Jewels in Your Own Backyard

I love, love, love my city, Columbus Ohio.  It's a city of great music, art and restaurants as well as unique neighborhoods. I never know what I will discover. My day had started with a discussion about my Grandmother’s tea set - while running errands I took an alternate road and weirdly enough (tea being the connect) happened upon the Cambridge Tea House on 5^th avenue in Grandview. 

I stopped in, ordered a cup of tea and a yummy veggie sandwich of cheese, carrots, lemon hummus, avocado and sprouts on home-made crusty bread. The sandwich came with a side of cold pasta with bits of butternut squash and raisins. I lived for a short time in Amsterdam - the Dutch have a word “gezellig” which means cozy… it describes tea time with pastries, or your house on a rainy day, or snug in a comfy chair reading a good book.  

Cambridge Tea House  was both elegant and gezellig with creamy white walls and brick architectural features. Numerous windows created a light and airy feel on an otherwise dreary rainy day. Botanical and bird prints were sparingly and strategically placed throughout. Even the chalk board with the daily specials was fantastic (I’m a big chalk board fan!). It was the simplicity of the furnishings, wall colors, linen table cloths, fresh flowers that created such a beautiful atmosphere. Their tea selection was varied- they offer high tea in the afternoon and I can’t wait to bring my tea connoisseur friend Julie here for lunch.  I truly felt I was back in Europe enjoying a simple graceful meal.

I couldn't resist tasting more food so I placed a take-out order of beet salad as well as the mixed greens with feta/citrus fruit which we'll have for dinner this evening along with some toffee pudding for dessert. Thinking I had made this amazing discovery I asked how long they had been open -  the staff informed me that they had been in business for two years. Just goes to show you that when you take a different route through your own city, a city you think you know - you may just find a jewel. 

*Tap on the CTH photos to the right to go directly to their web-site.