Patti Drumright, an adjunct in the English/Philosophy department, gave two tea-related presentations last week. As the founder of The Bedford Circle™ tea society, Patti gave a talk about formal English afternoon tea at Valley Manor apartments on Thursday, Feb. 7. After the presentation, a number of the 20 or so residents in attendance shared their diverse experiences with tea. Several had gone to afternoon tea in London, while a few had taken part in the Japanese tea ceremony in Tokyo. One woman also described a mixture of tea and curdled yak's milk that she heard of--but declined trying--while traveling in Nepal. Patti is hoping to compile such anecdotes into a book that explores the range of teatime experiences that area residents have had as well as the meaning that tea and teatime have for people.
On Saturday, Feb. 9, Patti also gave a demonstration at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office in Brighton. The event was sponsored by Monroe County 4-H and the Monroe County Fair Association, which holds a number of baking contests during its annual summer fair. Patti was asked to give the demonstration because the tea society sponsors the fair's two scone contests. Sixty-five people attended the program, and most were "serious students," armed with pens and open notebooks and ready to learn more about the beverage and how to prepare scones, which are best described as "glorified biscuits."
The most useful scone-making tips include not over-working the dough and allowing the cut scones to rest for several minutes before baking. Scones are supposed to be somewhat dry--and they're best served warm with gobs of preserves.
Janet Ekis
College and Community Relations
02/13/2008 |