The British Grocer~

I had a lovely afternoon last week celebrating a birthday with a scrapbooking friend. She and I went to lunch at the Tranquil Tea Lounge (more later on this experience!), then decided to walk off our calories with a quick trip to The British Grocer which was across the street. Located in Fullerton, California, The British Grocer is owned and operated by authentic Brits.

Tucked away in the Villa Del Sol shopping center, the charming store is located at 305 North Harbor Blvd., and can be reached by phoning (714) 738-0229. They carry food, snacks, and tea of course!

There are pickles and puddings and frozen food too!~

 When I asked if they had anything 'Dr. Who', the  saleswoman pointed out bags of Jelly Babies...tee hee...I had to make a quick phone call to my daughter to see if she wanted me to buy a package, since she is a 'Whovian'. lol~

There were dark jars of Vegemite and Marmite for teatime. Have you ever tried them? I'm told they are an acquired taste.

There were also boxes of loose and bagged tea. I like to joke among my fellow tea snobs that I am a 'loose woman' and not a 'bag lady'! Haha~ I spotted Barrys Tea, PG Tips, Yorkshire Tea and many other brands not easily found in the states.

They carry lots of pretty gift items, home decor, and novelty items like red phone box key chains.

If you are in need of tea cups, teapots or serving pieces they have an array displayed with lace and silver.

My friend picked up a few British newspapers and I bought some dark chocolate. 

They carry jars of refridgerated Devonshire Cream for scones. If you have never had Devon Cream with scones, run...don't walk, to the nearest British Grocer and get some!! A dollop of that rich cream and some raspberry jam on a warm scone is heaven!

Do you think they would let me take this home for my daughter? Oh well, she would probably like a TARDIS better anyway!

Hope you get a chance to have a relaxing cup of tea soon...even if it is over ice~

Date Day~

My husband and I decided to visit the charming area of Old Towne Orange, with it's central Plaza Park, which has been a gathering place for residents and visitors for more than a century. This area has the largest Registered Historic District in California. It is a popular location for film and tv production too. There are antique shops, art galleries, an Army Navy Store, boutiques & restaurants. We started off by going into Tea Leaf Cottage on Glassell.

Lots of linens, dishes, jewelry and home decor to be discovered here. I found a chair I liked and it had a pillow on it with the perfect sentiment!

I browsed through some ephemera and saw vintage 'Merit Cards' with students and teachers names on them. Next, we headed over to Jalapenos for Mexican food. This place was hopping at 12:30. We placed our order at the counter, then found a comfy booth to sit and enjoy our food, salsa and beverages. The clientele was a happy mix of businessmen, college students, and couples.

We headed up the block to the intersection of Glassell Street and Chapman Avenue; here is the 'Circle', around which motorists pass the central fountain dedicated in 1937. We walked over to the fountain and sat in the sun to people watch and enjoy the weather...it was gorgeous out!

Refreshed, we continued south on Glassell to Paris In A Cup. I defy you to walk past this shop! It is charming on the outside, but wait until you get inside!

Yes, you read right...the window says Tea Salon, Market, and Chocolates! There are toile covered tables with umbrellas out front, and a doormat at the entrance that says Bonjour. Let's go inside!

My sweet, accomodating husband gave me plenty of time to look around and asked if there was anything I wanted to buy. There was SO much to see, and I knew I would be heading home with some delicious tea as soon as I saw the selection.

The owner has small clear jars with removable lids so you can see and smell the tea before purchasing. I chose Harney and Son's new PARIS which is a fruity black tea with vanilla and caramel, and a hint of bergamont. They also carry Kousmichoff teas; I love drinking Kusmi Troika in the afternoon. If you have yet to try loose leaf tea you are missing out! There is something for everybody, and it is simple to prepare a good 'cuppa'. Don't settle for tea 'crumbs' in bags dunked in lukewarm water...blech! Full afternoon tea and lunch is served in the elegant Tea Room here. I plan to return with my daughter for a gracious teatime experience, but for now we were full. So, I spoke with the cashier and asked to take photos of their charming gift and home decor displays. There are adorable Eiffel Tower themed items, soaps, candles, books, and chocolates.

Loved the necklaces and pins! Reasonable prices and unique gifts~

Everything was displayed so nicely~

I loved the chic paper napkins with the Eiffel Tower on them. Wouldn't those be nice for a casual brunch where you serve Quiche Lorraine?

Imagine the aroma! Mmmm, chocolate! Considering I had been a good girl and walked 4 miles the day before with my friend Stephanie, I did not want to undo the good we had done. So, I admired the view but grabbed my husband's hand and headed back to the car. It was a fun day.