Victorian Steampunk-inspired tea room, Apothica Teas, in Niles, is excited to host their Elven Feast on the 28th of May. You needn’t journey all the way across Middle Earth in search of tasty treats, for the Great Hall on Main Street will provide entertainment, sustenance, and an evening of delight.
“This is our third Feast so far,” says Laura Hollister, Proprietor. “Our first was a Heroes Feast, followed by a Dwarven Feast. Rachael and Mathew plan and execute these quarterly events, and they sell so well! People really enjoy the groaning tables of food, shared family style, and the fun of dressing up and being around others who enjoy the fantasy themes.”
The Great Hall at Apothic Teas can seat forty-nine attendees, and is located above the tea shop. The space once housed a ballroom, ballet studio, and yoga studio, and is the perfect space for larger Apothica Teas events. The Great Hall, now adorned with glittering chandeliers and lovely atmosphere, is also available to rent for private parties.
“After the wonderful success of the Heroes Feast, Matthew and I were discussing how we could integrate quarterly feasts without them getting boring,” says Rachael Conley, Bosun at Apothica Teas. “We both decided that basing each Feast off of a group of fantastical creatures would be perfect: an Elven based Feast just seemed natural, especially during the spring. Of course we will have my take on the classic Lembas bread, and one of our biggest hopes is that we can source pheasant to serve, but that’s a difficult thing to find. I’m currently working on developing a Buckwheat and Honey cake as well.”
Within two weeks of announcing the exciting Elven Feast, tickets nearly sold out! Word of the delicious fun to be had at Apothica Teas is spreading, and though the May feast is almost at capacity, there will be more to attend. The Orc Feast will be happening in July, and the 2nd Annual Heroes Feast will be held in October. “We are super excited about the Orc Feast because the menu has been a challenge to develop, but we’re having so much fun figuring it out,” Rachael says.
Every Feast comes with lively entertainment by Bell, Book, and Canto, a Kalamazoo-based group of minstrels that offers a truly unique musical experience, paired with goofy antics and shenanigans. “They add so much atmosphere with their silliness, and their musicianship is wonderful!” says Laura. “We love the minstrels!”
“We are so excited that the Feasts have been such a big hit,” Rachael adds.”I call it a labor of love, because we put so much effort into everything, but the result is so absolutely worth it. We are beginning to plan next year’s feasts and have plenty of ideas for themes. Some ideas we’ve pondered are Pirates’ Feast, Faerie Feast and Goblin Feast, but nothing is set in stone yet.”
Visit Apothica Teas at 222 E. Main Street in Niles, for a taste of custom teas and delightful refreshments, or purchase a loose leaf tea flight to try at home. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m to 8 p.m, and Sunday 11 a.m to 4 p.m, pop in for a pastry and a fresh pot, or a luncheon plate and a bubble tea. Enjoy live music on Wednesdays in The Conservatory, and book your Afternoon Tea Reservations on the website, apothicateas.com, where you can find the current month’s menu. Watch for updates and mark your calendars for future Feasts!
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
jocelynet@moodyonthemarket.com
