As a parent in charge of the holiday magic, planning another thing to do can feel overwhelming. But what if it meant you could slow down to gather around a table together? An afternoon holiday tea is a perfect excuse to get off your feet and simply be in the moment, enjoying cozy drinks, sweet treats and a little luxury!
Where to find holiday tea service in OKC?
Several hotels, restaurants and tea houses around the metro invite families to pull up a chair to enjoy a time-honored tradition since the mid-19th century – an afternoon holiday tea. What started as a need for a snack has grown into a fancy affair.
A few of my favorites are:
The Great Hall at Tellers Italian Restaurant
Back by popular demand, Afternoon Tea service at The Great Hall includes delicate finger sandwiches, elegant sweets and vibrant teas. Reservations are available Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wine by the glass and a build-your-own mimosa bar can be added. Service starts at $35 for adults and $15 for kids 13 and under.
Holiday High Tea at Perle Mesta at The Skirvin Hilton
The hotel is beautifully decorated for the holidays and you can dine where OKC politicians, celebrities and movers and shakers have dined for more than a hundred years. Held on the first three Saturdays in December, enjoy locally brewed teas, sweet treats and holiday music during their annual Holiday High Tea. Service is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and starts at $54.95.
Inspirations Tea Room
The rustic chic tea house offers a comfortable atmosphere for all ages. They serve breakfast and lunch including a variety of options from waffles and scones to soups and salads. The Young Royals Tea Party is a popular choice for kids 12 & under. On Christmas Eve, Inspirations will host a Nutcracker Ballet Tea Party at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. A version of the Nutcracker Tea Party will be available on the menu in December.
OKC Ballet’s Nutcracker Tea in the Kingdom of Sweets
The special guests at this Tea are sure to delight! Families can sip on warm cocoa and tea, snack on tasty treats, meet characters from OKC Ballet’s The Nutcracker, and enjoy a short performance. This year’s Nutcracker Tea will be held at the Meinders Hall of Mirrors at Civic Center Music Hall on Dec. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets start at $50.
How to host your own tea service at home?
The beauty of tea service is it can be anything you want it to be! Sure, you can go traditional with tiered trays filled with sweet and savory options. Or, you can fill individual plates with everyone’s favorite snacks. With only teens and tweens in my house, trimming the crusts of sandwiches feels like reminiscing those early years. Now, that chore feels more like a treat.
My favorite place to get our tea is Urban Teahouse. They have dozens of delicious loose-leaf teas to choose from including classics like Earl Grey and English Breakfast to unique flavors such as Sweet Almond and Cinnamon Plum.
Here are a few of my family’s favorite tea-time recipes:
Build-your-own finger sandwiches
This menu item lets the kids do most of the work! Put out a selection of bread, sandwich spreads like Nutella or almond butter, jellies or jams, and fruits. Then, everyone can craft their creations.
Ham-and-Cheese Flatbread by Martha Stewart
This semi-homemade dish gives a nod to a classic tarte flambee with flavors of creamy fontina cheese and thinly-slice ham. It’s both fancy and quick to make!
Sugar Cookies
Local mom and baker Lan McCae, owner of Sweets on the Side in Edmond, shared her sugar cookie recipe with MetroFamily and it’s been on our holiday menus ever since. The soft, yet crisp texture and sweet hint of almond extract keep my kids asking for these every holiday.
Have a favorite recipe you’d like to share? Comment below or email tips@metrofamilymagazine.com!
Born and raised in the Oklahoma City metro and a graduate of the Gaylord College of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma, Lindsay Cuomo has worked for MetroFamily since 2014 covering local stories, people and events. Lindsay is a mom to three school-aged boys and calls Moore, Oklahoma home.
