Tea and Goodies at Rose Tree Cottage

He wears a tuxedo, and white gloves. She wears a frilly apron and a little white lace cap on her cutting-edge-short hair. No, it isn't what you think. This isn't 'Upstairs, Downstairs' or an x-rated fantasy. Edmund and Mary Fry own Rose Tree Cottage, the most authentic British tea room in California (probably beats most of the ones in Britain as well...)

Located in a bungalow in Pasadena, Rose Tree looks from the outside like a from the countryside in Europe, hardly a tea room in Los Angeles. But Pasadena is the perfect location for Rose Tree Cottage; like an oasis of the European in the midst of Bling-Bling land, Pasadena is a beautiful place whose claim to fame is hosting the Rose Parade on New Year's Day.

Early in the 20^th century, a man with a family vision built a complex of bungalows to house his children and grandchildren. Now Rose Tree Cottage occupies two buildings at the rear of the property, and has its' own English Garden to the side and back.

Edmund is so British he would have to be played by John Cleese. Mary is originally from Oklahoma, but there isn't a more ardent Anglophile in California...not even me! Before opening Rose Tree Cottage fifteen years ago, Mary traveled around England on a tea-room tour - a tour of study and research that occupied several years.

Upon entering the cottage, my first thought was that we were in a dwelling belonging to a Miss Marple clone; a spinster who had been collecting things all her life, and run out of space for all of them. But all the items in the parlor - from the useful to the amusing to the bizarre, are for sale. Christmas crackers with, instead of cheap toys inside, useful office, kitchen or travel items. Edmund told us he could order crackers with anything we wanted inside...even precious gems.

Teapots, tea infusers, tea services...everything you ever wanted or thought about for drinking tea can be purchased at Rose Tree Cottage. In the kitchen of the cottage are teas and foods for sale - we bought some Violet Creams (covered in dark chocolate)and a Sugar Pig (I hadn't seen one since living in England myself. The Pig is served at Yule and New Year's parties; after dinner the pig is hit with a bronze hammer and guests eat a piece for good luck).

We also bought the Rose Tree Cottage tea blend and a special Christmas Blend. Both are delightful; the Christmas Blend is particularly delicious, with spices redolent of steamed puddings and gingerbread, and tiny bits of orange and lemon peel.

Edmund took us on a tour of the cottage, which was originally two tiny duplexes. There are three rooms and a patio where tea is served, all of them small by today's standards, which enforces the idea of being in a country cottage. From the main tea room I bought a tiny leather-bound address book that included something I'd never seen before - sticky-backed replacement segments for when someone moves and has a change of address.

Because the cottage is an old bungalow, there are several tea rooms that lead into one another. In the second tea room we found an entire selection of mens' toiletries from England; I bought a box of sandalwood-scented soap and Sandra bought a bowl of old-fashioned, lime-scented shaving soap for a friend of ours who turned 80 this year.

The tea ceremony itself is a work of art; Edmund serves the food and Mary the tea; we chose the house blend, which is delicious and suited to all kinds of food. The first course included the ubiquitous tea sandwiches, something we would eat every day if we could get the assortment available at tea shops. We have included the recipe for one unusual sandwich filling created by Edmund and Mary.

The second course is traditionally scones, but at Rose Tree there is an additional course - miniature Yorkshire puddings with slivered roast beef in mild horseradish sauce. Unusual? Definitely. Delicious? Oh, yeah...

The scones were wonderful, and warm, traditional high-tea style with currants. The sweet course was another surprise; individual servings of 'Sticky Toffee Pudding', a traditional English nursery desert made with dates. It tastes as good as it sounds, decadent and yet strictly comfort food.

By this time you'll be full, no doubt about that. We adjourned to the garden and took photographs for this book, and Edmund talked to us about the celebrities who have passed through Rose Tree Cottage. From film stars to royalty, Edmund and Mary have served and delighted them, and they frequently host events for The British Consulate. Their little corner of Britain in La La Land has become a haven for Anglophiles and tea lovers, and famous in its' own way.