Wickedly Delicious Tea Party at Calandra’s Bakery
Inside Calandra’s Bakery
Ever since I was a little girl I have been oddly obsessed with the original 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz. I would watch it over and over, I’d reenact the scenes, sing the songs, and I’ve dressed up as Dorothy many times throughout my life.
I’ve seen The Wizard of Oz in the theaters too many times to count, along with one time with the accompaniment by the NJ Symphany Orchestra. In my early 20s I met a few of the actors that played munchkins in the movie. Then, in 2019, my husband and I traveled to Beech Mountain, North Carolina to experience The Land of Oz which I detail here. Just last year I got to experience seeing an original pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the movie before being auctioned off for $28 million. To say The Wizard of Oz has been a big part of life is an understatement.
The very first time I saw Wicked on Broadway was a few years after it opened. It was the summer of 2007 and I was with my cousin. I always regret not witnessing the original cast perform, but I was never a big Broadway person. Neither of us knew much of the story or the music, and walked into it pretty blind. I remember walking out of the theater, in absolute awe of what I had just seen. Every note, every twist, every ounce of magic stayed with me long after the curtain fell. I absolutely loved the show. Since then I have seen the Broadway play 2 more times, and have been obsessulated with the music and story.
“It’s just…for the first time…I feel Wicked”
When I heard that Jon M. Chu was turning the Broadway musical into two cinematic films, I had my reservations. I always feel like recreating something as magical as the broadway Wicked production can be near impossible. But after witnessing the first Wicked film, and being pleasantly surprised (I saw it 3 times in the theaters) I can’t wait to witness Wicked: For Good.
It seems as though a ton of companies and places are marketing for the film and doing all kinds of different events to celebrate the latest installmanet of the Wicked franchise. Everyone from Dunkin Donuts to Gain laundry detergent is jumping on the pink and green bandwagon. It would make sense for local businesses to do the same.
“Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But because I knew you, I have been changed for good.”
This past weekend my mom, sisters, nieces and I attended Calandra’s Bakery in Fairfield, NJ for their “Wickedly Delicious” event. A Wicked Tea Party.
The venue decorated the entire place with Wicked and The Wizard of Oz decor. They had a makeshift yellow brick road, life size cardboard cutouts of the original Oz cast and some life size poppies in their waiting area. In the dining area there was an Elphaba, a small Glinda floating in a bubble and a flying monkey all defying gravity suspended in the air. They also had an Emerald City backdrop and a wall filled with pink and green cakes, champagne flutes and funny little signs.
Pink Lemonade and the Sour Apple Juice
The tea party begins with a little glass of pink lemonade and a sour green apple juice in a wicked witch’s glass. Then Toto’s basket arrives with cream filled donuts, sfogliatelles, and sweet brioche buns. After the bread basket, the defying gravity tower comes filled with cannolis, cream puffs, Emerald City strawberry jelly cookies, rainbow cookies, raspberry mousse tarts, cheesecakes, macaroons, red velvet poppy cupcakes, fruit tarts, dueling witches cookies, eclairs, and fudge brownies.
To complete the tea party are the Shiz Universtiy sandwiches which were turkey and Swiss or the mozzarella and sun-dried tomato.
The bakery did such a wonderful job creating a beautiful atmosphere for movie fans and little girls to enjoy. They filled the space not only with great decor but also had music playing from the movie the entire time. Although it was a bit pricey with the $75 price tag per person. You are able to take everything you don’t finish home with you. As someone gluten and dairy free, they did make accommodations for me, which was extremely appreciated on my end. I’m glad I was able to enjoy everything just as anyone else would.
The Wickedly Delicious Tea party runs until January 11, 2026 and has select tea times 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm Wednesday- Sunday.
If you are a Wizard of Oz fan or a Wicked fan this is definitely a must see event!
Will you be seeing Wicked: For Good this weekend?