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Life in the Kitchen with cafe owner Nann Thomson






Take Tea echoes British ritual


By Natalie K. Pollock

Staff Writer


Nann Thomson of Avon has had several careers. Most recently she recreated the British practice of enjoying an afternoon tea (“taking tea”) the way she had experienced it in Ireland and England. Her café is located in Old Avon Village and on the visitation list for tearoom enthusiasts from near and far.

Thomson, a New Britain native, had lived in Galway, Ireland for a short time in the 1970’s and then in Devon, England, while attending the University of Exeter in 1984, and before graduating from UConn Law School in 1985. Newly divorced with a son and daughter, she would visit tea shops on the weekend.

The first legal director of the Children’s Law Center in Connecticut, Thomson loved the law, litigating three to four days per week, but more recently worked as a teacher of culinary arts, until Covid claimed a friend of hers.

She took a two-year PROSTART program with the National Restaurant association and courses at a variety of culinary schools including the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, Cordon Bleue in Florida, and the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont.

Thomson quit teaching in the New Britain school system in June 2020, after 18 years, and thought about what to do next. Thomson was then matched with a SCORE mentor from a nonprofit that teaches would-be entrepreneurs how to set up a new business and started researching other tea rooms across the country.

She also began buying teacups and furniture through online auctions. With the help of former student Sara McHugh, she opened Take Tea in Avon, and enlisted family members including Jonathan Shaw, the youngest of four children, to work in the café, and husband Lester Shaw to handle repair and repainting of the space that once served as a Subway shop and children’s play area.

Thomson opened Take Tea on January 1, 2022, with some strict policies in place. Reservations are required for two seatings each day, Thursdays through Sundays. Customers she calls “friends” come for two hours to relax and enjoy the “prix fixe” assortment of sandwiches, pastries, and sweets. The teas are from Harney & Sons, based in Connecticut. Thomson also requires that customers are vaccinated, and they are asked to wear masks when walking around the various small rooms decorated with antique furniture, china, laces, and hand-made trivets.

Until a few weeks ago, Thomson had been preparing all the food, except the bread. She still bakes the scones but has a new assistant. Hughes left to work as a teacher. Jim Christopher also works in the café, with a history in food service and hospitality as the former owner with his wife of a bed and breakfast in Simsbury that they recently sold. He has a degree from the Rhode Island School of Design.

The recipes are all Thomson’s. She offers a traditional posset, which started as a British hot drink and has evolved into a dessert made with sugar, heavy cream, and organic lemon juice. She has also adapted well-known recipes to make them hers like shrimp mousse as well as goat cheese and beet mousse.

Her afternoon tea is served with a three-tiered tray that has sandwiches and canapes on the bottom, scones and tea breads in the middle, and sweets and desserts on the top. The charge is $36 per person.


Q. How would you describe the cuisine of the establishment?


A. It is an afternoon tea with authentic food in a casual setting. British natives say it is fairly traditional but with latitude to introduce new items. I make my own clotted cream using Mrs. Bridges Tea Room’s recipe in Woodstock, CT. It mimics the real kind. Here dairy is highly pasteurized, so it is already heat treated [and not authentic].


Q. What is the most popular dish at your café?


A. The posset is the most popular and the goat cheese and beet canape. People also like the sausage roll “amuse-bouche,” which is a little something I offer before they get the tray. It includes a nonalcoholic sparkling water.


Q. What is your personal favorite?


A. I like the ham and cheese mini sandwich with Branston pickle. The pickle is tart, not like pickle relish.


Q. What’s your “secret weapon” ingredient?


A. I buy the highest quality produce. The fruits and vegetables are all organic. The quality of the food is important, as important as hospitality is.


Q. What is the one cooking technique that everyone should know?


A. How to make clotted cream. It’s an accompaniment to scones in the United Kingdom. The butter fat content is different there. Here you have to cook the cream a long time and take it off the top.

The best trick is learning to use the food processor for cutting in the butter. The goal is smaller than pea-size pieces of cold butter to fold in for flakiness.


Q. If you could take any celebrity chef out to dinner, who would it be?


A. I would enjoy having a conversation with Danny Meyer. He is an absolute mine of information on hospitality and how to enhance my friends’ enjoyment of the experience.


Q. What herb or spice best describes your personality and why?


A. Salt, because it is so necessary for so many reasons and can enhance flavor and can ruin flavor.


Q. What do you like to cook when having guests to your home?


A. [The meal] depends on the season. I like cooking in season. I used to do multi-course dinners. The presentation is important. In winter, I would make poultry, and in autumn, squash soup. I am a cook, not a chef.


