Sarah is getting married in May, and she and her family are throwing a casual yet elegant afternoon reception with tea and sandwiches. How charming! She has a question, though, about updating tea sandwiches with a more modern flair. Can you help?
The problem I have is with the tea sandwiches. I think they're cute, but they seem a little dated, and I worry that the usual chicken/ham/egg/tuna salads will seem underwhelming. I love to cook and would like to know if there are easy recipes that are a little more impressive than just cream cheese and cucumber.
Sarah, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Please bear with me as I give you a piece of entirely unsolicited advice, to start things off. As everyone else has probably already told you too, do not under any circumstances plan on doing anything with the food yourself on the day of the wedding. I say that as a bride who baked my own wedding cake and made ice cream too; it was only by the sweet graces of my friends and catering company that those were decorated and served up on the day itself. Work up until a day or two before the wedding, but then make sure you have trusty hands to take over completely.
OK, now that I've got that out of my system, how about putting an Asian twist on tea sandwiches? I turned to Martha (of course) and found these sushi-inspired sandwiches that are very elegant and inspiring.
• Sushi Bar Tea Sandwiches - Smoked salmon is mixed with the unexpected: shiso, fresh roe, sesame seeds.
• "Sushi" Surprise - Just soft white bread wrapped around cream cheese and vegetable matchsticks.
Make sure to check out the rest of the links in that Martha Stewart slideshow; there is a lot of inspiration there for a tea-inspired party. It's all geared towards a bridal shower, but you could easily adapt it for a reception.
If you go this route, how about serving a shiso cocktail, too, and perhaps a chicken salad dressed up with black sesame seeds:
• Straight Up: Using Shiso in Cocktails (Mojitos and More) - A peppery, fresh herb that would give a unique twist to a signature wedding cocktail.
• Recipe: Dill and Yogurt Chicken Salad - This chicken salad is easy to prepare, and it will sit very happily in the fridge for several days before serving.
Other ideas for Sarah? Good luck, Sarah! Please report back with your DIY wedding reception; we would love to see photos!
Related: Good Question: Wedding Finger-Foods on a Budget
(Images: Martha Stewart)
This Sicilian pistachio spread recipe is impossibly easy and amazing. Mostly, i just eat it on bread, but I've added it to tuna sandwiches or cheese sandwiches. Also, this smashed chickpea sandwich would be a nice change of pace. You can also make cucumber sandwiches, substituting radishes for the cucumbers, they're a bit spicy and nicely crunchy.
view lizaboo's profile
I was going to suggest looking at Martha Stewart, too! She has some wonderful ideas for tea sandwiches.
At my friends' baby shower, I did more Mediterranean-style tea sandwiches. One was pesto with thin slices of zucchini, another was goat cheese with crushed pistachios and watercress (I think this one was from Martha Stewart), and another was hummus with a slice of roasted red pepper and feta.
Good luck whatever you do--and congratulations on your wedding!
view sjbreeze's profile
Oh, man! I love this sort of question. Hmm, easy and crowd-pleasing?
I know it's a little old school, but I don't think anyone does these anymore, and they're incredibly delicious: butter, sliced radish, and watercress on white bread (no crusts, please!).
Roast beef with horseradish and arugula (a bit standard, but still very good).
Brie and a chunky walnut-mint pesto, with blueberry jam, or sliced pears.
Mini hot browns (open-faced turkey sandwiches with a simple Mornay sauce and bacon, broiled).
And no one but a strict vegan would turn down a BLT canapé: chop the bacon in a food processor, and top with a bit of lettuce and a slice of plum tomato. Garnish with a pretty flaky salt!
shameless plug: http://www.abreadaday.com/
view eprewitt's profile
Epicurious has many recipes for modern tea sandwiches. Here's a link to a search result for "tea sandwiches": http://www.epicurious.com/tools/searchresults?search=tea sandwiches
view heather77's profile
I love the sushi surprise idea. It's so simple but so pretty, and different.
view Bitchin' Kitchen's profile
Thank you, lizaboo! Will definitely be trying those recipes soon.
