Tea Fit for the Kings, now Served

In an exciting collaboration between Cuisine Canada (www.cuisinecanada.ca), Liaison College, Culinary Historians and the University of Guelph, the Woodside National Park was the setting for a “Tea Fit for the Kings” on June 21, 2008.

Woodside National Park is the Setting for A Tea Fit for the Kings

Nestled among the greenery and forests of the park sits the home of William Lyon MacKenzie King (at least during his formative years). In respect of the historic setting, a tea in the tradition of the 1890’s was offered to guests and visitors.

The day began with tours of the home and grounds conducted by guides dressed in the fashions of the day (bustle and all). The home, set with furnishings and décor from days gone by, was a glimpse into the life of young MacKenzie King and his family. The rooms were also adorned with photos and other documents of historic interest from the period.

Guests were then invited to join Dorothy Duncan (award winning author of “Canadians at Table”) in the media room of the home’s lower level. Ms. Duncan’s talk on the MacKenzie King family was informative, lively and very interesting. Ms. Duncan offered guests the opportunity to purchase signed copies of her books on site.

Tea was served by Liaison College Chef Instructor, Brian Clafton, and his student brigade.

The traditional tea/lunch menu consisted of the following:

• Aromatic greens with fresh laid eggs served with baked scones and breads
• Baked ham, potato salad, braised red cabbage
• Assorted cakes for dessert served with Roothams’ preserves (www.roothams.com)

An eclectic assortment of teas was presented by Carrie Herzog from U of G.

The afternoon was spent exploring the grounds and participating in a “tea tasting”.

A delightful step back in time to visit with our culinary roots.