The many charms of by Sarah Appel photos by Lindsey Cahill Photography
Tal-y-Tara
On a busy weekday afternoon in the
perennially fog-laden San Francisco Richmond district, I walked past a life-size plastic horse, pushed open a heavy Dutch door and ventured into Tal-y-Tara, a tack shop/tea room hybrid that has a long-standing reputation as a quirky city favorite. Tal-y-Tara (pronounced TAL-ee-TAR-ah) means “by the strength of the King” in Gaelic, and was founded by British expats Hugh and Melba Meakin in 1980. Now operated by the Meakin’s children, Sarah and Phillip, Tal-y-Tara has retained all of its original old school British charm. Upon entering Tal-y-Tara, I felt as though I had been transported to a cozy local tea room in London. I was warmly greeted by Phillip and seated in the old world style living room, complete with vintage polo posters, black and white equestrian prints, richly covered sofas and a crackling fireplace. I was soon treated to a pot of loose-leaf black breakfast tea, served alongside the warm freshly baked scones of the day, with Devonshire cream and jam. Phillip taught me the proper way to pour my tea: milk first, then tea. The first sip cemented the welcoming and familial atmosphere, and I knew I was a guest in the Meakin’s “home,” not just a tea shop patron. The scones were followed by a new selection from the extensive tea menu, as well as an assortment of tea sandwiches served on Tal-y-Tara’s signature “Motorloaf” semi-sweet dark bread, a secret Meakin family recipe. It was, in a word, divine. Admittedly, my only real afternoon tea experience has been at Harrod’s, but I can honestly say that it has nothing on Tal-y-Tara’s Motorloaf. But Tal-y-Tara is not just a tea shop - they are also the only full-line tack store in San Francisco, carrying brands like Ariat, Barbour, Charles Owen and more. The focus is on English and polo items, with a good smattering of equestrian
style clothing and accessories, and my eye was instantly caught by the Catena watches and men’s pageboy hats. While tea and tack may be the Meakins’ specialty, the family’s involvement in the equestrian community runs even deeper. Tal-y-Tara supports the Horses in California, Inc., a non-profit that has been hosting Polo in the Park, a daylong festival of polo and equestrian-inspired activities, since 1984. This year’s event will take place October 8th at the Wine Country Polo Club in Santa Rosa, and will include a six chukkar polo match, luncheon, show jumping exhibition, silent auction, hat promenade and more. Proceeds will benefit The James S. Brady Therapeutic Riding Program and The Churchill Center. Tal-y-Tara is the perfect place for anyone who loves horses, afternoon tea or wants to experience real British hospitality.
OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
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