@Consolation – Don’t think that’s right. High tea (also called just tea) lis the working class meal at the dining table with meat pies, etc. Afternoon tea is the scones and cream, etc. And “tea” is what the kids’ evening meal is often called.
I just want some glasses of ale in the pub near DA. I will ask Mr. Bates and Tom to go with me.
@coolweather thats exactly what Mr. Sax will be doing with a few of the guys. It’s funny how he looks so forward to GNO nights. He is starting to ask when the next one is. It’s as though they don’t come often enough. It’s amazing that it has turned into “Guys Night Out” for him :)] he immediately gets on his phone to set things up.
@Happy2Help oooo. Off to the wine store to buy wine by the label! It should be better than the paint can wine we had before. Oh, and I will buy at least one bottle of the below for either Mary or Edith.
Actually I should buy a bottle for both of them. http://www.garyswine.com/fine_wine/spain/06907.html?vfsku=06907&vfsku=06907&gpla=pla&gclid=COOThYCtpMsCFRJZhgodTUcHFw
Speaking of them maybe we can have a team Mary and team Edith and and some sort of contest.hmmm…
It is so interesting about “tea” and here I thought it was honestly just a pot of tea with ,maybe, a cookie or little sandwich. I will have to watch the 2nd special on DA manners.
We used to have a local spot that sold meat pies.
@doschicos We could certainly have some Beefeaters gin on hand.
Oh no, as usual GNO is turning into DNO (drinking night out). Must make more tea sandwiches! Thank you all so much for some great suggestions.
@teriwtt I agree. But then the real Robert Shapiro looked like he had a bad glossy face lift so that part is realistic. JT isn’t much of an actor. I feel like I’m reliving the whole thing. I stayed current with the trial when it was happening but wasn’t watching “Court TV.” I think this is the case that made that channel a success.
Back to Downtown Abbey. I know next week is the finale but people have mentioned a Christmas Special that was aired in the U.K. in December 2015. Will they show it in two weeks or hold it until December 2016?
@OspreyCV22 The finale is the final episode which was aired on Christmas Day in the U.K.
@notelling, you are correct that “high tea” included more savories/meat than “afternoon tea,” but it didn’t take the place of dinner for the upper classes. They simply ate dinner much later. Tea that was actually the evening meal was a working class thing. And actually calling supper “tea” is dreadfully non-U. 
And then one can get into dinner vs lunch[eon] vs supper. B-)
don’t forget elevenses and second breakfast
You have to wonder how Lady Mary stayed so svelte with the five meals a day (including a multiple course dinner with soup, fish and meat courses among others).
Consolation - High Tea is definitely working class. Afternoon Tea is upper class.
But don’t take my word for it: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/30/418660351/high-tea-afternoon-tea-elevenses-english-tea-times-for-dummies
Excerpt:
"Despite its name, high tea actually originated with the lower classes. Dinner was served midday in the 1800s, but in practice, working stiffs didn’t have the luxury of an afternoon lunch break, so they took tea right after work with heartier fare — like pies, meats and cheeses — to sate their hunger.
Richardson says the name high tea probably evolved from the fact that this evening meal was served at proper dinner tables, rather than on couches or settees. Using the term “high tea” when you really mean “afternoon tea” is a dead giveaway you’re American."
All this talk of having tea is making me miss my MIL.
As a Brit who has seen the ending, I do enjoy reading this thread. How interesting it would be if some of your ideas were included.
With reference to tea, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream_tea for a good account of cream teas. Also widely served in Somerset and all west country towns. Clotted cream is delicious.
Over here afternoon tea is an upper class meal, typically dainty sandwiches, scones and dainty cakes, plus tea of course. The quantity eaten depends on the consumer! High tea is a working class meal, or was. I rarely hear it used now. Tea is certainly used for children inviting friends back after school. For most of we ordinary folk around here the evening meal is often described as just that and is timed to fit the family. Lunch is still usually called dinner in schools.
I’ve had tea at this hotel and it was quite wonderful. They served so many treats that we weren’t hungry for hours!
http://www.grillroomneworleans.com/le-salon
Here’s their little blurb about the history of tea. I didn’t realize it was so recent. Does this mean there is no afternoon tea in any Jane Austen novels?
Are you all trying for the sweepstakes? You can enter once a day. I’ve remembered to do it about 5 times so far.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/2016-downton-abbey-sweepstakes/
Oh, the poor Duchess of Bedford. What a hardship to not be able to just pop into the kitchen between meals!
‘Downton Abbey,’ the Good, the Bad and the Forgotten
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/04/arts/television/downton-abbey-finale-crash-course.html
From the Times’ official DA commentator. Very clever as always. No spoilers as long as you’ve caught up.
For those of us with a little crush on Matthew Goode, here’s a new British show that I hope will come to the US. Gorgeous scenery beyond the hosts as they explore wine country!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu77rb0mww4
@greenwitch thanks for the link to the sweepstakes! I didn’t know about it, but I’ll try to remember to enter every day until the deadline.
For anyone looking for food ideas for their DA viewing, the NYT has this: http://cooking.nytimes.com/68861692/2409289-downton-abbey-takes-its-leave?smid=fb-nytdining&smtyp=cur
Big nerdy Jane Austen fan here. Just checked on my Kindle app on my phone. There’s lots of talk about having tea with visitors, taking tea, drinking tea, etc., sometimes in the garden. From my quick look, it seems like tea happens at a specific time; there are references to things happening before or after tea-time. Most of the time, however, there is no mention of what, if any, food is served with the tea. There are a few mentions, however, of tea being served with bread and butter and buttered toast. It is referenced as if it is a usual thing (e.g., so-and-so sets about making the bread and butter).
There is also lots of drinking of tea after dinner; in a couple of those cases, cakes or baked apples are mentioned.
The word “scone” does not seem to appear in any of the novels.
I love the fact that I can do this on my phone while waiting for someone who is late for a meeting
Okay, one more moment of nerdiness re Jane Austen; when Elizabeth visits Pemberly in the afternoon, Miss Darcy serves her “cold meat, cakes and a variety of the finest fruits in season,” including “beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines and peaches.” No mention of tea (but I’m sure it was served too).
That’s the extent of what I could find about afternoon tea in Jane Austen on my iPhone!