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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW 1905 Furry House demolished ... Nike shares jump on plans for dividend boost, stock split ... Man was attacked for allegedly 'sexting' roommate's girlfriend ... 1905 Furry House demolished ... Nike shares jump on plans for dividend boost, stock split ... Man was attacked for allegedly 'sexting' roommate's girlfriend ... DINING Time for tea in Central Point Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 11:35 AM Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 11:35 AM » Social News If you need a little magic in your life, Fairy Godmother's Teeny Tiny Tea Cottage in Central Point fits the bill. Linda Colson, whose business card reads "fairy godmother in charge," has just settled her expanded tea shop into an old house at 427 E. Pine St. that was formerly an eclectic home decor store. It's decorated with pastel colors, bright floral prints and plenty of feminine flourishes that add just the right amount of whimsy. The tea cottage serves traditional afternoon tea with freshly baked cream scones, a selection of finger sandwiches and an array of desserts. The menu can be tailored to fit different budgets and appetites by opting for three types of sandwiches for $13 or five kinds for $18 for tea for two. A simple cream tea with scones and a sweet tea featuring desserts also are available for a little less, as is a $25 royal option that adds soup and salad. Several friends and I had been promising to meet for tea for ages, and Sarah, the organized one, made a reservation. We settled in at a table in the back room to peruse the list of dozens of types of teas and admire details such as delicate china and lacy napkins. Colson brought several small samples of tea leaves for us to smell and offered helpful tips. At her suggestion, we started with a fragrant Tuscan pear herbal tea. Mild and sweet, it paired nicely with the rich, tender scones, which were topped with a sparkling crunch of sanding sugar. Tangy lemon curd made in the cottage's kitchen and the fairy godmother's sweet cream substitute for clotted cream were so delicious none of us even tried the mass-produced marmalade. Colson had just brought us a pot of coronation tea, a flavorful black tea with hints of bitterness and astringency, to accompany our tea sandwiches when we heard an ominous crash from the hallway. A chagrined Colson told us that the foot of the tiered stand had caught in the pocket of her new apron, sending the artfully arranged sandwiches and desserts clattering to the floor, a mishap she hadn't had in years of food service. Even without a magic wand, this professional fairy godmother and her team quickly assembled new plates of tasty, tiny sandwiches. Whisked out as they were prepared, they tasted just as good as if they had been served from a multi-tier stand. The cucumber sandwiches were built on a hearty multigrain bread with herbed cream cheese and the delicate freshness of pea shoots. The egg salad sandwiches were perfect classics, crustless triangles of white bread stuffed with a nearly smooth golden filling. A savory chicken salad accented with bright bits of mandarin orange was served on a buttery, miniature croissant with a ruffle of baby greens. A delicious riff on ham and cheese on rye presented ham, brie, juicy ripe pear, and Dijon mustard on light rye bread flecked with caraway seed. A festive turkey sandwich layered a cheddar-like Wellington cheese and cranberry chutney on a pumpkin spice bread. The cut edges of the sandwich were smeared with cream cheese, then coated in chopped pecans. It tasted like the whole holiday season in three bites. With advance notice when we made our reservation, Colson had prepared meatless alternatives for the vegetarian in our group. She also brought out a small bonus salad of baby greens topped with roasted beets, chèvre and toasted hazelnuts, dressed with a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Three desserts — almond shortbread bars, bread pudding with vanilla sauce and moist chocolate cake topped with ganache and a fresh raspberry — presented on an elegant cake stand provided a sweet end to our afternoon tea. We accompanied them with a recommended pomegranate lemon black tea that combined the depth and fruitiness of the first two teas we tried. This fairy godmother serves tea from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, but can be available for special occasions on Tuesday and Wednesday, too. Call 541-772-1067 for reservations, and check the tea cottage's Facebook page for details on a $25 Christmas tea available at set times next month. Colson hopes to offer soups, salads and sandwiches for lunch on weekdays starting in January and would like to add brunch and a family-style dinner one night a week in the spring. — Anita Burke MailTribune.com Writer Posted Nov. 20, 2015 at 11:35 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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