What are Traditional Tea Sandwiches?

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Aug 30th, '05, 22:49
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Location: Aurora, IL
Contact: Savannah's

What are Traditional Tea Sandwiches?

by Savannah's » Aug 30th, '05, 22:49

Hi all! I just read a review of our Tea Room, wherein the reviewer accused us of not serving "traditional" tea sandwiches. Here are the sandwiches we offer:

*English Cucumber w/ dill cream cheese & lemon zest
*Curried Egg Salad with parsley
*Poached Chicken Breast mixed with celery, pecans, spices & mayo
*Diced Ham mixed with crushed pineapple, spices & mayo
*Tomato, Basil Pesto & Smoked Provolone on toasted Italian Bread
*English Aged Cheddar finely grated, blended with roasted red pepper & a touch of spice
*Roast Beef Julienne with diced Asparagus & Horseradish mayo

To quote the reviewer, "The sanwiches are not traditional tea sandwiches."

Well, after having been to just about every tea room in both the U.S. of A., as well as several overseas, we'd kinda thought that the above *were* pretty traditional savory tea sandwiches. This is further borne out by visiting several Tea Map tea rooms' websites, who, when they list specifically what kind of sandwiches they serve with Afternoon Tea, have similar if not identical sandwiches.

Which brings me to the Question: What are the "Traditional" Tea Sandwiches? If not the above, then what list would *you* make, allowing for minor creative variations. Generic sandwich types are just fine for the purposes of this impromptu survey...

Respondez?

David Davenport
Savannah's Restaurant
Aurora, IL

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Aug 31st, '05, 02:07
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by Marlene » Aug 31st, '05, 02:07

They sound good to me! It seems that someone was being spitefully picky. There are people like that out there, unfortunetly. In Civil War Re-Enactment we call them stitch counters or thread counters (as in "the thread count of your fabric is too dense! there is no way that's authentic) My response to both people is WHO CARES? It's a pitty someone is holding your lack of "traditional" sandwitches (they seem traditional enough to me, it's not like you're serving hamburgurs and fries) against you. If it tastes good, who cares anyway?
Best of luck to you! Sorry about the troll.
Marlene
Never trust a man who, when left alone in a room with a tea cozy, dosn't try it on.
-Billy Connolly

Aug 31st, '05, 09:35
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by jzero » Aug 31st, '05, 09:35

I cannot proclaim to be an expert, but they seem to be similar enough to tea sandwiches I've seen in the teahouses out here in Phillyland, with some added innovations (I prefer it when people offer their own interpretation of old standbys, so that's a good thing). That tomato and pesto sandwich sounds great, as a matter of fact.

Unfortunately, you can't please everyone :)
They Call Me Jzero

Aug 31st, '05, 14:44
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by Tracy » Aug 31st, '05, 14:44

I agree with Marlene; if they're good and fresh, and they go well with the teas you serve, who cares? Sadly, there are always going to be people out there you cannot please... :?
Tea...is a religion of the art of life. ~Okakura

Aug 31st, '05, 18:28

by Tealover05 » Aug 31st, '05, 18:28

Perhaps by "traditional" she was talking about the portion size-which you also state is not dainty. The sandwiches you offer are obviously trraditional. I am also somebody who prefers a "dainty" tea sandwich when having full tea. If I wanted a bigger sandwich I would order that. Everybody is different and we all have our opinions. It sounds as though your room is doing well, so I wouldn't worry about one bad review. The purpose of this site it to state opinions of different tea rooms and the poster was within her rights to state that she found the sandwich to be "gross"-although maybe worded a bit strongly. Overall is sounds as though she enjoys your room and visits often, so it can't be too bad!

Sep 1st, '05, 14:15

by zephyr » Sep 1st, '05, 14:15

I'm confused at why you're getting so defensive. The whole point of these sites are to post our personal opinions. Why does it matter so much to you that one woman didn't like her sandwich? If I was on here reading reviews of your place, I wouldn't let what she said determine whether or not I visited your shop. I'd be more likely not to go because of your reaction to it. I think overall she really likes your place, she said she's been several times, enjoys most of the food, loves the tea. She simply didn't like the taste of a sandwich and thought her scone was hard. I agree with the about poster as far as the meaning of what Jodie meant by "traditional". I also agree with Jodie as far as what a traditional tea sandwich is. "Dainty" is the perfect word for what a tea sandwich should be. You yourself admit that your sandwiches are not this way which leads me to believe that your sandwiches are not "traditional". I honestly don't think she was saying the ingredients that made up the sandwich were non traditional, she just didn't like the taste of it. She said she's go to your restaurant for dinner or for tea, just not for full tea. I notice that you, at some point, changed the name of your shop. You don't even call it a tea room now. That means it's a restaurant first. If I wanted full tea I wouldn't go to a restaurant. I don't know of any tearooms that have Cajun buffets and the like. That's not to say your place is bad or wrong, simply not a "traditional" tearoom. If you wanted Savannah's to be known as a tearoom, why did you change that name? I think you're becoming defensive for no reason and only making yourself look ridiculous.
I'm sure if you had a taste testing party of your sandwiches you would find that not everybody likes everything you serve. That's just life. People who come on the site to read reviews are intelligent enough to know that. Her post was never going to slow down business for you. And I seriously doubt it was meant out of spite, as one person said, the woman gave you several compliments.
Good luck. Sounds like Savannah's is doing well. Don't be so defensive.

