Soothe the Spirit & Expand the Palate
Cambridge Tea House serves hand-crafted elegance
By Abigail Hartung |
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On a tranquil corner of Fifth Avenue in Marble Cliff, just west of Grandview, sits a quaint establishment boasting all the luxury of traditional tea service, without the pretension.
A selection at the Cambridge Tea House
Photo: David S. Lewis
Open since September 2009, the Cambridge Tea House provides a relaxing experience, where patrons are encouraged to leisurely enjoy their time. Owner Mary Boesch, 59, has turned her culinary passion into a thriving business with quite a local following.
"We've really been embraced by the neighborhood," said Boesch of the Marble Cliff area. "Lunchtime is often standing room only; reservations are recommended."
Questions about the tea service and cuisine are welcome, providing patrons with a unique learning experience.
The teas offered are quality loose-leaf selections from Harney & Sons Fine Teas. The tea list includes white, green, black, herbal, and flavored teas. The tea menu changes with the season and customer demand. Earl Grey, for example, was added by popular request. The current favorite is the Paris blend, a black tea similar to the Earl Grey, flavored with bergamot oil and black currant, offering notes of caramel and vanilla.
From the scones to the quiche, and all the tortes and petit fours in between, the pastries are made from scratch daily. For those whose prior scone experience has consisted of something more akin to a sugary hockey puck than anything edible, prepare to be awed. The moist sweet biscuits are offered in plain cream and currant varieties, along with daily featured flavors, such as butter brickel. Served with clotted cream and jam, these scones melt in your mouth. The Cambridge Tea House uses a traditional British recipe for the clotted cream, a wildly delicious spread used in place of butter on the scones: a rare treat not typically found in the Midwest.
Boesch and her team have strived to create a welcoming atmosphere. "We wanted this to be a place where people felt comfortable - we love to have people linger over lunch," she said.
The menu includes casseroles, soups du jour, salads, and sandwiches with creatively inspired combinations of fresh ingredients.
The fine details of the interior provide a delightful complement to the exquisite cuisine. Guests are served with place settings of vintage dishes on linen tablecloths with endearing accents, such as handmade fabric tea cozies and traditional three-tiered silver trays.
The Tea House is available for private parties in the evenings, the perfect setting for bridal and baby showers, intimate birthday parties, and celebratory gatherings.
Monthly chef dinners will also be offered in the coming months, sure to be a mouthwatering series of affairs.
Cambridge Tea House
1885 W Fifth Ave.
(614) 486-6464
www.cambridgeteahouse.com
Originally Published: March 1, 2010
