High Tea at Rutherford House.

My husband and I were off enjoying a rare day off together during the week and we decided to check out the Rutherford House. A little info about the house... It belonged to Alexander Rutherford, the first Premier of Alberta. Rutherford House was built in 1911 on a large lot in Strathcona near the University of Alberta campus. The residence, initially called Achnacarry by the Rutherford family, after their ancestral castle in Scotland, is now known as Rutherford House Provincial Historic Site. It is a living museum here in Edmonton, located right on the University Of Alberta campus.

We decided to take in High Tea. It is suggested that you make a reservation for the restaurant and we were thankful we did. Here at Rutherford House High Tea is an institution, served in the traditional manner of the early 1900's. The tea is served in real bone china. I ordered their Chai Black Tea and the hubby ordered the Monk Blend Black Tea. Both were very aromatic and Delicious. I enjoyed the dainty little cups but my husband was unsure how to hold the cup without breaking it. Very cute to watch a man try to be dainty.

Our lunch came served on a 3 tier china server and consisted of Cucumber sandwiches on baguette, Egg salad on pumpernickel bread, warm red pepper rolls, homemade scones with raspberry butter and devonshire cream and an assortment of dainty desserts. The cucumber sandwiches were complimented with dill cream cheese and were crunchy and very refreshing. The egg salad was deliciously accented with paprika. And the red pepper rolls were absolutely wonderful filled with a red pepper and cream cheese. YUM!

The desserts were my favourite part though, with tiny decadent brownies, coconut macaroons, Rooibos tea cookies and Lemon cream cheese filled strawberries. The latter I wanted all to myself but I begrudgingly let my husband have one as well.

We also took in the tour of the estate (only an extra $4.00 a person) and got to learn a little bit more of the history of the house and the family which owned it. The picturesque house is wonderful to wander through and I would love to go back just to peek into history again.

Food: 4.5/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Service: 5/5
High Tea for two: $55

11153 Saskatchewan Dr NW
(780) 427-3995
http://rutherfordhouse.ca/