Take Tea, 19 East Main Street (Old Avon Village), Avon. Call 860-404-2538 for reservations. For more information visit taketeainct.com.

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Valley Happenings

Fighting Cancer Pasta Dinner:

Benefit for Avon Volunteer Fire Department

Deputy Chief Dave Theriault

Saturday, February 22, 2025, 3:00-7:00 p.m. 

Avon Senior Center, 635 West Avon Road, Avon

AVFD Deputy Chief of Administration Dave Theriault is facing a tough battle against Stage 4 cancer. The AVFD, along with Tunxis Hose Co. No. 1 and the Farmington Fire Department, is holding a pasta dinner to help raise money for Chief Theriault’s medical expenses. In addition to delicious food, drinks, and camaraderie, the event will feature dozens of raffle prizes. Event tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and children under 10 years old. They can be purchased at the door or in advance at AVFD Headquarters, 25 Darling Drive, Avon (Mondays, 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and Tuesdays-Fridays, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). Contributions can be made via Venmo @supportDave or by mail to the AVFD at 25 Darling Drive, Avon, CT 06001. 

Canton Community Health Fund Applications

Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. Opens 2025 Application Season, on March 1, 2025, for Canton Community Partner Grants & Canton Scholars Pursuing Careers in Healthcare or Public Safety Canton Community Health Fund, Inc. (CCHF), opens its grant and scholarship application season March 1. CCHF encourages State of CT certified non-profits serving the Canton community to apply for Community Partner grants. In addition, graduating high school seniors seeking higher education in healthcare or public safety are invited to apply for either a Dr. Diters Legacy Scholarship or a Pay It Forward Scholarship. Applications and informative Fact Sheets are available online at www.cantoncommunityhealthfund.org.  Community Partner Grant and Scholarship awards will be announced in June/2025.

 

Avon Library events

AVON –The following events are scheduled at Avon Free Public Library. The library is at Avon Library, 281 Country Club Road, Avon. All programs are in person except where noted. For more information on adult programs, contact Adult Services Reference Desk via avonref@avonctlibrary.info 860-673-9712 x 7203

• Antique Map Collecting 101, Saturday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. Registration is required: https://www.avonctlibrary.info/event/antique-map-collecting/

• Morning Book Club. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 10:30 a.m., The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose, Registration is required: https://www.avonctlibrary.info/events/tag/morning-book-club/

• Meditation for Balance and Inner Contentment. (Virtual Event) Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 pm.

• Eastern Coyotes in Connecticut (Virtual Event) Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.

• Fashion and the First Lady (Virtual Event). Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.

• Hoop Skirts to Flappers: Eighty Years of Connecticut Fashion. Monday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.

• The Golden Age of Hollywood. (Virtual Event) Tuesday, March 4 at 2 pm.

 

Simsbury Lions Club

The Simsbury Lions Club is looking for people interested in volunteering and contributing to better our town. Our motto is “We serve,” and we do so by volunteering at local events and donating our proceeds to serving interests in our community.

If interested, please feel free to contact Sandy Kremer at Tprkremer@gmail.com or Philip Painchaud at painchaudp@gmail.com.”

 

Winter sowing workshop

The Farmington Land trust is hosting a winter sowing workshop focused on raising native plants. Make your own up-cycled greenhouse from a milk jug and prep some beneficial native plants for the coming growing season. Sunday, Feb 2 from 11a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Farmington Senior Center. RSVP here: https://www.farmingtonlandtrust.org/event-details/winter-sowing-seminar-native-seed-planting

 

Wild Flowers from Spring to Fall

CANTON – The Cherry Brook Garden Club is hosting a lecture on “Following Our Wild Flowers from Spring to Fall” on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Canton Community Center, lower level, 40 Dyer Avenue. Steve Messier, Lichenologist and former Science teacher at Canton High School will discuss the topic. The lecture is open to the public. There is a $5 guest fee for non-members. Email questions to cherrybrookgardenclub@gmail.com.

 

‘Five Wishes’ at McLean

SIMSBURY – Join Kevin Baran, M.D., medical director, and the McLean Hospice Team for a special “McLean & Me Educational Series” presentation to learn how to talk about and record your wishes for care through the end of life, so those wishes can be understood and respected. The presentation will be held at McLean’s Garmany Performing Arts Center, 50 Sarah Lane, Simsbury, on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. The presentation is free but an RSVP by Feb. 4 is required as seating is limited. A light dinner will be provided.

