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Holiday Fare
In Loudoun, home cooking can be found in places other than home. - Tradition has it that the best holiday cooking comes from mother's kitchen or grandmother's kitchen or great-aunt Matilda's kitchen. In short, many believe the only good holiday treats are baked from scratch at home.
However, at least two places in Loudoun ?Oatlands Plantation and Lansdowne Resort -- are relegating this belief to the category of myth. Oatlands Plantation on U.S. 15 south of Leesburg offers teas, scones, finger sandwiches and tiny cakes that look like works of art and taste every bit as elegant as they look.
The pastry chefs at Lansdowne Resort provide the ingredients, the roofs, the walls and the windows alongside tables filled with candies and marzipan, icing strips, decadently delicious sweets and anything else needed to create a house of one's gingerbread dreams. Families, school children, clubs and anyone with the time, the courage and the money can become a part of this annual event that just keeps rising, like cake dough, in popularity.
Oatlands teas
The pillars, the gardens and the decor speak of another time when holidays were taken more slowly, celebrated longer and more attention was paid to fresh greenery, family traditions, and exquisite hand-crafted ornaments. Joanne Phillips is the visitor services coordinator at Oatlands Plantation. She indicated that contemporary parents and grandparents as well as young couples are making Christmas teas at the historic estate part of their own tradition.
"We have all ages, from 4 to ladies in their 80s, and some of them are grandmothers bringing their grandchildren. The girls come in acting like little ladies," Phillips said.
The menu, she continued, includes scones, clotted cream and preserves, assortments of tea sandwiches, sweets and Oatlands' blend of afternoon tea.
"We only have a few openings left, so it would be good to call as soon as possible for reservations. Many of the sittings are already booked," Phillips said.
The first tea took place Dec. 1. More teas are scheduled for Dec. 6,7,8; Dec. 13,14,15; Dec. 20,21,22; and Dec. 27,28,29. All sittings are at 1 p.m.
The cost is $24.95 for adults and $15.95 for those 8 and younger.
The mansion itself is decorated prserving Oatlands' 160-year history as a private residence from 1804 to 1964. The decorations also reflect the 250th anniversary of the founding of Loudoun. Tours of the mansion are $5 with a tea purchase. For reservations, call 703-777-3174, ext. 100.
Lansdowne
The amenities may include state-of-the-art conferencing capabilities and high-tech communications systems but in ballrooms B, C and D of Lansdowne Conference Center and Resort, the main attractions have absolutely nothing to do with cyber space. The annual gingerbread house decorating began Dec. 1 and continues Dec. 8 and Dec. 15, 9 a.m.-noon all days.
"Our Gingerbread house building event is hugely popular. We've been doing it for six years now and have had to add an extra day and even expand the space into one of our larger ballrooms," Riddell said.
So who comprises the majority of participants?
"It's mostly local families. Many area families make it a holiday tradition. We see lots of familiar faces year after year," Riddell said.
Booking begins the day after Labor Day.
"And believe it or not, we do get calls that early. The event coincides with our lunch with Santa event which is also very popular. Santa is on hand for pictures. Families bring their own cameras and pose however they wish," Riddell explained.
The buffet, he continued, is presented at "kid-level."
The price is $68 for one gingerbread house for two people, and $10 for every extra guest. A credit card is required for reservations.
To make a reservation call Alexis at 703-729-8400, ext. 2107.
Contact the writer at ecarlton@timespapers.com
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