Tea Anyone?

I didn't watch the State of the Union. Yes, I know that I am a bad American;). But between the internet and chatter on the street I wasn't worried about missing to much. But there was something I did miss (until NerdDad mentioned it and then I saw it on the Daily Show;). Speaker Pelosi had a silver tea set in front of her during the speech. I find that odd. Very odd. Now for many, many of my childhood and early adult years I watched the State of the Union and I don't recall ever seeing a silver tea set in front of anyone. N

Now frankly I had always been paying attention to the speech and the Presidents so did I just not notice? Is she that pretentious that she needs a special tea set instead of a glass of water like the Vice President? What is the deal?