To register, visit McLeanCare.org/Events, email Margaret.Clark@McLeanCare.org, or call 860-658-3718.

 

‘Art Throb!’ Exhibit

Gallery on the Green presents “Art Throb!” Exhibit plus a Solo Exhibit by Kathi Packer Friday, Feb. 14 through Saturday, March 15. An opening reception is on Saturday, Feb. 15 from 6-8 p.m. and will include refreshments. The show and reception are free.

“Art Throb!” is a heartfelt Valentine’s Day celebration presented by the membership of Canton Artists’ Guild. The artists use a wide range of media including painting, prints, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media to represent the emotional intensity, joy and complexity of love.

In the upstairs Gallery, Kathi Packer has a solo show, “Another Tale.”  Packer notes that a friend’s casual invitation to go on safari in 2008 substantially changed the direction of her artistic journey.The gallery is located near the intersection of Dowd Avenue and Route 44 at 5 Canton Green Road in Canton. Hours are Friday – Sunday, 1-5 pm. The main floor gallery is handicapped accessible.

Website: http://www.galleryonthegreen.org; Phone:  860-693-4102

 

TABLESCAPES fundraiser returns to benefit the new

Avon History Museum

AVON – The Avon Historical Society invites the public to its sixth TABLESCAPES event showcasing up to 30 creative and original table settings on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 at the historic North House, 1 Nod Road, Avon.

This event will feature themed table settings from local professional designers, florists, businesses, individuals, artists and others featuring fresh floral arrangements, centerpieces and accessories. Proceeds will benefit the installation of professionally curated exhibits in the new Avon History Museum scheduled to open on Friday, July 4, 2025.

Back by popular demand will be a “Table and Barware Tag Sale” on both days. Admission to TABLESCAPES includes the tag sale. Tickets are $20 each pre-sale and at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.avonhistoricalsociety.org or by calling Mary Harrop at 860-670-3225 before March 8.

Those interested in sponsorship opportunities can also call Harrop.

 

Alzheimer’s Support Group

FARMINGTON – Hearts, Hugs & Hope: An Alzheimer’s Support Group takes place Feb. 20, 2025, 6 p.m. at Farmington Station Assisted Living and Memory Care Community, 111 Scott Swamp Road, Farmington. Dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia isn’t easy, so it is helpful to share your concerns and personal experiences with others who completely understand what you’re going through. You will also learn about proven strategies to help you better care for your family member. This group is being offered both in person and via Zoom on the third Thursday of each month. If you plan to attend, contact Director of Compass Programming Katherine Jedynasty at kjedynasty@farmingtonslr.com.

 

Used book sale

AVON - A huge book sale will be held Feb. 28 and March 1 in St. Ann’s Church Hall, 289 Arch Road at Route 167.  Hours are Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. ($5 adult admission) and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (no admission fee).

Thousands of books will be organized in separate sections, including Fiction, History, Biography, Politics, Children, Music, Cooking, Sports, Art, Vintage, and more!  A large selection of Children’s books will be available.  Fiction books will be divided by hardcover, paperback, and trade paperback and sorted alphabetically by author.  DVDs, CDs, books on CDs, Vinyl records, and puzzles will be available, also.  Most books will be $3 or less with vintage and specialty books priced higher.

 

Daisy Days: All-Girls Summer Day Camp Experience

FARMINGTON – Miss Porter’s School, a renowned institution with a legacy of empowering young women, is excited to announce the launch of Daisy Days, an all-new day camp for girls entering grades 3-5 this fall. Starting this summer, Daisy Days will offer a unique, joy-filled experience designed to spark creativity, build confidence, and inspire self-discovery in an empowering all-girls environment.

For additional details, visit pcgl.porters.org/daisy-days.

 

Artist demonstration

Avon Arts Association will hold a guest artist demonstration featuring  Granby artist Laura Eden on Tuesday, February 18 at  Avon Town Hall, 60 W. Main St., lower level, at 6:30 p.m. Ms. Eden will demonstrate egg tempera painting.

The demo is free and open to the public ($5 suggested donation). A workshop with Ms. Eden will be held at the same location in the Avon Room on Saturday, Feb. 22, 10-2 with  set up at 9:30. Fee: $45 for members, $55 for nonmembers). www.AvonArts.org

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