[Boomer]

We recently returned from a visit to TV where we ate out way too often. But calories do not count when you are not at home...right?

One of the places I really liked is The Tea Plantation, located at LSL. Not a chain restaurant. The Tea Plantation is a place with somebody in the kitchen actually cooking. Wonderful soups and quiche and certainly a far more varied menu than you might expect from a place with the word ‘tea’ in its name.

The first time I went there, it was as a lady who lunches, and it was so good that I dragged Mr. Boomer with me for the next visit. Actually two more. The second time, he did not have to be dragged.

I think the word ‘tea’ maybe scared Mr. B. the first time because Mr. B. is serious about his food. I think he was worried that he might be forced to eat finger sandwiches and would surely starve. But that was not the case, at all. Mr. Boomer was as happy as could be with a huge plate of bangers and mash. The sausage was wonderful. (I tasted it, even though I was having the quiche of the day.) And I think the mashed potatoes may have actually been real ones. The kind of potatoes that tasted like they had entered the kitchen with their peelings still intact. You remember real mashed potatoes, don’t you? I am pretty sure these were the real thing. Bangers and mash, served with peas. Mr. Boomer was a happy man.

And then there was dessert. A dessert that I refused to share. Queen Pudding. Wonderful, wonderful lemon stuff. Just tart enough. Absolutely perfect. Not like those cloyingly sweet concoctions that too many restaurants serve. Queen Pudding was made with a delicate touch. No heavy-handed sugaring. Just the right amount of sweet to balance the lemon.

And the hostess told us that they are having entertainment now on some nights, but we did not get there for that. (Oh, and btw, possibly the cleanest restroom in town. Everybody gets their own freshly laundered little hand towel – at least in the ladies’ room.)

So guys, don’t pay any attention to the purses and hats and flowers in the corner. And just pretend that you do not see when the woman who is with you picks up the cup and looks at the bottom to see if the china is from England. (It is.) And have yourself a wonderful lunch or dinner at the Tea Plantation which is definitely not just for ladies who lunch.

Boomer

[barb1191]

Originally Posted by Boomer

We recently returned from a visit to TV where we ate out way too often. But calories do not count when you are not at home….right?

One of the places I really liked is The Tea Plantation, located at LSL. Not a chain restaurant. The Tea Plantation is a place with somebody in the kitchen actually cooking. Wonderful soups and quiche and certainly a far more varied menu than you might expect from a place with the word ‘tea’ in its name.

The first time I went there, it was as a lady who lunches, and it was so good that I dragged Mr. Boomer with me for the next visit. Actually two more. And the second time, he did not have to be dragged.

I think the word ‘tea’ maybe scared Mr. B. the first time because Mr. B. is serious about his food. I think he was worried that he might be forced to eat finger sandwiches and would surely starve. But that was not the case, at all. Mr. Boomer was as happy as could be with a huge plate of bangers and mash. The sausage was wonderful. (I tasted it, even though I was having the quiche of the day.) And I think the mashed potatoes may have actually been real ones. The kind of potatoes that tasted like they had entered the kitchen with their peelings still intact. You remember real mashed potatoes, don’t you? I am pretty sure these were the real thing. Bangers and mash, served with peas. Mr. Boomer was a happy man.

And then there was dessert. A dessert that I refused to share. Queen Pudding. Wonderful, wonderful lemon stuff. Just tart enough. Absolutely perfect. Not like those cloyingly sweet concoctions that too many restaurants serve. Queen Pudding was made with a delicate touch. No heavy-handed sugaring. Just the right amount of sweet to balance the lemon.

And the hostess told us that they are having entertainment now on some nights, but we did not get there for that. (Oh, and btw, possibly the cleanest restroom in town. Everybody gets their own freshly laundered little hand towel – at least in the ladies’ room.)

So guys, don’t pay any attention to the purses and hats and flowers in the corner. And just pretend that you do not see when the woman who is with you picks up the cup and looks at the bottom to see if the china is from England. (It is.) And have yourself a wonderful lunch or dinner at the Tea Plantation which is definitely not just for ladies who lunch.

