Kat Wagner
Last December, Lindsay Bessick hosted her very first tea party. As a dozen women chatted over tea and cucumber sandwiches shaped like Christmas trees, Bessick was struck by the “genuine connection” she saw unfolding. “It was such a moving experience,” she says.
Within a few months, she launched her own business, Lady Forward Tea Celebrations. Lady Forward — a nod to the bronze statue that stands on the Capitol Square at the top of State Street — is a tea catering service specializing in afternoon teas.
For those unfamiliar with the notion of afternoon tea, it’s a British invention. Think of it as a small meal usually including sandwiches, scones, sweets and, of course, piping-hot tea, served with milk and sugar.
Lady Forward takes a “decidedly loose interpretation” of the British tradition, giving clients endless options to create an experience that fits their tastes. So, even if you loathe scones and detest Earl Grey tea, Bessick will help find food and tea choices, including herbal and green tea options, that are just right. “I don’t want people to be intimidated by the experience,” Bessick says. “I want them to be themselves.”
Whatever you fancy, Lady Forward brings it all to you: perfectly prepared tea in gorgeous china, and homemade treats both sweet and savory. Some menu items are takes on teatime standards: Door County cherry scones with fresh lemon curd and Devonshire cream, and cucumber-boursin sandwiches so pretty you’ll want to take a picture. Less traditional treats have included Bloody Mary salad bites, mini corn dogs (for a kids’ event), and a bite-sized take on eggs benedict. One all-time favorite is a chocolate ganache tart that Bessick calls “the best brownie with the best frosting you’ve ever had.” She makes all goodies by herself from scratch.
Teas come from several vendors, including Colectivo’s Letterbox Tea series. Bessick’s face lights up as she describes one of her Letterbox favorites, Gala, made with hibiscus: “It looks like garnets.” For a more traditional black tea, there’s Heavenly Cream, a long-leaf Ceylon with bergamot and vanilla made by Sloane Fine Tea Merchants. “It smells creamy; it’s so alluring,” Bessick says. Twinings’ Lady Grey is another favorite, with its “flashes of periwinkle.”
In addition to catering services, Lady Forward also holds pop-up teas around town. These are often themed events — a Halloween tea in Argus’ basement or a brunch-themed tea at Revel on Hamilton Street, for instance — and open to the public. Events are listed on Lady Forward’s website, ladyforward.com.
Ultimately, Bessick’s work is about much more than tea and snacks. “It doesn’t matter what I serve; it’s the celebration that is the essence of Lady Forward,” she says. “Our world is so weary, and for most of us, the connections to friends and family are the most valuable spots in our days.
“Taking the time to be really present in these special moments is one small thing that Lady Forward can encourage.”
