 | A Cup of Tea, Kailua, Hawaiiposted by TeaHouseTimes Admin, ADVERTISER TEA RELATED PRODUCTSMonday, August 16th 2010 @ 9:53 PM |
A Cup of Tea, Kailua, Hawaii
Amidst the white sandy beaches, sparkling turquoise ocean, and tropical flowers of Hawaii, you will find another treasure, a Victorian Tea Room and Boutique called “A Cup of Tea.” Nestled in Kailua on the Windward side of Honolulu on the main island of Oahu, (President Obama and his family’s favorite place to vacation); this charming tea room delights guests with an ambiance and flavor that favorably compares to the best tea rooms around the world.
Why a Victorian Tea Room? Darlene Pahed’s passion and love for all things Victorian was a chance to take her guests back to an era when tea was served in our islands. Iolani Palace, which is the only royal residence in the United States, stemming from Hawaii’s kingdom days, visitors were greeted with tea by the kings and queens who ruled Hawaii and resided at the palace. Iolani Palace was designed and built with an English architectural design and filled with Victorian furnishings, including silvertea services. During the reign of our beloved King Kalakaua, who was known as the traveling king, spent much of his time traveling throughout Europe and no doubt partook in the delights of afternoon tea during his many adventures!
Proprietor Darlene Pahed, a native of Honolulu, opened A Cup of Tea in July 2008. Introducing this establishment was truly her “cup of tea”—a dream come true! Her aim was to create an enchanting escape for all sorts of occasions, whether it be a fun location for a baby or bridal shower, a special place to celebrate a birthday, or simply a place of tranquility to escape everyday stresses. Her approach is innovative and she creatively seeks new ways to keep her tearoom lively and fun. The festive décor is updated seasonally, and unique events that entertain and educate guests are scheduled monthly. Movie nights are a favorite event, and many ladies even don their costumes to correlate with the featured show. Some of her past movie nights included pajama nights featuring Mama Mia, Poodle Skirt Night featuring Grease! Educational programs include “Tea with Tracey” featuring the tea room’s English-born hostess. Tracey teaches etiquette and talks about the legends and history of afternoon tea.
An in-house chef prepares a daily array of scrumptious foods. Chef Jocelyn features many specialties including homemade carrot ginger, French onion, cream of mushroom, and Irish baked potato soups. The crisp salads are topped with a tangy house dressing that is now so popular it is bottled and sold to the guests’ delight. Another tea room favorite is the Royal Tea Cookies baked fresh and sold in their boutique. A traditional tea tray offers an assortment of sandwiches, scones, and delectable desserts. Guests also choose a pot of tea from over 30 teas on their golden tea cart, including classic black or green teas, rooibos blends, and herbal infusions.
The tea room attracts guests from across the islands and also many international as well as mainland visitors. Kailua, is the most sought after town to live in Hawaii. Just 1 mile from Lanikai beach (voted Best top 10 beaches in the world) where movie stars have their residence, and a sought after location for the most bed and breakfasts in Hawaii and just 12 miles from Waikiki, A Cup of Tea offers a welcome environment with personalized service. Most of the employees are local residents who are now integrated into the tea room family and dedicated to making sure each guest has a delightful experience. A Cup of Tea has earned the “Chamber of Commerce New Business of the Year 2008” and “Best New Restaurant in Hawaii 2009” as well as the Critics Choice for Best Tea.
With their personal service, fantastic ambiance, and tasty menu, their best years are yet to come! For more information on A Cup of Tea, please visit: www.acupoftea.com.
A Cup of Tea is located at 407 Uluniu Street, Suite 101, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, Phone: (808) 230-8832, www.acupoftea.com
From the July/August10 issue of The Tea House Times. To view the most recent issue, please register / log-in at http://www.theteahousetimes.com for free access.