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The Getty Villa Announces Tea by the Sea

The Getty Villa announces Tea by the Sea, a special dining experience inspired by the Mediterranean herbs, vegetables, and fruits that grow at the Villa. This weekly event begins on Thursday, December 2, 2010, and continues every Thursday at 1 p.m.

Tea by the Sea creates an opportunity to enjoy a multi-sensory experience at the Getty Villa, which is dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. The menu blends quintessential elements of Mediterranean cuisine, with items such as quince paste, tarragon aioli, and fig scones, all based on herbs or fruits that are found in the Villa’s gardens, which are authentic re-creations of the grounds of a first-century Roman villa.

Diners at Tea by the Sea are invited to deepen their understanding of ancient Roman cuisine by signing up for the culinary-inspired garden tours offered to Villa visitors on Thursday afternoons at 2:30.

The new Tea by the Sea is also partly inspired by visitors’ fond memories of the Villa’s beloved tea room, which closed in 1997 when the Villa underwent renovation. The new incarnation will be served in the Founder’s Room, an elegant space featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Villa.

Further inspiration from the days of old comes in the form of Mrs. Garrett’s popular carrot cake that was served when the Getty Villa originally opened in 1974. Jean Garrett, the late wife of the J. Paul Getty Museum’s first director Stephen Garrett, was well known for her culinary skills and often catered parties and luncheons at the Villa. Her carrot cake became a favorite and signature dish, and using her personal recipe, the Villa’s pastry chef will create Mrs. Garrett’s Original Carrot Cake as part of the tea experience.

Image: Herb garden at the Getty Villa

Tea by the Sea at the Getty Villa is $36 per person and will be served Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. A free, advance ticket is required for Villa admission. Tickets for the Villa are available at www.getty.edu or by phone at (310) 440-7300

Reservations for Tea by the Sea are available at www.getty.edu/visit/events/tea.

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