|
Ever since childhood, Doreen Borgemeister
and her family have rehed the quaint ambience and warmth a tea room
provides. Doreen's mother nurtured that desire frequently by preparing
lavish meals beautifully presented and served in an elegant atmosphere. Fast
forward a few decades, and we find Doreen and her family spending their days
reliving this childhood experience for their guests at the Victorian Tea
Room, this time in the role of proprietors, managers, and hosts. Opened for
three and a half years, both management and staff enjoy playing... or is it
working? Maybe a little of both, but whatever it's called, it's a great
formula.
Having vacationed in the Blue Ridge area for
about ten years, Doreen and her family, along with parents Milt and Irene
Darden, decided to stay year round and pitch a permanent tent. With no prior
restaurant experience, the family pooled its many individual talents together
and opened the Tea Room. Its primary purpose is for guests to experience a
warm, elegant atmosphere in a homey setting while savoring fabulous and unique
foods.
Many of the antiques in the restaurant are
family pieces, such as the dining room table, and a painting of Doreen's grandmother
is in a prominent location as if to further extend family connection at the
Tea Room. And hospitality certainly runs in the family, as brother Rick Hanken
and his wife, Caroline, are proprietors of the Blue Ridge Inn, a local bed
and breakfast.
|
The Tea Room offers a delectable menu
assortment, all homemade, of course. Entrees include Victorian Chicken
Salad, Baked Beef Brisket, Chicken Wellington with Marsala Sauce, and
quiche, with hand rolled crust. One of their original creations is a
cheese-stuffed Rosetta pasta with sautéed spinach and Marinara sauce...
Italian taste, Victorian style.
The Wild Mushroom Soup is very popular. In fact, clients
come as far away as Atlanta and Asheville with the sole purpose of savoring
this rich dish. Often, these clients will purchase a half-gallon container
of this magnificent potage to take it closer to home. Great care and
determination are put forth to assure such quality results. Doreen and head
chef, Leigh Puckett spent four months in their test kitchen perfecting their
well-known cheesecake topped with raspberry sauce. Temperamental but
definitely worth the effort as it is their most popular request.
The Tea Room has experienced a steady flow of patrons with
very little advertising, a strong testimonial that they are succeeding well
in their endeavor. Maybe it's the food that brings them back. Or it's the
opportunity to step back in time and enter a make believe world by providing
vintage hats, fur pieces, and costume jewelry while ding and shopping.
Laughter prevails, and these intriguing props can even transform
personalities: children become proper and dignified... and adult becomes
light hearted and carefree. One client
|
pretended to be on the Titanic,
enjoying an aristocratic moment. Of course, you may just encounter our very own
"Red Hat Society" (see related article, "I Shall Wear Purple" for more
information) at the Tea Room. And what a treat that is!
In addition to their daily operating
schedule, the Tea Room delights in hosting holiday events, bridal parties,
church groups, society groups, or any-occasion group. Of course, prior
arrangements for these type events are a must. And where else can one enjoy
High Tea in Blue Ridge? Yes, the Victorian Tea Room serves this three-tier
extravaganza consisting of finger sandwiches, an assortment of cheeses,
petit fours and canapés along with fruit and of course a selection of tea.
But please call ahead for reservations as High Tea is only served with
24-hour notice.
Doreen and her mother, both former
builders/land developers, are using their previous experience to enhance and
expand the Tea Room and antiques and gift shop. They will be moving just one
street over -- 224 W. Main Street -- in the near future and will add dinner
on Friday and Saturday nights.
If your mouth isn't watering and you're not
reaching for your coat to head for the Tea Room, well, maybe you’re snowed
in or it's after 3 p.m. You can go another time, though. The Tea Room is
open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 - 3:00. Ta ta!
Article Reproduced with Permission. Altitude Magazine 2003 Winter.
|