Creative Brainstorming at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon

(Photos from The Inn At Irving Place)

Jaclyn, the brains behind Audrey Grace Boutique, and myself went for a late afternoon tea & lunch at Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon in Gramercy to facilitate some creative brainstorming for the promo video I will be shooting for her. The tea salon is located at the Inn at Irving Place and was the perfect setting for our discussion - diners are pretty much exclusively females in search of elegance, beauty, sophistication, and of course, grace. The decor is classic and feminine, with candlelit tea rooms, blooming florals and plush seating. An all-male wait staff cater to Lady Mendl’s guests, serving a five course ‘finger food’ meal, which actually ends up being very plenitful (one should hope so, with the $35 per person price tag). I found it kind of funny how the meal, although served in neat, little portions, was typical of what women really want to eat - sugar, carbs, and a lot of it. First course is a tiny little butternut squash tart, literally the size of a stack of quarters. Second, a selection of mini finger sandwiches, which a choice of salmon & cream cheese on pumpernickel, turkey & cranberry on wheat, cucumber & butter on white, and classic egg salad. Third, two mini scones each, one classic, the other with cranberries. Fourth, a layered cream crepe cake. Just, wow. And lastly, a small selection of sweets. I had a chocolate covered strawberry and a mini ginger cookie. All this served with your choice of tea.

But I digress! The place was beautiful, and I wish I had taken some photographs of it, but it was so dark inside I didn’t want to be that girl with the flash camera. Instead I did a little bit of filming, and was going to edit & upload a clip of it tonight, alas, my camera ran out of battery just as I was logging and transferring my footage. I will post it tomorrow.

I loved this late afternoon treat, and it really was the perfect place to discuss themes, locations and imagery for the promo video.

We want to portray a young, modern lady of leisure that carries an air of Audrey & Grace about her. So without a doubt Holly Golightly’s brownstone will make an appearance, as will the 5th Ave Tiffany’s (accompanied by a Magnolia cupcake!) But it’s important to remember this isn’t about New York - Audrey Grace will be located in Jackson, Mississippi, so we will feature less recognisable locations, such as a beautiful vintage bookstore, and a record store carrying that old Johnny Cash single…I hope you know the one I’m taking about!

Anyways, I will have my clip of Lady Mendl’s Tea Salon up on here tomorrow so please check it out!