Monday 21 November 2022

Nutcracker Sweets

This week, the Northern Ballet are performing Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite at the Theatre Royal, Norwich - the ultimate Christmas ballet, I guess. Tickets are almost all gone [and at £50 a pop, I'm out]
Meanwhile, at the nearby Assembly House, they are serving a Nutcracker Afternoon tea. Adrian and Marion invited us there to celebrate his birthday last Wednesday. It was gorgeous.
A cleverly designed menu, with a good variety of sandwiches, and warm savouries, using local Norfolk produce [Like ham, turkey mustard etc] along with freshly baked warm scones and a tempting array of Nutcracker themed sweets- Clara's Cupcake, a Nutcracker Chocolate Soldier, A Gingerbread Man from the land of sweets...
We sat in the Dining Room - beautifully decorated ready for Christmas, with lights, foliage, baubles, and the ubiquitous large wooden nutcrackers.
Afterwards we stood in front of the large Christmas tree and an enthusiastic and helpful waiter took a family picture
A great afternoon, and when we left, it was dark and the lights were twinkling beautifully. Some people were having their tea in the glass 'igloos' outside. Across the road, workmen were setting up the Norwich 'Tunnel of Light' ready for the 'Christmas Switch On'
As a schoolgirl, I went regularly to the Assembly House, for the Norfolk Festival of Spoken English. I took part in competitions for choral speaking, and also reading my own poems. My Mum kept the certificates [and my poetry] but I have no idea where they are now - and I really cannot remember them. Which is probably a blessing all round. Marion has sung in concerts there since then. 
But now the Assembly House, whilst still a venue for special events, also has bedrooms, the restaurant, and the Richard Hughes Cookery School. A lovely place to celebrate a significant birthday. Thanks Adrian, for a wonderful afternoon- a memory to treasure.









12 comments:

  1. Your afternoon tea sounds delicious and those glass igloos look pretty - hope they have some heating

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They appeared to have electric fan heaters inside. The diners we saw seemed comfortable, and were not all wrapped up in coats and scarves!

      Delete
  2. Doesn't that look lovely!!! What was the Christmas tree glass?? Was that pic on the right for all 4 of you or for 2? I wondered as I see only 2 Christmas trees and wondered if you all got one? The sandwiches look gooood!!! What were the hot savouries?? I love it when you get more savouries! Were there scones? My least favourite part of A.T! Kezzie x x

    ReplyDelete
  3. The little food picture is from the website - my photo of the food stand didn't come out! Yes there were 4 sets of everything on our larger stand. We each had 4 sandwiches, 4 warm savouries, 2 scones and 4 cakes. The savouries were: sausage roll, mini cheese toasty, parmesan shortbread, and "turkey dinner" in a soft bread roll. The scones were brought warm to the table when we were ready - one cheese one fruit and T - plus butter, jam, clotted cream. Bob generously swapped his fruity one for my cheesey. It was Very Filling. Adrian and I drank Afternoon Tea blend (Ceylon/Assam) Bob had Lapsang Souchong, and Marion had Prosecco. I am really not used to such a luxurious spread - all very special.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a lovely special day with family in splendid surroundings. I’m not a great cake eater so the warm savouries really appealed to me more. The photo of you all taken by the waiter is such a special keepsake. Catriona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Yes I appreciated the fact that there was a generous variety of savouries. And so good to have the family photo

      Delete
  5. Your Nutcracker themed afternoon tea sounds delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  6. That sounds an amazing afternoon tea. It's wonderful to see the start of all the festive twinkling and decorations isn't it.

    We went to see The Nutcracker, screened via a live link to Convent Gardens at Cineworld a couple of years running when we lived in Wales it was magical, and much cheaper than seeing an actual live performance. I think it was £18 a ticket each time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That sounds great (and on the Big Screen you'd probably see more of the ballet than in a seat at the theatre)

      Delete
  7. What a lovely family photo and a great way to celebrate a birthday!

    ReplyDelete

Always glad to hear from you - thanks for stopping by!
I am blocking anonymous comments now, due to excessive spam!