Boomer

Sounds great Boomer. Bangers? ohhhhhhhh one of my favs; love 'em and they are so difficult to find here in the US of A. Was just telling hub Bill that we must try this restaurant. Bill does all the cooking and likes a break once in awhile (in fact, quite often) from slaving over the hot stove. <grin> Anyway, thanks for the tip and so sorry that we missed your visit here in TV. .....barb

[spk7951]

Boomer glad you got to try this hidden gem during your visit. We have eaten there many times and have never had a bad meal. Have even stopped in just to have a fresh home made desert. Service is always excellent. The Friday night entertainment is one of our favorites in TV. Recently they announced a Murder Mystery dinner and it sold out so quickly that they arranged with the actors to do another show next Saturday night, which also quickly sold out.

[dfn8tly]

Oh, Boomer;

I don't know whether to applaud your comments or chastise you for giving away one of the little treasures this particular male foody enjoys here in The Villages. I've had the pleasure of dining at The Tea Plantation several times. The service and quality of the food has always been excellent. It's quiet and very pleasant for a late lunch, or early tea if you prefer.

Now I'll have to share it. Oh well, I know TOTVers will be happier for the experience.

[OpusX1]

Just had a great dinner tonight at The Tea Plantation. Thought we would go to another place but the waite was 2 hours. I remembered this review and we went there. It was great. Do try it.

[784caroline]

Went to dinner at the Plantation Tea Room last friday night, and the dinner(s) served were a mixed result. As far as main dinner entrees, The Crab cakes were very good, but the roast beef was tough and the crusted baked salmon was so so at best. When the tough Roast beef was brought to the managers attention, they did very graciously offer any other fare on the menu as a replacement but since the other diners were already eating, she (the diner) said no. The Manager, after further consulting with the chef, then agreed and refunded the cost of the order. All were pleased with the outcome! Others at our table had "English" fare which is a staple at this resturant.

The Bright spot about Friday night was the Entertainment. "PETRINA" was just outstanding and she is not only a singer but truly an entertainer. When it came time for a break, she had 2 other singers that offered a different type of music and it was a pleasent treat.

Another good feature about this resturant is that you were never rushed out and once you finished dinner you could stay and simply enjoy conversation or listen to the entertainment.

[KathieI]

Had dinner at the Tea Plantation Friday night.

The entertainer was Dawn Dinome, probably one of the best, most professional entertainers in the villages. She put on a very fun show and her show tunes are performed with all the enthusiasm and excellence of a Broadway entertainer.

In my opinion, this restaurant is a class act. The food is sensational, the service is excellent, the atmosphere is very charming and the management is extremely gracious and professional. We were with a large party and there was some mix up with the meals, but the management, without our asking, offered us free meals because of the mix up. I, personally, felt so badly because the food was so good, that I payed for mine anyway but complemented the owner for being so concerned for our satisfaction.

I highly recommend this restaurant as a special place to go for a special event or for just a fun night out. It is not just for ladies to lunch out.

[nONIE]

Hey Kathie, so glad you made it to the Tea Plantation. The entertainment is superb! so I must ask ya, did you dance????

Tea Plantation does have a dance floor which really was well used the night we were there!

[sschuler1]

The owners of the Tea Plantation are really sweet people, and if you hadn't already guessed it, they are from England. Which is why the recipes for the "English" fare are so authentic.

784caroline - If you saw Petrina perform on March 5th, I was one of the guest singers that night.

KathieI- I will be doing a guest sing with Dawn Dinome on April 23rd at the Tea Plantation, and I will have my own show on April 30th. I don't know who will do a guest spot yet during my show.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by sschuler1

The owners of the Tea Plantation are really sweet people, and if you hadn't already guessed it, they are from England. Which is why the recipes for the "English" fare are so authentic.

784caroline - If you saw Petrina perform on March 5th, I was one of the guest singers that night.