view EasilyAmused's profile
i imagine that traditional sandwich fillings rolled up in fajita-sized tortillas and then sliced into rounds and secured with a toothpick would be a fun twist.
view thinkingwoman's profile
I did my bridal shower as a tea party and the guests loved it. The first thing we did is decide on various types of breads for our sandwiches- I believe we had mini pumpernickel bread (made into sandwiches with a cheddar/chutney spread), whole wheat tortillas (cut into pinwheels after filling with ham, cream cheese, and apricot jam), sturdy crackers (topped with a roasted red pepper spread), mini croissants (filled with chicken salad - we like a version with grapes and walnuts, and made w/ yogurt instead of mayo), and then white bread cut into hearts (made into sandwiches w/ tzatziki and radishes - an updated version of the "classic" tea sandwich). We also served mini quiches for something hot.
This may be unfeasable depending on the size of your reception, but we also got a number of those three-tiered tea trays. Each table got their own, filled with sandwiches as well as scones for everybody. Afterwards there was cake for dessert.
Between me, my mom, and my MOH we were able to make everything in a 24 hr period. It was a lot of food, but both we and our guests had a great time.
view flurie's profile
Not sure how (un)traditional this is, but I loved the strawberry and cream cheese on no-crust rye bread tea sandwiches served at the double-bridal shower my co-workers gave for a colleague and I (we were getting married a week apart).
Sounds like an odd combo, but they were delicious and perfect for a languid, late summer day!
view Lorena in SD's profile
Well, let's not all for get my all-time, #1 most favorite tea sandwich ever: the pimiento cheese!
Another one that is a nice sandwich even in regular size is turkey, cream cheese, jalapeno jelly and some baby spinach or other greens or sprouts. Nice and light, but one I threw together the first time with some leftover (less than great) holiday turkey. Deli sliced or roasted are both good.
If you want to go with a chicken salad, it is very nice to add walnuts and grapes.
Since it's in may, something with asparagus might be nice.
You might also consider something with other spreads and toppings you like, such as hummus or tapenade.
view Kakugori's profile
Oh, also, not a sandwich but always popular are my great aunt's recipe for 'pinwheels'
Mix up a packet of ranch dressing mix with 2 blocks of cream cheese, a small jar of pimientos, a can of chopped black olives, and some green onion. Spread that mix on 4 large flour tortillas, wrap in plastic and let them rest in the fridge for at least a day. Then slice to about 1/2" thick, eat the less pretty end pieces :) and serve.
She also makes these things that are just a slice of ham spread with cream cheese and rolled up around a pickle (then sliced). Sounds quirky, but they're tasty.
view Kakugori's profile
I think a tea with tea sandwiches is a lovely idea! Tea sandwiches lend themselves to creative ideas -- they can be the most beautiful, elegant, delicious and jewel-like of presentations.
The best sandwiches I have ever had have all been in England -- or most recently, on a British Airways flight from London to North America -- so I would get inspiration there.
One of the keys is to have a variety of good bread that can be sliced thin (the idea is not to have a mouthful of dry bread) -- so it must have some body. The fillings should be of exceptional quality, given how small the bites are.
The BA flight I was on offered 2 sandwiches -- one was a mature sharp cheddar with pickle -- and I don't mean a dill pickle -- I mean a preserve. You could try England Preserve's Pear, Date and Ale Chutney with a mature artisanal English cheddar from a fine cheese shop:
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/travel/england-preserves-london-063245
Another idea is roast chicken with fresh spicy green cress.
Or how about cold rare roast beef, England Preserve's red Onion Marmalade and blue cheese butter (sweet cultured French butter combined whipped with a nice blue cheese)?
I also think miniature biscuits with country ham would be both beautiful and delicious (I swear I got the idea from Martha at some point).
Here is an online source for country ham:
http://www.countryhams.com/products.htm
Definitely make the Martha bridal shower open-face sandwiches above! Your guests will be wowed, and it will make your reception unforgettable!
