Salut! partner Victoria Mutual hosted High Tea Tuesday last in Mandeville in the gardens of the well-appointed home of Jean and George Bird. The gardens, situated on several levels around the property with vignettes of anthuriums and orchids, rival any of the finest in the Caribbean. The intimate gathering enjoyed the gorgeous, tranquil setting as well as the impressive array of tantalising treats created for the event by Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food Awards caterer of the year 2012 Debe-Ann Chen of Cutting Edge Gourmet.

Among the niblets on the menu were: crab cakes, mini callaloo quiches, chicken and cheese bouchees, tarragon beef tenderloin rolls with green capers, ham cubes with sorrel chutney, mini corn muffins, sundried tomato bread, cassava, potato, cornmeal pones, ice box cake, chocolate mocha cake, strawberry short cake, mini plantain tarts, and chocolate mousse topped with chocolate-covered jerked almonds. Thursday Life pulls up a seat…

Photographer: Karl McLarty