From drawing rooms of Victorian Britain to Ontario kitchens, rituals of afternoon tea have always delighted. Devotees to this splendid ceremony attest to the fact that tasty treats and fresh brewed tea really do have a way of seducing and calming even the most frazzled of souls. And so, it is no accident that this deliciously elegant occasion continues to entice.

Capture the essence of this splendid institution through the eyes of one who learned to sup the golden brew on her Granny’s lap. Enjoy recipes from Ontario’s finest Tea Rooms, in addition to those from a Lancashire family long steeped in the tea-time tradition.

By looking at the ceremony of tea drinking and the history of "taking tea" in Ontario, one comes to understand why this great institution is still very much alive and flourishing.

Frances Hoffman was born and raised in the north of England. Some of her female relatives, particularly a great-aunt whose home was a 350-year-old farmhouse nestled in the Derbyshire Pennines, encouraged and set the scene for developing her interest in social history.

Having come to Canada in 1966, Frances lives in a log house on the banks of the Grand River in the heart of Mennonite country near Waterloo, Ontario. It was while entertaining Old Order Mennonite neighbors, and in coming to appreciate the "old world" quality that pervades much of their lives, that the idea of writing Much to Be Done was conceived.

Frances Hoffman recently retired from her position as oral historian with the Kitchener Public Library. She is a keen researcher of family history and is a past Chair of the Waterloo-Wellington Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Over many years, Frances has held a number of volunteer positions relating to the areas of genealogy and local history. She is a former Board member of the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation. She has produced an extensive array of genealogical reference publications and co-authored, with Ryan Taylor, Across the Waters: Ontario Immigrants' Experiences 1820-1850. Her keen interest in culinary history led to the writing of Steeped In Tradition: A Celebration of Tea. Various areas of culinary studies, including those related to tea, continue to inspire a number of her research projects. She has lectured extensively and presented workshops on a variety of topics.

Frances Hoffman's profile page