss Sue Flay & William Hanson

invite you to join them

at the very first

‘ Dine Like Downton’

in March 2013

at Hotel du Vin, Cambridge

Dinner

7.30 for 8.00pm

Black Tie

Carriages at 11pm

R.S.V.P.

Miss Sue Flay

cake@thesecludedteaparty.com

You’ve watched the dining scenes of ‘Downton Abbey’ with wide-mouthed awe, and now you can learn how you can dine like they do at Downton with this new fun and fully interactive course.  

 As part of Eat Cambridge Festival 2013, come to Cambridge’s sophisticated 

Hotel Du Vin and experience an exclusive dinner like no other.

 Photo By Liquid Photo

The UK’s leading etiquette expert William Hanson, and his co-host Miss Sue Flay from The Secluded Tea Party, will guide you in the Dos and Don’ts of a formal dinner.

By the end of the three-course meal, guests will have mastered the difference between butler & silver service, remembered which knife & fork they should use for which course, and learned how to dress for dinner.  The Dowager Countess would be proud!

 

  You will enjoy a specially designed menu with drinks to match especially for this event, as well as cover topics over this private dining table including...

Table manners now and then: why they still matter

Seating plans: who sits next to Lord Grantham?

Butler service: how to interact with Carson

The rhythm of dining (e.g. pace, waiting to begin)

Dressing for dinner (White Tie & Black Tie)

The British place setting – navigating your way

The tools of the table (flatware, glassware, cutlery & linens)

How Mrs Levinson & other non-Brits would eat... A cautionary tale of 

the American way of dining

  Pudding and Dessert: not the same thing!

How to hold cutlery & glassware

Napkin placement

Polite table talk

Tricky foods (how to eat soup, burgers, caviar & peas with finesse)

What to do when Mrs Patmore burns the dinner: dealing with inedible meals

Unfamiliar food

How to handle difficult situations politely

Excusing yourself

Mobile phones (not very Downton but essential for modern age!)

Smoking

Coffee, port & cigars

 “Ladies, shall we?”

Taking your leave

Thank you letters

 Photos By Liquid Photo

William understands that good manners and etiquette, which are based on common sense, should be universal. He strives to incorporate their proper use in a 21st century context, helping everyone to become more aware of, and sensitive to, the ways in which they conduct their lives. When he’s not stretched out on his sofa relaxing in his toweling robe watching repeats of Lark Rise to Candleford, or tending his renowned terrace herb garden, William provides first-class training and is a trusted advisor to private households, business & cultural organisations and schools alike, and has worked for several VIPs. 

As well as having recently broken a world record, of which if you ask him nicely, he will tell you all about when you come to join us both for dinner.

Miss Sue Flay, whilst understanding that good manners and etiquette are important, may sometimes be in need of a little nudge in the right direction when it comes to re-training as a "Lady" herself, so she will be on hand to keep William under control (Or should that be the other way around?) and to help welcome and entertain guests throughout the entire evening, whilst also soaking up William's tales & teachings. 

When she's not indulging in afternoon tea or cycling the cake back off her hips afterwards, Miss Sue Flay provides private one to one Baking Lessons in her students' homes and creates events based around tea, cake & cocktails. 

Once she gets an idea in her head, sometimes there just is no stopping her. 

Having appeared on BBC One's "Escape to the Country" amongst other small cameos with her passion for Afternoon Tea, she's becoming a more confident young lady by the day. 

  The Secluded Tea Party presents 
"Dine Like Downton" at dinner

 with Miss Sue Flay & William Hanson to be held on: 

Friday 8th March 2013

7.30pm - 10.30pm 

Venue: Hotel Du Vin, Cambridge

Full details will be disclosed to guests nearer to the event

 once tickets have been booked. 

Guest attendance will be kept strictly confidential until you all meet 

and dine together on the evening - Secrecy is our middle name. 

You will be invited to dress appropriately for dinner, with a full guide on how to do so emailed to all booked guests prior to the event as an exclusive part of the event, with guide written by William himself as your first lesson within this event...  

Photo By Liquid Photo

To include an exclusive Etiquette Workshop and 

the following itinerary for the evening:  

 Guests arrive for Sherry at 7.30pm

***

We sit down to dine & learn at 8pm

Menu to include: 

Butternut Squash & Sage Soup with Bread Basket

Confit of Duck with Lyonnaise Potatoes & Roast Apples, 

Or 

Roast Beetroot & Goats Cheese Tart 

(V - please specify on booking), 

served to you by our very own  Mr Carson 

Lemon Posset with Fresh Raspberries, 

including a special surprise to challenge your manners 

***

Wine, Red or White will be served, 

or non alcoholic (please specify when booking)

***

Guests move into the Library around 10pm 

Coffee will then be served, 

where discussion & shenanigans 
will lead to the rather entertaining...

***    

This will be the ultimate finishing school for any Downton Abbey fan (or non fan, it doesn't matter, it's a dining education for anybody & everybody!) 
and your manners will increase ten fold... Myself included here!

Limited tickets at £100 per person

To book your tickets for this very exclusive event, 
you can book now through
http://www.wegottickets.com/secludedteaparty 

To see more about the lovely William, do visit
www.williamhanson.co.uk

Any questions please do email: info@secludedteaparty.com

We look forward to having you join us at our 

very own Downton!

. 

And if you can’t make this event, please do join us at our next Afternoon Tea & Etiquette Workshop at the same venue in April 

- Simply click here to book.