Being a proper hostess is no small feat.
There are plenty of things to worry about, from tidying your flat, to your vegetarian friend's dietary needs, to your picky friend's dietary needs, to how exactly you'll manage eating dessert without the elastic band of your Spanx snapping in half. It can be overwhelming.
But fear not! The world's most fabulous hostess, Angel Adoree of The Vintage Patisserie is here to aide your hostessing woes with her brand new book, The Vintage Tea Party Book. She's slayed the dragons in BBC's Dragon's Den, and now she's here to help you slay your fears and quiet any qualms you have of hosting your own tea party for your nearest and dearest. (And, no doubt, a few people you probably don't even like that much.)
With Angel's guidance, you can go from serving questionable Dairylea jacket potatoes whilst wearing your boyfriend's BBQ-smeared apron, to passing out lavender pearl cocktails in dainty vintage tea cups and dishing out beetroot and artichoke maracas while wearing your self made "pin-up, pin-on" apron with your hair in perfectly set victory rolls. In fact, you will become so accommodating, so filled-to-the brim with decorum and such the picture-perfect hostess that you will no doubt make your friends a bit sick. With envy, of course. (Unless you undercook the veal roulade.)
The Vintage Tea Party Book is packed with recipes after recipe for your brunch, afternoon and evening tea parties, as well as useful advice on how to jazz up your do with templates for gorgeous invitations. Angel's even included a stencil of Queen Elizabeth, a tutorial on how to make our own flags and apron, as well plenty of advice on vintage style, hair and make-up. (Pin Curls, anyone?)
From the whimsical illustrations to the delicious recipes, The Vintage Tea Party Book perfectly encapsulates the gorgeous, cheeky and proud-to-be British nature of Angel Adoree and The Vintage Patiesserie. Whether you're a vintage fanatic or modern cook, the delectable and stylish goodies this book has to offer will not disappoint.
Buy your own copy of The Vintage Tea Party Book on Amazon today for only £10.
The Vintage Tea Party Book by Angel Adoree, published by Mitchell Beazley, £20 www.octopusbooks.co.uk