The most important thing to remember when preparing the menu for a tea party is the formal nature of the event. Tea party sandwiches should be items that can be eaten with the fingers without falling apart. Some hosts and hostesses actually serve tea and coffee; therefore the menu items should compliment either of those beverages, if they are both present.

The bread for the sandwiches should be fresh and without crusts. Some traditional ingredients are:    Thinly sliced cucumbers on buttered bread
Smoked salmon on dark bread
Egg salad
Pate on dark bread
Cream cheese on banana bread

While the preparation of these sandwiches can be time-consuming, one should plan to prepare them the day of the party and allow just enough time for them to briefly chill in the refrigerator prior to the guest’s arrival. Many items will either solidify and/or discolor if chilled overnight. Unfortunately, this is one event that does not lend itself to making the food the night before. If a “Lazy Susan” tray is available, it presents a wonderful way to display the various types of sandwiches. Plates should be set next to it, so that guests can pick from the tray and return to their seats. In traditional tearooms, its forerunner, known as a “dumbwaiter,” was on display in the center of the room. The sandwiches were also often served by the tearoom staff that brought the tray to each table and allowed the guests to make their selections.

Petit fours, which are small iced cakes, are the perfect finale to the sandwiches and provide the “dessert” course of this small meal.