KathieI- I will be doing a guest sing with Dawn Dinome on April 23rd at the Tea Plantation, and I will have my own show on April 30th. I don't know who will do a guest spot yet during my show.

Hey Sue,

I bumped this old thread to check in to see if you are all ready for 4/30. You can bet that if I were in TV right now, I would already have a reservation for a front row seat. I am looking forward to hearing you sing someday.

Anyway, Sue, I know you will be wonderful. (I was going to say, "Break a leg," but then I decided that I do not know if it is OK to say that to singers or if it is just for theater stuff and so I thought I had better not say, "Break a leg," just in case.....but if it is OK for me to say, "Break a leg," well, "Break a leg." But if not, just pretend I did not say that part.)

Boomer

[jaspal]

Originally Posted by Boomer

We recently returned from a visit to TV where we ate out way too often. But calories do not count when you are not at home...right?

One of the places I really liked is The Tea Plantation, located at LSL. Not a chain restaurant. The Tea Plantation is a place with somebody in the kitchen actually cooking. Wonderful soups and quiche and certainly a far more varied menu than you might expect from a place with the word ‘tea’ in its name.

The first time I went there, it was as a lady who lunches, and it was so good that I dragged Mr. Boomer with me for the next visit. Actually two more. The second time, he did not have to be dragged.

I think the word ‘tea’ maybe scared Mr. B. the first time because Mr. B. is serious about his food. I think he was worried that he might be forced to eat finger sandwiches and would surely starve. But that was not the case, at all. Mr. Boomer was as happy as could be with a huge plate of bangers and mash. The sausage was wonderful. (I tasted it, even though I was having the quiche of the day.) And I think the mashed potatoes may have actually been real ones. The kind of potatoes that tasted like they had entered the kitchen with their peelings still intact. You remember real mashed potatoes, don’t you? I am pretty sure these were the real thing. Bangers and mash, served with peas. Mr. Boomer was a happy man.

And then there was dessert. A dessert that I refused to share. Queen Pudding. Wonderful, wonderful lemon stuff. Just tart enough. Absolutely perfect. Not like those cloyingly sweet concoctions that too many restaurants serve. Queen Pudding was made with a delicate touch. No heavy-handed sugaring. Just the right amount of sweet to balance the lemon.

And the hostess told us that they are having entertainment now on some nights, but we did not get there for that. (Oh, and btw, possibly the cleanest restroom in town. Everybody gets their own freshly laundered little hand towel – at least in the ladies’ room.)

So guys, don’t pay any attention to the purses and hats and flowers in the corner. And just pretend that you do not see when the woman who is with you picks up the cup and looks at the bottom to see if the china is from England. (It is.) And have yourself a wonderful lunch or dinner at the Tea Plantation which is definitely not just for ladies who lunch.

Boomer

Boomer,

Where exactly is this restaurant located. I'm coming to TV in one month & would love to try this Restaurant.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by jaspal

Boomer,

Where exactly is this restaurant located. I'm coming to TV in one month & would love to try this Restaurant.

Lake Sumter Landing

[sschuler1]

Hey Boomer - I am almost ready. I think I have enough songs memorized to fill the three hours now, but I panicked yesterday and decided to make myself some cheat sheets of the lyrics. (just in case I have a brain fart, or something!) So I was frantically downloading lyrics on my computer and printing them off last night until around one o'clock in the morning. I now have them neatly in sheet protectors and in a binder so I can take a quick glance if I need to! Now tonight I'm going to time each set so I know I have enough material, and decide what order I'm going to do the songs. Then I have to put my cheat sheets in order so I can find them. (what good is having a cheat sheet if you can't find the answers when the test arrives, right?) I'm saving tomorrow night to ponder that ever elusive answer to the timeless question: "what should I wear?" Do you think one night will be enough time to find that answer???!!!!!!

