Friday, October 29, 2010

Cream Soup (or creme soup) Bowls have arrived

Sophisticated and elegant, vintage cream (or crème) soup bowls
are soon to be offered by Fancy That!



When added to a table setting of five pieces, these bowls take the table to another level of genteel splendor. The soup bowls have a delicate curve (if they were straight in their flue, then they would be bouillon bowls, but more on that in another post!) with handles on either side. And when you see the wonderful under-plate that accompanies each bowl, you know the dinner is going to be “something else” :)



What soup to serve with this type of bowl? I have provided a couple ideas below.




Corn Soup is a find from the Victorian Era. Simple to make, this soup filled the emptiness of crème soup bowls and hungry stomachs from the ploughman’s lunch to the fine Afternoon Tea. The recipe is as follows:

Gather 12 ears of the sweetest corn (try using white corn) and husk completely.
Cut the corn from the cob, put one dozen cobs to a gallon of water, which will be reduced to three quarts by the time the soup is done and boil the cobs for at least an hour.
Then add the grains (the eatable corn) and boil until the corn is soft and thoroughly done.
Remove the cobs; then pour on a pint of fresh cream from the top of raw milk (or shake the new milk to mix the cream into the milk for a smoother texture)
Add two well-beaten eggs (temper the eggs so they do not “cook” as you add them to the soup – in a small bowl, beat your eggs, add a table spoon of hot liquid from the soup into the eggs, mixing, and repeat that five or six times…..) then add the egg and soup mixture to the main caldron of the soup)
Salt and pepper to your taste; continue the boiling a while longer, and stir in, to season and thicken it a little, a tablespoonful of good butter rubbed up with two tablespoonfuls of flour.




Or for a modern twist on Crème Soup, try this Crème Artichoke Soup from Elise and “Simply Recipes” and the New York Times, which can be found here.




Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Pink Chargers have arrived at Fancy That

Pink chargers have arrived! Fancy That unique party rentals is now offering pink chargers! How cool is that? :)



Thursday, October 14, 2010

Hallowed Herb Tea House in Quincy re-opens for tea and scones

We are happy to share some very good news! Hallowed Herb Tea House in Quincy MA is having a re-opening starting Thursday November 4, 2010.

Some of you may know there was a little hiatus, but starting November 4, 2010, The Hallowed Herb Tea House will be open from 1PM – 5 PM on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays serving tea (the beverage) and scones. Reservations are not required. You can call the Hallowed Herb Tea House for more information at 617-479-2759.

And if you are wondering if the scones are yummy, know one thing: Here at A Cup Of Glee, it is all about GOOD TASTE! Yes, the scones are yummy indeed! Some of the flavours offered by Hallowed Herb Tea House are:

Cherry Almond
Chocolate Cranberry Walnut
Traditional Currant
Blueberry Coconut
Double Chocolate
Chip Maple Pecan
Brandy Infused Golden Raisin
Ginger Chocolate

Not doing anything on Saturday November 6th? Stop by Hallowed Herb Tea House at 25 High School Avenue in Quincy MA and enjoy a cup of tea and a scone!

Enjoy!


Tuesday, October 12, 2010

No furbelows?

Serving a dinner party in courses again? What a wonderful idea. However, you do not want to advertise it as “frills and furbelows” since the latter, furbelows, may carry a less than appealing meaning.

Recently I saw an invitation that included the line: no furbelows.

Oh my!

As per the OED (Oxford English Dictionary): "A piece of stuff pleated and puckered on a gown or petticoat; a flounce..." Through use, it became a contemptuous term for unnecessary ornamentation, stuff and fluff.

If you advertised your formal dinner with “no furbelows” you would be in err since your formal dinner in itself, would be full of fluff and stuff: escort cards, menus, fine china, more forks than spoons (we’ll discuss this in another post in the future!), centerpieces, and on and on.

If you wanted to have a nice dinner party with no furbelows, you can abstain from the name cards. Instead, use a piece of ribbon with the guest’s name written in gold ink and tie it to the napkin. Place the napkin on the plate and there you have it! Your first exercise in no furbelows.



No need to abstain from multiple courses! After all, a multiple course dinner party is making a comeback to such a degree that caterers are bringing plating for only three courses knowing they can wash the dishes in between courses.



Try to think outside the box and to the wind, cast the idea of “no furbelows.” Add the frills and furbelows, and enjoy!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Friday, October 8, 2010

A Visit to Fancy That's Showroom

From time to time we love to open our doors and show off our Showroom. Consider this your invite to our "open house" and "walk through" the Showroom through the pictures below. Our storerooms that house the fine china and vintage glass are off this room to the right. Our "work room" is in the back where the rental orders are cleaned, sanitized and packed for delivery.

Enjoy the "open house" below!

We call this piece "Jessica" after the designer, Jessica McClintock.


We have tables mocked up to show how the china fits nicely on a 48 inch round. The seating is so you feel comfortable while discussing and planning your elegant event.

This is the beginning our of Shoppe which we will formally "open" in the Spring of 2011. Watch here for more info as we get closer to our Shoppe Opening with a Tea Tasting Open House!

In the Fireplace Room, you can pull up a chair, browse through one of the many Tea Books we have lying around, and enjoy the afternoon. You are welcome by appointment or by chance!

Thanks for stopping by Fancy That's Showroom!
See you again soon!