Father’s Day Thai and macaron cafe with CoconuBubble Tea

For Father's Day I took my dad to see the new Downton Abbey movie...we let my mom come along too, lol.  The closest theatre showing the movie was Strongsville.  So, we headed to Strongsville to watch the movie and then I also treated dad to Thai food for lunch.

These are some comfy seats!!!  You could recline and really relax.

We had a good Thai lunch as well.

https://www.shoppingsouthparkmall.com/store/Ruby-Thai-Kitchen/2138887830/

My mom went to do some shopping so I decided to check out the Macaron Cafe and get some bubble tea and some macaron's.  I just love macaron's and they are usually gluten free.

I did a bubble tea taste test with the Macaron Cafe and Totally Tea.  Both tea places are in the Strongsville Mall.  One was a home run and the other was a strike out.

See what I thought about the Macaron Cafe.

They had lots of options, I will give them that!!

I decided on the coconut bubble tea and some macaron's.  I love love love macaron's even though they are so expensive!

I could not wait to try the bubble tea.  But, sadly I was super disappointed.  I thought the flavor was really lacking!  The price was a little high too. Overall I would not go back here again for the bubble tea.  Now, the macaron's those were fantastic!

https://www.macarononmain.com/

I got a matcha and a lavender macaron's- wow!!  Those were incredible.  I would eat those every day all day!!!  Not sure what it is about the macaron's- if it is the cream inside or the soft yet flaky cookie, but they are like no other cookie out there.

1800's Tea saucer

This cup and saucer is from the 1800's.  Did you know you would pour your tea into the saucer and drink from that...not the cup?!!

Here is some fun tea trivia for you.....Tea cups and saucers were created in the 1700's from porcelain and clay, imported by the East India Trading Company in China.  Handles were not added to tea cups until 1730.

It was common practice in the 18th century to drink from your saucer.  They would pour their tea into the tea bowl to cool the tea.  This ended in the 20th century...it is even talked about in Laura Ingalls Wilders book, Farmer Boy.

Did you also know why Japanese tea cups don't have handles?  That way they can tell by the touch of the cup if it is ready.  If the tea cup is too hot to pick with their hands, it is too hot to drink.

Antique Oriental Porcelain Travel Tea Set Woven Basket with Lid

 I was thrilled to find this Chinese tea basket!!  And to find it under $40!!  I see these on line for sometimes over $100.  

I just adore it.  

Some baskets date back to the 1800's during the time of building the railways- according to one article I found.

I believe these baskets to be insulated as well, from what I have read.  I can't wait to go on a picnic, or take this on my next kayak adventure. 

I  read that, "Tea baskets just like this were once used (and maybe still are) at the posh Bel-Air Hotel in L.A. to welcome guests to their rooms upon arrival, with freshly-brewed tea and a little tray of scones. I read this when I came across a cookbook from the hotel which had a whole chapter on Afternoon Tea, and a photo of that very basket. I think they even sold them in their gift shop at the time!" Carol from a blog http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/2010/05/chinese-tea-basket.html

I saw another post, with the same tea basket.  That one was purchased in China.  They served tea on a train in these baskets.  I love this!!!  http://ritamay-days.blogspot.com/2013/09/chinese-travel-tea-basket.html

DIMENSIONS

11.5ʺW × 9ʺD × 8ʺH

                                                                    Cira 1960???

This one below they think is maybe from the 1960's- and it is the same material I have in my basket.

can you read these prices???

$189.00, $208.00, $50.00, $130.50. $399.00, $165.00, $195.00

But as my dad would say, they are still for sale...lol.  And maybe it is more about the tea pots inside and not the basket.  Anyway, I got my basket for $35.00 and now I have the fun of the hunt...finding the perfect tea pot and cups to go inside!!  

When I looked to see what tea set I should be on the hunt for, I saw that most of them had the classic Longevity pattern.

I took my basket to Asia Town in Cleveland to see if I could find the classic tea set.

I am a fan of Cleveland's Asia Town.  The Asia Plaza has lots of fun shops, a grocery store, a fantastic dim sum restaurant, and more.

Asia Plaza in Cleveland is a wonderful adventure.

 2999 Payne Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114 

https://asiaplazacleveland.com/

I found some cups to fit in the tea cup section.  The cups were so small, that I was able to put four there.  Two cups in each spot.

I took some hunting, but I found the traditional Mun Shou Ceramic tea pot.  It is 32 oz and it was a steal for $10!!!  It fits perfect.  I love it.  

Now, it is not the exact match, because the lid is not flat.  But, I can turn the lid upside down while traveling.  Maybe some day I will find the matching cups, but for now these work. 

Part of the fun of collecting is the hunt to find things.  My dad has taught me that.  I really try not to buy things on line, but discover them in antique shops or thrift stores.

I can't wait to go on a picnic now!!!  

Farmers market T’s concessions - Peach Tea

https://www.facebook.com/tswieners

https://www.facebook.com/farmsteadvintagemarket

A great day for farmers market.  I found this fun Tea stand.  They made Mason Ball Jar teas and lemonades- and then you got to keep the Mason Jar.

This place was hopping.  It was $8.00, which I thought was maybe a bit steep, but of course I bought one to try.  And I figured I could use the Mason Jar to drink from again or use it as a flower vase.

Everything looked good.  And you could watch them make it fresh to order.

I was pleased with the peach tea. It was really sweet, but tasted good.  This tea may have gotten 5 Tea Cups if they had an unsweetened tea option.

They seemed super organized and had a great system.  I loved the concept too. 

I got lunch from Rosemary's- it was excellent.  I had the fish bowl.

It was a fun morning/afternoon walking around and checking out the vendors and running into friends along the way.  

This farmers market is in Apple Creek Ohio.  This is maybe the third or fourth year they have been having it.  Each year it seems to get a little larger and a little better.  It is held at a local family farm.

The next one is Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 10-4 PM.

Cafe and Bakery toys for your kiddos by Venseen

 I got this great tea set for less than $15.00.  It was on sale and I snatched it up.  When I have teas some times people bring there kids, so I figured this may keep them happy.  

The coffee items I gave to a friend with a coffee shop, thinking some kid may enjoy the grinder, coffee barrel, and other coffee related items.

I will get $15.00 worth of fun with this for sure.

There are all kinds of treats to put on the cake stand too.

The only odd thing to me was that there were only 3 plates included.  You would think there was one to go under each tea cup and then two for food, but nope- just one for food...even though you have two knives and two forks.  Oh well, it works.

The little to-go cups are adorable too!