Dear Oliver,
I just wanted to send a quick note highlighting two local “tea” events I attended recently. First, a fun concept – the Bal Harbour Access pop up shops came to Patriot’s Point, 101 Ferry Wharf Road, Mt. Pleasant, on its multi-city tour. Within this two-story shipping crate structure lined with upscale shopping, with palm tree designs cut into the interior walls and the center filled with a palm tree canopy, sits the Whitman restaurant.
This roving eatery encompasses both indoor and patio seating with a tropical vibe. The High tea option offered on Friday afternoons was complete with a tower of delicious traditional tea sandwiches, mini scones with cream, followed by a lovely tray of dessert options. My companions and I were impressed with the food and the service rated high.
My only suggestion would be for them to switch from prepackaged tea bags to loose- leaf tea including more precise steeping times, however, it was still a resounding success and a different local venue to enjoy.
A few days later I was able to attend the Old St. Andrews Parish annual Spring Tea
Room. I have been reading about this event for years and I was delighted to add it to
my 2025 calendar at last. The event has been a fundraiser for the past 75 years,
helping a congregation that has been around since at least 1706 when the first structure was erected. The church boasts the claim that it is the oldest operating church south of Virginia.
This event was entirely different than a traditional high tea and featured many local sandwich, soup, and salad favorites in more of a church-dinner style. I opted for the chicken salad plate with congealed salad and pickled beets. Local desserts such as
Huguenot torte, mudcake, magnolia pie, and tipsy pudding also played a prominent role on the individually priced menu.
As most patrons preferred at this event, I opted for iced tea with homemade simple syrup, which was available on each table to sweeten the tea as desired. Reservations for three or more are suggested as it is a busy place. Since we were a party of three, we had the opportunity to sit with a fourth who just happened to drop in, which made it an especially interesting afternoon meeting someone from the area.
To check out you are directed through a gift shop with local crafts and other
favorites. We purchased a tomato knife, which has a stainless, serrated blade perfect
for thin sandwich slices and highly recommended by the tea staff. After our meal, we
strolled around the beautiful blooming azaleas and majestic live oaks.
Finally, we toured the adjacent chapel, which is open to the public during the two weeks of the annual Tea Room. Our tour guide noted the wide pews, which were apparently updated in the 1800s to accommodate the fashionable hoop skirts of the time. Old St. Andrews Parrish is the only remaining colonial cruciform church in South Carolina.