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Dec 20th, '05, 12:54
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by Alexis » Dec 20th, '05, 12:54

It doesn't sound to me like he was being defensive at all. He was just wondering if his sandwiches were traditional or not.
"The Church says that the Earth is flat, but I know that it is round. For I have seen the shadow on the moon and I have more faith in the Shadow than in the Church."
-Ferdinand Magellan

Jan 23rd, '06, 21:13

Traditional Tea Sandwiches

by Jasmine » Jan 23rd, '06, 21:13

Hello,

I think your guest does not know the meaning of the word" traditonal". She should refer to the dictionary. She might have used the wrong word also but does not really meant it.

You are doing a great job. We've been to Savannah but missed your tearoom.

Good Luck!

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Jan 23rd, '06, 21:25
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by AlTeavious » Jan 23rd, '06, 21:25

The only thing I can think of as a traditional sandwich would be cucumber soaked in vinegar. We don't even eat that in Britain anymore, the normal sort of fair would be cheese, roast beef and mustard, salmon and mayonaise, ham salad or corned beef. i had a nice brie and grape once... I think the general idea is that the sandwichs should be light and refreshing. All the sandwichs you listed sound lovely, but potentially spicy; maybe they were looking for something bland?

Feb 3rd, '06, 14:27
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Location: Lovely Louisiana - Hurrican Central

by mortigo » Feb 3rd, '06, 14:27

oooohhhhh these sound really good. and a great variety. i would definately keep all those on the menu. want to come try them if in savannah anytime soon. i think maybe it is the 'dainty' part she may have been criticising. but read one lady somewhere who said sandwiches at one of the tea rooms were too small. it's not supposed to be a meal, people, it's a 'keep me going until dinner' thing. cannot please everyone.

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Feb 3rd, '06, 14:54
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by Tadiera » Feb 3rd, '06, 14:54

By the way, having been to Savannah's, I think the sandwhiches are perfect and wouldn't change a thing. :)

I can't wait until the next time I'm in Chicago and can drag my friend there again.
On the subject of ordering Papa John's online:
Mike B - It's like ordering porn -- only tastier.

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Feb 21st, '06, 22:17
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by yresim » Feb 21st, '06, 22:17

David,

Traditional tea sandwiches are dainty.

You are, of course, well within your rights to increase the portion size. In fact, most customers would probably be pleased by this, since most Americans are more interested in filling up than they are in paying for traditional portions that are meant as a tide-me-over.

However, you shouldn't be suprised when someone says your sandwiches aren't traditional and/or that you aren't the best spot for traditional tea service.

Personally, I think I would say the same thing if I ordered a tea sandwich and got something back that wasn't dainty. That's not to say I wouldn't go there. Just that I wouldn't go there for traditional tea (instead, I'd go when I wanted a full meal with my tea).

And, if you reacted like that to my review (insulting me by suggesting that my opinion on the flavor of something was wrong, or that I hadn't even tried it), I would just stop going altogether. That kind of sarcastic ridicule isn't going to win you any customers.

If you can edit your reply on TeaMap, I would suggest doing so to remove things like "these are about as 'traditional' as you can get" and "If she refers to the mere concept of a Roast Beef & Asparagus sandwich as being 'gross', well, that's more of a personal preference." Just stick to something like, you have traditionally-made sandwiches in larger sizes, that you are sorry she had a bad experience, that the roast beef is one of your best sellers, and that you would welcome any suggestions she might have to make her experience more pleasant.

Just my 2 cents.

~Yresim~

P.S. I tried to look at your web site, but it appears to be down at the moment. If you haven't done so already, I would suggest posting your menu to your web site, along with pictures showing the size of your sandwiches. This will help manage customer expectations. And, of course, be sure to provide links to any good reviews you have received (like [url=ttp://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/ ... oom_s1.htm]http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews...[/url]).
"I know! We could go to the Bronze, sneak in our own tea bags, and ask for hot water."
- Willow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Reptile Boy, Season 2)

Favorite teas: earl grey, assam, white

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