Text by Britt E. Stafford • Photography by John O’Hagan
Houston is a crucial part of Texas’s fascinating history. After all, its name honors the revolutionary general and first president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston. In addition to a plethora of historical treasures and tourist spots, such as the San Jacinto Monument and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the metropolitan area contains a number of locales for tea, each with their own take on the time-honored tradition.
1513 West Alabama • Houston, TX 77006
713-904-3537 • bistromenil.com
For art lovers, taking tea at Bistro Menil is a wonderfully refreshing way to rest after spending a day viewing the exhibits from the Menil Collection, which consists of several buildings across a 30-acre property. While conveniently located on the sprawling campus, the restaurant’s modern interpretation of afternoon-tea service is notable on its own merit. Set in a space with contemporary pieces adorning the walls, the ambience of the bistro extends the experience of a day spent exploring the collection’s different displays.
In January 2016, Bistro Menil co-owner and chef, Greg Martin, introduced afternoon tea after hosting a successful tea for two of the restaurant’s regular customers. But rather than offer the traditional presentation, he wanted to bring a touch of style and panache to tea fare.
Guests who partake in tea, at $45 per person, start with their choice of a coupe of champagne or a glass of sweet Italian soda. “Even if [people] are just having tea together as friends, there’s a bit of celebration there,” Greg explains. “Champagne is always an appropriate starter for that, and the Italian sodas are still just as celebratory and fun.” Traditional scones are replaced with a demitasse cup of the soup of the day, followed by a three-tiered stand brimming with elaborate sweets and savories, all accompanied with the tea of the guest’s choice. Items such as the Nutella-filled brioche Toasted Chocolate Hearts are best savored warm, while others, like the Wild Mushroom and Walnut Pâté Crostini, can be enjoyed at any time throughout the service. “We didn’t want people to feel there was a specific order to tea,” Greg adds. “We want it to be celebratory and fun.”
Bistro Menil offers afternoon tea from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Greg recommends making reservations at least 24 hours in advance to ensure the best experience.
3816 E. Broadway Street • Pearland, TX 77581
281-485-6484 • fourfriendstearoom.com
In a small house in Pearland, just south of Houston, Four Friends Tea Room brings the charm of homemade fare to afternoon tea. A fortuitous visit to the tearoom for some of its prized pumpkin bread in 2013 spurred Sherrill Kirby to purchase the venue when she learned it was for sale. Sherrill and her two sisters, Esther Robbins and Joy Mutepfa, still serve bread made from that same recipe, along with a myriad of savories and sweets. “We bought it as a family,” Sherrill says, “and it’s definitely a family restaurant. We have a friendly staff that love people, and we love what we’re doing.”
While served in delicate and beautiful china, teatime at Four Friends Tea Room is a homey, pleasant experience for patrons. Guests can opt for afternoon tea for $12, which includes a pot of tea, three finger sandwiches, and a dessert, or high tea, which adds a cup of soup and a salad, for $20. While the pumpkin bread is a definite favorite, the tearoom’s tomato-basil soup and egg salad are two of the most popular savory options on the menu.
Among the more-than-a-dozen loose-leaf options of teas, the Four Friends Spice Tea, served year-round, is a particularly delightful brew especially during the holiday season. “Even people who don’t like tea enjoy our house tea,” Sherrill says.
Four Friends Tea Room is open for afternoon tea or lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
5305 Bissonnet, Suite D • Bellaire, TX 77401
713-218-6300 • mchughtea.com
Bellaire native Kim McHugh’s fascination with the health benefits of organic tea didn’t arise until she married her husband, a Scotsman and an avid tea drinker. His constant consumption of hot tea motivated her to research the drink and its health benefits. Inspired by her findings, Kim eventually became a certified tea specialist and tea-blending master. She realized that opening a tearoom would allow her to share her newfound knowledge and to provide a place in the community for people to gather and relax.
“I always wanted a place [in Bellaire] to go and meet a friend,” Kim recalls. “When you think about a place for people getting together to hear each other talk and have meaningful conversations and keeping those relationships alive, tearooms have been notorious for being just that.”
