Author and tea enthusiast Angela McRae will be presenting a program on the evolution of tea in the South this weekend. It is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at 2:30 p.m. at Newnan-Coweta Historical Society’s McRitchie-Hollis Museum.
McRae is a freelance editor, writer and blogger in Newnan. She has edited novels, self-help books, cookbooks, and inspirational books.
During her career she has been an award-winning journalist and magazine editor, roles which she says have given her enough writing material to last a lifetime. She also blogs on the topic of teatime six days a week at Tea with Friends, which may be found at http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/.
In 2011 she published her first book, “Dainty Dining,” a hybrid cookbook and history book about department store tea rooms.
The book shares recipes, tested personally by McRae, from 20 of the country’s historic department stores, all gone except for two, Macy’s and Younkers (although the Des Moines flagship closed in 2005). Among others, readers will find favorites such as Cream of Cauliflower and Cheese Soup from Lazarus (Columbus, OH), “Mr. Bingles” desserts from Maison Blanche (New Orleans), Mrs. Herring’s Chicken Pot Pie from Marshall Field in Chicago, and Rich’s Magnolia Room Frozen Fruit Salad (Atlanta).
In addition to providing brief histories and vintage images of each department store, McRae has photographed her culinary productions.
She is busy editing her first novel, a cozy mystery, and plans to have it completed by the end of the year.
McRitchie-Hollis Museum is located at 74 Jackson St. just north of downtown Newnan. Regular museum tour hours are 10 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. General admission is $5, and $2 for students and seniors. For more information call 770-251-0207.
