Published December 13, 2024
A Taste of the Holidays
For more than 100 years, the famous chicken velvet soup from the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™ has been a deliciously decadent reminder of Hoosier holiday traditions.
Beloved for its tea service experience that was as cozy as it was classy, the Tea Room™ was the setting of many Hoosiers’ memories — especially during the holidays, when charming window displays and the Santa Claus Express train ride transformed the store into a winter wonderland.
For many, a trip to the local department store became a holiday hallmark. Year after year, families gathered together to enjoy a festive meal, complete with treats like tea sandwiches, the ice cream Snow Princess and, of course, the iconic chicken velvet soup.
While L.S. Ayres closed its doors in January 1992, the Ayres holiday experience lives on at the Indiana State Museum during Celebration Crossing, complete with the store’s classic window scenes, the original Santa Claus Express train cars on display and a loving recreation of the Tea Room™.
Today, families still to flock to our Tea Room™ during the holidays for a nostalgic dining experience with all of their favorite dishes — including the famous chicken velvet soup.
The Tea Room™ is open every year throughout Celebration Crossing, however seatings fill up fast, so we encourage guests to make reservations well in advance of their visit. To make a reservation at the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™, call visitor services at 317.232.1637.
This holiday season, you can also recreate a taste of the L.S. Ayres Tea Room™ experience at home! Making your own batch of the famous chicken velvet soup is an excellent way to bring a little classic holiday elegance to your own table.
¾ cup of butter
¾ cup of all-purpose flour
1 cup of warm milk
1 pint of hot chicken stock
1 cup of warm cream
1 quart of chicken stock
1½ cups of chopped, cooked chicken
¼ tablespoon of salt
Dash of pepper
Over medium heat, combine butter and flour, whisking constantly. Add warm milk, pint of hot stock, and warm cream. Cook over low heat, stirring with a whisk. When smooth and well combined, add the remaining ingredients. Yields 2 quarts of soup.
