Celebrating the holidays with a traditional Victorian or a Steampunk twist

The Morris-Butler House, a nineteenth-century home, invites visitors to tea. Afternoon teas on December 7 feature Victorian holiday traditions and décor with a traditional English tea menu. On December 14, the tea features a menu inspired by the steampunk genre.

Saturday, December 7, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm: Traditional Victorian Holiday Tea

The civilized pick-me-up of afternoon tea seems even more special amid the Morris-Butler House holiday décor, enhanced by a short preview of The Nutcracker performed by ballerinas from the Indianapolis School of Ballet.

The Victorian tea menu features authentic recipes prepared by Ivy Tech’s Hospitality Administration Program, including chocolate cherry scones and lemon rosemary scones with clotted crème, cucumber and dill chive sandwiches, ham and green mustard brioche, smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers on rye crackers, chocolate-dipped short bread and lemon butter cookies.

Saturday, December 14, 11am-1pm: Steampunk Holiday Tea

At the afternoon tea on Dec. 14, Circle City Aerodrome—Indianapolis’ own steampunk group—will explain the creative movement that blends steam powered gadgets and modern marvels of the twentieth century in a world of Victorian fashion, literature and art, and history. Guests at the Steampunk Holiday Tea will take part in games and dancing inspired by the genre.

Ivy Tech’s Hospitality Administration Program designed the Steampunk tea menu, which features rose petal drop scones, cheese straws, cream puffs, baked meringue top hats, checkerboard cookies, and cucumber, egg and tarragon, and pinwheel ham sandwiches.

A selection of gourmet teas from Tea’s Me Café accompanies the fare at each event.