Get a hold of the following books for more inspiration:
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Sandwiches/dp/0895867893/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238922772&sr=1-25
http://www.amazon.com/Tea-Party-Occasion-Fabulous-Gatherings/dp/0307346439/ref=pd_sim_b_1
http://www.amazon.com/London-Ritz-Book-Afternoon-Tea/dp/0877958238/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238922882&sr=1-30
http://www.amazon.com/Finger-Sandwiches-Party-Occasions-Tastefully/dp/1601382669/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238916096&sr=1-34
http://www.mariagefreres.com/
My very favourite tea, which all my guests comment on, is Spring Blend, from the Tea Emporium. It is ONLY available in spring -- so hurry and get some if you would like it! It is a light black tea, flowery and fruity, with rose petals and berries.
http://www.theteaemporium.com/customer/product.php?productid=841&cat=&page=1
Good luck!
And take a look at these incredibly beautiful "mahjong-like" finger sandwiches... so beautiful! (and delicious too, I am sure)
http://felixcheung.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F2D4EB3FBB29ED98!5682.entry
Also consider serving hot tea, as well as a tea punch. For ideas on tea -- and for tea! -- there is no better source than Mariage Frères. Their tea is the finest in the world, and you can find the perfect tea "parfum" for your reception
view mschatelaine's profile
oops! my post got out of order -- wasn't paying attention!
Here it is fixed:
And take a look at these incredibly beautiful "mahjong-like" finger sandwiches... so beautiful! (and delicious too, I am sure)
http://felixcheung.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!F2D4EB3FBB29ED98!5682.entry
Also consider serving hot tea, as well as a tea punch. For ideas on tea -- and for tea! -- there is no better source than Mariage Frères. Their tea is the finest in the world, and you can find the perfect tea "parfum" for your reception.
http://www.mariagefreres.com/
My very favourite tea, which all my guests comment on, is Spring Blend, from the Tea Emporium. It is ONLY available in spring -- so hurry and get some if you would like it! It is a light black tea, flowery and fruity, with rose petals and berries.
http://www.theteaemporium.com/customer/product.php?productid=841&cat=&page=1
Good luck!
view mschatelaine's profile
My favorite tea sandwich of all time is canned asparagus spears wrapped in bread with mayonnaise (and a little salt and pepper). They would make cute sushi rolls too!
view Hollie's profile
My mom often does a hot take on tea sandwiches by mixing up some hot roll mix and rolling it out into a large rectangle (kind of like making cinnamon rolls) filling it with cheese, seasoning, mustard, and ham (roast beef also works, I'm betting mushrooms would be a good base for a vegetarian version), then rolls it up and bakes it on a baking stone at 350 for 20-30 minutes. Slice it up kind of like the tortilla rolls above. Always a hit. It could be dressed up by mixing herbs (rosemary?) in with the dough and upgrading the fillings. Usually served hot, but equally good cold. Perhaps a more substantial addition to the menu.
view Leah Hope's profile
-goat cheese and fig jam
-i second the pimento cheese even though it's old fashioned. cabot white cheddar, diced roasted red peppers, just a tad of mayo, a tb. or two of grated onion, and lots of fresh black pepper
-and if you're willing to bake something kind of tea sandwich like: mix equal proportions blue cheese and cream cheese. spread on a piece of thin bread and place one asparagus spear, trimmed to size of bread slice on edge. Roll up the bread with cheese and asparagus inside. Brush roll with butter and then cut each into 4 or 5 rounds. Bake the little bites at 400 till golden on outside.
view lotusmoss's profile
cheddar and tomato or cheddar and chutney
Epi has a good recipe for Curried Turkey Salad. I sub dried cherries for the currants.
Country ham and biscuits
Another area to explore is Smorgsboard-style sandwiches
coronation chicken
prawn marie rose
Food and Wine has a wonderful recipe for a lima puree toped with pecorino, lemon, parsley, and cured black olives. It makes a terrific sandwich, especially when served with a bit of burrata or country ham
Is your family preparing the food themselves? Make sure to butter the bread well to help them hold and not dry out.
view JudiAU's profile