We celebrated by taking her to High Tea at a fabulous place in Oakland that my sister found. The Pardee House and Museum is right across the street from Preservation Park, just off the freeway. It was built in 1869, and was occupied by the same family until 1981, when it became a museum. It was built by Enoch Pardee, a Gold Rush immigrant to California, who became an eye doctor in San Francisco. His only son, George Pardee, also lived there with his family as an adult, and was once the Mayor of Oakland, as well as the Governor of California in 1902.
The house is filled with furnishings, and various collections of the family. Everything in the house actually belonged to the Pardee Family, and much of it is kept as it was lived in.
The High Tea service was simply the best I've ever had! (A tall order!) All of the food is homemade by local volunteer, and oh, was it delicious!! We started with beautiful tea sandwiches, then had a couple of savory treats, followed by homemade scones with fresh jam and clotted cream, then dessert! So much food, all of it beautifully arranged and delicious. I can't tell you how highly I recommend coming to the Pardee House for a visit!
One of the most amazing parts of our experience was that we were a private party of 5. We had the entire dining room, and the whole house, for that matter to ourselves. It was amazing! All of the food was specially prepared for us. So special!!
After our High Tea, we were given a private tour of the historic house by a docent. It lasted about an hour, and went over the history of the house, the Pardee Family, and details about each room, as well as the various collections inside.
We were so glad that my sister found this absolute gem in Oakland. If you're in the area, I highly recommend! I plan to take several friends who come to visit from out-of-town for this special treat.
What a fun way to celebrate my Mom's birthday with our family. xo
Our family as we sat down in the private dining room.
Graham and Tiff with the finger sandwiches
The finger sandwiches: smoked salmon, cucumber & cream cheese with dill, chicken salad in a pastry, and egg salad
My Mom, enjoying her Birthday Lunch!
The savory food: a warm mushroom treat, and an artichoke and cheese puff
fresh scones with homemade strawberry jam and fresh clotted cream (best I've ever had!)
A special Birthday Cake for the Birthday Girl!
Desserts Galore! A lemon curd tart, oatmeal cookies, pistachio cookie dipped in white chocolate, fresh cherries with white peaches and mint, homemade almond brittle and another kind of cookie that I forgot what the name is
The tour begins....
The front parlor, with portraits of the original owners on each side of the mantel. The mantel was exactly the same as the one that Dick and I used to have in our house on 23rd Street in San Francisco (Built in the 1880s)
another view of the front parlor with the candlestick room on the side
the music room
our family in front of the Pardee House
A plaque in front of the house. I love that they gave Helen the title of "Eccentric Collector"
The sign for the Pardee House and Museum
We stopped by my Sister's house before going home. One of her work colleagues had given her a HUGE zucchini from her garden. Biggest. Zucchini. Ever. My sister cut it into threes, and gave a section to each of us. :)
Tiffie and the Giant Zucchini!
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