BENGALURU: Lawyer Shwetambari Rao recently caught up with her school friends. Eight of them came for a high tea. Goblets of white wine with pink candy floss garnish were served on a table that had jam sets from London, customised cupcakes, scones and lemon bars on a tiered cake stand; all this, to go with exotic blueberry and pomegranate teas in English teapots. The 39-year-old host said she even read up tutorials on table-setting for the get-together.
The simple evening chai with biscuits and sandwiches is giving way to high tea in many Bengaluru homes, perhaps because of the pretty images fit for social media that a colonial-themed chota-hazri offers.
Chef Veda Abraham, 31, recently attended a Great Gatsby-themed bachelorette high tea and a Halloween-themed one for young mothers. “High tea makes an Instagram-worthy party. The dessert and savoury miniatures like pumpkin-designed cake pops and mini beetroot crepes in shocking pink make for a better image than a bowl of pasta,” she said.
Bakers are catering to this trend with miniature desserts and savories. Shisham Hinduja of Happy Belly Bakes introduced a dedicated menu with bite-sized apple pies, lemon meringue and spinach crepe after receiving weekly bookings for catering to high tea. “High tea has become popular due to calorie-consciousness in Bengaluru. Mini food gives people variety and makes an interesting table. Most hosts are women who organise it over poker or children’s playdates,” says Hinduja.
Afshan Rubb Oskam of The Petite Bakery has curated high tea menu with frozen scones, grapefruit olive oil tea cake, lemon, almond and date bars. “Millennials are experimenting with entertaining people at home. Traditional homemade snacks have been replaced by customised mini snacks and desserts on pretty cutlery, usually from bakers,” she says.
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Kanchan Achpal, chief marketing officer of Bliss Chocolates, notes that high tea is replacing the popular kitty party with interesting menus comprising homemade lavender or blackberry jams, macarones and lavash. “Women are travelling extensively these days and want to replicate stylish western offerings and offbeat culture back home and post it on social media,” said Achpal. Quite a few corporates are holding high tea to celebrate occasions such as an employee’s milestone or achievement.”
Home Décor Hacks: How To Make The Most Of Your Small Space
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If you are living in a small home or are planning to shift to a studio apartment, make the most out of the space by choosing the right colour schemes, décor and furniture.
Surabhi Mittal, founder, RevivedbySurabhi, and Purba Kalita, co-founder, SaleBhai.com, have some easy hacks to keep clutter at bay while jazzing up your house.
If you are living in a small home or are planning to shift to a studio apartment, make the most out of the space by choosing the right colour schemes, décor and furniture.
Surabhi Mittal, founder, R..
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It can be anywhere - the living room, the bedroom, or even the terrace balcony.
Just choose a bright corner of any part of the house. Add a colourful cotton rug, throw some pillows, a lamp (go for something unique, such as marble), a handful of tabletops, and a bright painting on the wall to tie it all together.
It can be anywhere - the living room, the bedroom, or even the terrace balcony.
Just choose a bright corner of any part of the house. Add a colourful cotton rug, throw some pillows, a lamp (go for s..
Read More
While choosing furniture, go for multi-functional ones. That's the best you can do to make the most of your small space.
For instance, look for a storage ottoman that can be replaced as a coffee table or opt for a foldable dining table.
Do not pick bulky furniture that may make your rooms look cramped and cluttered.
Choose furnishings of the right size and the ones that lighten up the space.
While choosing furniture, go for multi-functional ones. That's the best you can do to make the most of your small space.
For instance, look for a storage ottoman that can be replaced as a coffee tab..
Read More
When it comes to home décor, it makes sense to start from the bottom. Stark, bare floorings can be given a new life with the perfect carpet.
Depending on your taste -- the flamboyant Rajasthani, the eclectic Indo-Tibetan, or the luxurious silk -- there are varieties of coverings to choose from.
When it comes to home décor, it makes sense to start from the bottom. Stark, bare floorings can be given a new life with the perfect carpet.
Depending on your taste -- the flamboyant Rajasthani, the..
Read More
Are you too keen to adorn those empty walls of your room with paintings or other personalised designs? Well, the idea should be to create an illusion of something bigger in a small area.
You can choose a piece of art that also creates a division to your apartment or for a particular corner or a wall.
Instead of hanging three to four small frames on a wall, exaggerate the photo prints to give more depth to your wall.
Are you too keen to adorn those empty walls of your room with paintings or other personalised designs? Well, the idea should be to create an illusion of something bigger in a small area.
You can cho..
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In a small apartment, visible storages such as cabinets, baskets and boxes may make your space look cluttered. The ideal solution would be to opt for hidden storages.
The key is making use of all the empty spaces such as the crawl space underneath the stairs, empty space under the bed or even the gaps beneath the floor boards.
(With inputs from IANS)
In a small apartment, visible storages such as cabinets, baskets and boxes may make your space look cluttered. The ideal solution would be to opt for hidden storages.
The key is making use of all th..