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by sschuler1

Hey Boomer - I am almost ready. I think I have enough songs memorized to fill the three hours now, but I panicked yesterday and decided to make myself some cheat sheets of the lyrics. (just in case I have a brain fart, or something!) So I was frantically downloading lyrics on my computer and printing them off last night until around one o'clock in the morning. I now have them neatly in sheet protectors and in a binder so I can take a quick glance if I need to! Now tonight I'm going to time each set so I know I have enough material, and decide what order I'm going to do the songs. Then I have to put my cheat sheets in order so I can find them. (what good is having a cheat sheet if you can't find the answers when the test arrives, right?) I'm saving tomorrow night to ponder that ever elusive answer to the timeless question: "what should I wear?" Do you think one night will be enough time to find that answer???!!!!!!

Oh my gosh! SS! I just finished writing a post in that "Glee" thread about how I almost always know all the lyrics, even though I cannot sing -- except for in my dreams. Ohhhhh, I could sit in the front row and be your prompter. Darn it! I am still in Cincinnati.

A true story...

Mr. B. and I have been to Colorado and back during the past week. We drove. Aaaauuugh!!!! Sometimes I sing to Mr. Boomer while he is driving. (talk about a captive audience -- on I-70)

Anyway, yesterday we were coming through St. Louis and when we were passing by the arch, I burst into song. First, of course, it was the "St. Louie Blues" followed by "You Came a Long Way from St. Louie."

Well, Mr. B. knew the first song, but he said, "You are making that one up." -- about the second one. I said I was not.

As fortune would have it, I was in possession of my trusty laptap and so I went to You Tube and proved that I was not making that song up. I love both those songs. I want to be a torch singer. But I cannot sing and I think my slinky dress days are all behind me. (sigh) (sigh) But I remember lyrics.

Here is the link I used to convince Mr. Boomer that I did not make that song up.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAtIEsVtTG8[/ame]

(Although I am working on one called "Well, I Never Been to Spain, But I Been to KANSAS! KANSAS! AND MORE KANSAS!")

Dorothy Boomer

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Oh my gosh! SS! I just finished writing a post in that "Glee" thread about how I almost always know all the lyrics, even though I cannot sing -- except for in my dreams. Ohhhhh, I could sit in the front row and be your prompter. Darn it! I am still in Cincinnati.

A true story...

Mr. B. and I have been to Colorado and back during the past week. We drove. Aaaauuugh!!!! Sometimes I sing to Mr. Boomer while he is driving. (talk about a captive audience -- on I-70)

Anyway, yesterday we were coming through St. Louis and when we were passing by the arch, I burst into song. First, of course, it was the "St. Louie Blues" followed by "You Came a Long Way from St. Louie."

Well, Mr. B. knew the first song, but he said, "You are making that one up." -- about the second one. I said I was not.

As fortune would have it, I was in possession of my trusty laptap and so I went to You Tube and proved that I was not making that song up. I love both those songs. I want to be a torch singer. But I cannot sing and I think my slinky dress days are all behind me. (sigh) (sigh) But I remember lyrics.

Here is the link I used to convince Mr. Boomer that I did not make that song up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAtIEsVtTG8

(Although I am working on one called "Well, I Never Been to Spain, But I Been to KANSAS! KANSAS! AND MORE KANSAS!")

Dorothy Boomer

Boomer, now that's weird! Whenever anything even remontely reminds me of a tune, I break into song too. (I can't sing either.) That's not what's weird though.

What's weird is that one night I started singing this really obscure song called, "The Night Chicago Died". To be honest, I don't even remember where I had ever heard it or why I started singing it.

At any rate, my husband swore up and down there was no such song and that I was making it up. Isn't that funny. It was even about a city, like yours. Actually, it's a story song about Al Capone. It's not a good song, like that lovely "You Came a Long Way from St. Louie." But it has a catchy beat that apparently stuck somewhere in the depths of my memory and bubbled to the surface some 30 years later for no apparent reason.

Anyway, like you, I went to YouTube to find it to prove to DH that it wasn't a figment of my imagination. Fair warning. It ain't too good.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-L0NpaErkk&feature=related[/ame]

Ditto Turner