Peace and SereniTea

by Donna M. Webb
Grand Island Dispatch, May 2, 2008

A blessing—that’s what Cathy Knight, co-owner of SereniTea Cottage & Gift Shoppe, hopes the teahouse will be for everyone who visits. “I want it to be a place where people can come and have some peace,” she said.

Knight and her partner, Rosemary Doeing, opened their SereniTea Cottage to the public last week at 2014 Grand Island Blvd. A good number of folks have stopped by just to get the brochure and find out more. “People don’t know what a tea is. It’s just not common,” Knight explained.

The brochure invites you to “leave all the technology behind and allow a steaming cup of tea to clear your mind, a warm scone to encourage your spirit, and the ambiance of SereniTea to quiet your heart.” To foster a peaceful environment, patrons are asked to silence their cell phones and pagers. Also, there is a sign that states, “To maintain a relaxed and calm atmosphere, we welcome children ages 5 and up.” Customers are welcome to visit the Hat Corner at SereniTea to borrow a vintage hat to dress for tea. A gift shop offers teacups, teapots and jewelry for sale.

The cottage is open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with seatings for tea at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. Reservations are recommended. The “Cottage Tea” includes an assortment of tea sandwiches and desserts, accompanied by freshly baked scones, as well as clotted cream and lemon curd for spreading. On a recent day, the desserts included a large chocolate-dipped strawberry, a chocolate-covered peanut cluster, and a strawberry-filled muffin. The sandwich for a particular day might be turkey with raspberry mayonnaise or a ham and apricot pinwheel served on a tortilla. “The menu will vary almost daily,” Knight explained.

If you’re in the mood for a somewhat larger meal, then consider ordering the “Grand Tea.” It adds a seasonal side dish, such as soup, salad, or a piece of freshly baked quiche, to all of the items you receive with the “Cottage Tea.” Both teas include unlimited hot or cold tea. On Tuesday evenings, SereniTea Cottage is open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a “Fireside Tea,” and walk-ins are welcome. This would make a fine stop after the Tuesday night town-sponsored concerts in the summer.

Knight and Doeing also take reservations for parties – whether they are for birthdays, anniversaries, showers or any special occasion – for up to 35 people. Last Sunday they hosted a wedding shower for a large number of ladies. “It was hugely successful. The mother of the bride and the bride were just ‘wowed.’ We were really happy,” Knight noted. Also, there was a recent birthday party for a 6-year-old girl and nine of her friends. A kid-friendly menu was served with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pizza rounds, cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats and hot chocolate. The girls had a good time trying on all the hats, Knight explained. For party reservations, please call the cottage at 774-8322 for more information.

When you visit SereniTea, expect to select your own tea bag from a lovely wooden tea box. Choices include Earl Grey, peaches and ginger, English breakfast, Darjeeling, and cinnamon with spice. Bone china teacups and teapots are used. Teapot warmers with gold filigree keep your tea nice and hot. They’ve become so popular with customers since SereniTea opened that Knight and Doeing have ordered additional ones for sale to the public. “The presentation is so critical. It just sets the tone,” Knight said, as she spoke about all of the “little extras,” like the teapot warmers.

Sometimes they receive suggestions from patrons. If so, “we take it seriously,” Knight said; “We want to be around a while, and we want to perfect it.” One couple from the Island, who originally came from England, visited SereniTea recently and was very complimentary, according to Knight. “They had two suggestions to improve things, and that’s wonderful. We adopted both suggestions,” she said. One was that SereniTea use filtered water for tea, rather than tap water.

Even the gentlemen have been stopping by the cottage with their wives, and young men have come with their dates. There’s no need to worry about the amount of food served. “All of the people I’ve spoken to say it’s plenty of food,” Knight said; “No one is walking away hungry.”

At the close of business on Saturday, May 3, SereniTea will be holding a drawing for a tea lunch for four people. Those who would like to take a chance should stop by and drop off a slip of paper with their name, address, and phone number by 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Thus far, the responses to SereniTea Cottage have been very positive, Knight noted. Millie Weiser stopped by this past Wednesday just to check out the teahouse. “You’ve done a terrific job,” she said. Another person commented, “Oh, this is what the Island needs.” Knight reported that one lady, who had been rushing around all day, told her, “I walked in and just said ahh.”

“That’s the whole idea – Serenity – just come in and chill out,” Knight said.

Opening SereniTea Cottage has been the fulfillment of a longtime goal for her. “There aren’t many people who get to live their dream,” Knight said. “I’m very grateful.” She feels the new teahouse is “being very well received.”

“I think the public is pleased to have someplace to go that is unique,” she said.