Hop on over to Mountain Oaks Tea Room in Ooltewah to celebrate Easter with its famed Hippety-Hop Tea or special Easter lunch.
On Easter Sunday, April 21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., guests will have a choice of two holiday options, each priced $24.95. The first is ham or turkey served with dressing, green beans, potato salad, basil deviled eggs and a creamy carrot cake for dessert. The Hippety-Hop Tea features the Courtyard Sampler consisting of a scoop of chicken salad, pimento cheese, slice of quiche, congealed salad, a petite croissant and the basil deviled eggs, soup and hot tea. Reservations are expected to fill quickly, so guests are encouraged to book early.
Mountain Oaks Tea Room
› Location: 9508 Church Street in Ooltewah› Hours: Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (other days for special events only)› Reservations: 423-238-9333› Menu or more info: www.mountainoaksweddingchapel.com/about-the-tea-room/
Coming up swiftly on the heels of the Easter holiday will be Mother's Day. Once again, owner Sonja Guffey is helping families celebrate the day with seatings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., serving a menu with a Mother's Bouquet hot tea, the Courtyard Sampler, a delightfully sweet strawberry salad, Philly cheesesteaks and potato salad for $19.95 per person. For dessert, she's brought in something extra-special inspired by a flavor from New Orleans.
With its mandarin oranges, feta cheese, fresh strawberries and greens, the strawberry salad makes a beautiful plate. / Photo by Mark Gilliland"I found this orange blossom water served on a dish there and fell in love," she said. "I knew I had to bring it to the tea room."
She did just that, and has created the very light and citrusy-sweet Orange Blossom Angel's Dream, which features a light angel food sponge mixed with orange blossom and fresh cream.
And if that's not enough going on, Guffey is already taking reservations for another Princess Tea on June 1 (with seatings at 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.) and June 2 (1 p.m. seating only).
Children and their parents are invited to dine for $24.95 per person. Kids can enjoy visiting with their favorite princesses on-site while they sample special treats like Alice's Tea Time Sandwiches and Olaf's Noses. Parents receive the Castle Quiche, Ariel's Seaweed Salad and a savory tomato bisque.
"Everyone gets a three-tier dessert tray with 'Frozen' Jell-O jigglers, Aurora's cupcakes, Fairy Bite cookies and Ursula's tentacles, a fun chocolate-dipped pretzel arrangement that they all really enjoy," Guffey said.
The tea room's scratch-made fare makes it the perfect spot to celebrate spring, as does its elegant space and décor. The large venue, which is attached to the popular wedding chapel of the same name, features four dining rooms.
Each dining area offers a different theme, color scheme and china patterns. There is The Queen's Room, The Gardenview, The French Market and Scarlett's Room, which features floral patterns, hunter green lace, satin-topped tables and a painting of Scarlett O'Hara. The large, brick, white-columned building that houses the tea room is 104 years old, further adding to its charm.
Continuing all its grand traditions and classic flavors for the new year, Mountain Oaks Tea Room features its usual 28 flavors of hot tea as well as croissants, scones, soups, salads, sandwiches and the ever-popular Southern smoked bologna sliders.
To make reservations for any of these events, or for more information, call Mountain Oaks Tea Room at 423-238-9333.