Vintage Tea Salon @ Dirty Jane's Emporium, Bowral, New South Wales, Australia

Took a day trip to Bowral with my friend Cynthia. It was a little town just an hour and a half away from Sydney by car. Her friends were going there for a side trip and asked if we would like to join them. All I heard was that it was a quaint little town which had vintage stuff. That got me interested.

It turned out better than I had expected. Our first stop was at the Vintage Tea Salon located within a place with the most unusual name - Dirty Jane's Emporium and Market Place. The tea place was small but BEAUTIFUL ! Even the patrons at the cafe were so elegant. Two stylishly dressed ladies across our table looked like they have been going there every afternoon and I'm sure the Sartorialist would have loved to be there to take their picture. I was just too shy to do so as they looked like they were in the midst of a very private conversation.

The Vintage Tea Salon is run by a mother and daughter team whom we learned actually spent a number of years in Singapore. They lived at Cairnhill where the daughter spent most of her growing up years. It really is a small world after all. Ordered the 3 tier tea set which came with an assortment of the most delicately made cakes and pastries. The lowest tier had savory items - a salmon with dill sandwich, a chicken sandwich and an egg one with a little quiche at the side.  I love the egg sandwich in particular. The bread was fluffy soft and the egg within it, light with just the right amount of seasoning.

The second tier consists of a pavlova and scones accompanied by lemon curd and the most delicious raspberry jam which had delicate touches of fragrant rose water.

And on the top tier - a chocolate tart that isn't cloyingly sweet, my favourite orange and almond cake and a fairy cupcake. Had the princess tea which was very similar to my favourite TWG Silvery Moon back home - a green tea with notes of berry. The tea set also came with pumpkin soup served in pretty china teacups. I never liked pumpkin soup or cream soups in particular but this was light and spiced so delicately with cinammon. Each tea set costs $25 which is so reasonable for its quality not to mention the vintage ambience. I heard it is very hard to get seating over the weekends as the place is very small. Good thing we were here on a Monday.

Dainty and delicate. Just lovely.

Vintage Tea Salon @ Dirty Jane's Emporium
Entry via Banyetter St. Bowral - Southern Highlands
www.yourvintageoccasion.com.au