Tea Party from Old Town Scottsdale
Gone are the days when tea was considered merely as an old-fashioned pastime reserved for quiet afternoons at Grandma’s house. It’s making a comeback, and so is cooler weather in the Valley. Autumn is the perfect time of year to gather your friends and catch up over cozy cups of tea. Head to Old Town Scottsdale and you will find the fixings for a whole spread of finger foods without having to lift a finger. With a traditional English table setting and local, seasonal treats, it will be a tea party for the ages.
1 TEA: Prickly Pear Tea Leaves from TeaTime
Wander into this magical tea shop and you might think you’ve happened upon something akin to Ollivanders Wand Shop in the Harry Potter series. The wall of tea selections is expansive, offering up just about every variety you could imagine. Opt for a smattering of different teas for your party or stick to an in-season favorite, like the Prickly Pear Black Tea. Either way, your guests will be enchanted.
While you’re there: If you need to brush up on your tea knowledge before hosting your party, be sure to chat up the friendly TeaTime staff. They are in the know about a wide array of tea varieties, brewing techniques and teatime accessories, and they are happy to share their expertise.
7051 E. 5th Ave., Suite C
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
2 SWEETENERS & SNACKS: Honey and Assorted Dates from Sphinx Date Co. Palm & Pantry
Walking through the doors of this “farm to pantry” market is like stepping into a local food lover’s dream. Locally produced honeys, jams, crackers, wines and more abound in this inviting shop, in addition to the endless rows of Arizona nuts and dates. Be careful if you arrive peckish; you just may leave with several more pecks of goodies than you came for!
While you’re there: Take a peek at their assortment of pre-wrapped edible gifts, including their signature date trays. These would make an excellent party favor!
3039 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
3 SANDWICHES: Green Onion Cream Cheese and Cucumber on Sea Salt Bagels from New Wave Market
The menu at New Wave Market definitely does not just follow the tide. While these days fast-casual is often associated with chain restaurants and bulk-shipped ingredients, Sergio and Country Velador, the husband-wife duo behind New Wave, are determined to make scratch-made and responsibly sourced food the norm. The market is awash with artisanal products, and the café menu includes house-made bagels and ingredients from other local favorites such as Chula seafood. For our tea party, they were happy to pack the cucumbers, cream cheese and bagels separately so we could assemble them ourselves right before the party.
While you’re there: Pop into their sister bakery, Super Chunk, and try one of their to-die-for Mesquite Chocolate Chip Cookies, made with locally sourced flour and some serious Arizona pride. We could not resist also picking up one of their deliciously whimsical Arizona Sunset cakes.
4 SCONES & JAM: Strawberry Scones and Seasonal Berry Jam from Arcadia Farms Marketplace
Arcadia Farms has been fostering a community built around food in Scottsdale for nearly 30 years. Next door to their namesake restaurant (an Old Town brunch spot favorite), the Arcadia Farms Marketplace serves up salads and sandwiches to go, as well as a tempting assortment of sweet and savory pastries. The scrumptious cakey scones on offer daily pair perfectly with their house-made jams, which vary with the season.
While you’re there: The marketplace also has an impressive bookshelf chock-full of cookbooks for sale if you are in search of some extra culinary inspiration. Other products available in-shop include Teaspressa sugar cubes and Renee’s Gourmet creations.
7020 E. 1st Ave., Suite A
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
5 SWEET TREATS: Assorted Macarons from Růže Cake House
The shop’s visually stunning aesthetic is enough to lure you in, but the decadent baked treats will keep you coming back for more. This small but mighty bakery, run by a mother-daughter team, produces pastries that are truly beautiful inside and out, starting with local and sustainable ingredients. The eggs used to create your macarons may have even come from the chickens in their own backyard. It does not get more local than that.
While you’re there: Pick up a charming potted cactus or succulent for your table. Created by local artisans Sean and Jessica of Crooked Cactus, every pot is made by hand with true Arizona affection.
7033 E. Main St., #100
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
CHOCOLATES: Tea-Inspired Chocolates from XO Confections
6 The chocolate connoisseurs behind XO Confections have been in business here in the Valley for several years, but they just recently opened up their first retail storefront. True to form, their chocolate varieties are as decorative as they are delicious. With imaginative flavors and colorful artistic touches, you are sure to find the perfect chocolate for every occasion. We opted for the Earl Grey–infused “Lord Bergamot” chocolates, as well as their new Masala Chai variety.
While you’re there: In addition to their diverse selection of chocolates, the folks at XO Confections will tempt you further with their dessert case, stocked with creations from their in-house pastry chef. You can also grab house-made caramel sauce and bags of roasted whole cacao beans should you have your own sweet creation in mind.
**Note: The retail storefront in Scottsdale has changed owners and still sells XO Confections-- the location is called Sugar & Spro. The main production kitchen and storefront are located in Peoria.
4225 N. Marshall Way, Ste. 2
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Your Heirloom Table
Our Scottsdale-themed soirée would not have been complete without the magnificent table settings provided by Your Heirloom Table. This locally owned small business specializes in traditional teatime gatherings and provides everything from ornate china to delectable scratch-baked tea cakes. Your table will be teatime-ready with elegant linens, teacups and teapots, tiered cake stands and everything else you could possibly need for the perfect party. They assist with both setup and cleanup, leaving you to enjoy the festivities without all the fuss. Also ask them about their Tea Time gift boxes.
Reach them by phone or email to book your next Edible-approved event.
yourheirloomtable@gmail.com 480-206-4236 facebook.com/yourheirloomtable
Other Stops in the Neighborhood
7 FnB Restaurant: An Edible Phoenix all-time favorite for dinner, this tucked-away Scottsdale locale also hosts what they call “FnLinner” to satisfy your mid-afternoon food and wine cravings. Join them Tuesday to Sunday from 3 to 5pm for a sampling of “FnBites” from chef Charlene Badman and discounts on wines selected by co-owner and beverage director Pavle Milic.
7125 E. 5th Ave. #31, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
8 Vines & Hops: Boasting an impressive list of local beers, wines and ciders, this is an excellent stop if you are thinking ahead to your post-afternoon-tea activities. They offer growler fills and select cans to go.
4216 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9 Berdenas: Consider this coffee shop your little slice of impeccably tiled heaven in the heart of Scottsdale. Their menu is short and sweet with sumptuously smooth coffees as the star of the show.
7051 E. 5th Ave. Ste. I, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Old-Town Scottsdale “The West’s Most Western Town”
Many of the attributes that first inspired the settlement of Scottsdale in the 1880s are still its most beloved qualities today: scenic surroundings, an unbeatable climate and an undeniable desert charm. Named after its first land purchaser, U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott, Scottsdale has remained proud of its Sonoran roots and continues to pay homage to the Old West.
Originally an agricultural town, Scottsdale later became known as a ranching community, thus invoking its “West’s Most Western Town” slogan. Old Town Scottsdale in particular has embraced this title since the 1940s, when the slogan was coined to attract tourists and an Old West feel was encouraged. The City of Scottsdale weathered a challenge to the title by Cave Creek five years ago.
Originally just encompassing the oldest section of downtown Scottsdale east of Scottsdale Road, the term “Old Town” now refers to the entire downtown area, even as it houses more modern shops, restaurants, galleries and museums.