Combining Kim’s tea expertise with her mother’s culinary skills, the family opened McHugh Tea Room in 2013. Billie Stafford, affectionately called “Queen of the Kitchen,” develops all the recipes for the fare served in the tearoom and is in the kitchen at least once a week preparing pie dough and different baked goods. “Those are her recipes and recipes from her mother and her grandmother,” Kim explains.
While tea, scones, and a full-service menu are available from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. without reservation, afternoon tea (two-person minimum) is served from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with reservations required by noon the day before the scheduled teatime.
1080 Uptown Park Boulevard • Houston, TX 77056
713-418-1104 or 888-472-6382 • granducahouston.com
Fashioned after the 16th-century palazzo of Adalberto Malatesta (the Granduca of Monfallito), the Hotel Granduca, which translates to “Grand Duke” in Italian, is a unique find in Houston’s Uptown Park area. Visitors marvel at the hotel’s distinct Italian influences in style and décor regardless of whether they stay in one of the hotel’s 122 rooms and suites or come to enjoy its serene afternoon-tea service.
Instituted in 2008, afternoon tea was a natural addition, says Mary Grace Gray, who was general manager of Hotel Granduca at the time and now serves as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations of The Interfin Companies, which owns the Granduca. “People come here, and they want to linger, even if they are not hotel guests,” Mary Grace says. Because the tradition of taking tea—complete with white gloves and hats—was instilled in her from childhood, one of her favorite events each year is the annual partnership with the Houston Ballet for a children’s Nutcracker tea held on the first two Saturdays in December.
Although typically hosted in Ristorante Cavour, afternoon tea is not restricted to that space. “We found that guests really enjoy [having tea in] different areas throughout the hotel,” Mary Grace says. “It can be in a hotel suite. It can be in the billiard room. It can be in the gardens, the bar, or even the library.”
The three different options for afternoon tea, ranging from $52 to $85 per person, include freshly baked scones, an array of sumptuous savories, and an assortment of decadent pastries and cakes, with a glass of prosecco or champagne and an endless pot of tea from a collection that changes throughout the year. While the menu also varies seasonally, one or two tea treats are sure to have Italian flair in keeping with the hotel’s namesake.
Afternoon tea is served from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. daily at Hotel Granduca. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the hotel or Ristorante Cavour.
2620 Fonder Road • Houston, TX 77063
713-334-4832 • houstontearoom.com
As guests step into Your Cup of Tea, they immediately feel at home in the cozy space. The charming tearoom, nestled in a small shopping center in western Houston, is decorated floor-to-ceiling in antiques, tea wares, and other accoutrements. Christmastime, in particular, is when its original owner, Mary Schnurr, goes “a little over the top” with all manner of decorations, though. “[The tearoom] takes a lot of people back to their childhood and fond memories, which is what it is all about,” Mary comments.
Following 35 years of working in the hospitality industry, Mary initially wanted to open a bed-and-breakfast of her own, but found a tearoom a more affordable option. “I already had a large collection of antiques. I’ve collected glassware and china and teapots all my life, so a tearoom seemed to be the next best and ideal place for me where I could still do my own cooking, my own thing, and meet people,” Mary says. Her bubbly and outgoing personality definitely added to Your Cup of Tea’s warm and inviting ambience. Born in Canada, Mary spent her childhood in England, which is evident when she spoke to guests, occasionally addressing them as “my darling” or “love.”
At $20 a person, afternoon tea comes with an assortment of treats: strawberries with yogurt cream, an assortment of finger sandwiches, and homemade scones with cream. Guests can select a tea blend to enjoy. Cindi recommends trying the house blend, which is a secret mix of floral and citrus flavors, including lavender, rose, and orange, develop by the original owner of the tearoom.
Guests can enjoy lunch or traditional English afternoon tea from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and Tuesday and Sunday by appointment. Afternoon tea requires a minimum of 8 people and a minimum 72 hour advance reservation.
Editor’s Note: In late August of 2017, Hurricane Harvey brought torrential rains and flooding to the Houston area, and many of these tea businesses suffered damage. Our hope is that all of these wonderful venues will be back serving tea again very soon. However, at press time, it was unclear when normal operations would resume. We encourage you to support these tearooms in their recovery efforts, but we do recommend calling before visiting.
From TeaTime November/December 2017
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