We'll Always Have Paris...in a Cup

A number of years ago, my sister and I discovered the blissful pleasures of high tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada. The clinking of fine china, the artfully designed tea sandwiches, the presentation of the food on a 3-tiered porcelain tray and the fragrant floral centerpieces made us feel as if we had traveled back in time to an era when people didn’t rush through a meal and savored the sensual ambiance of the dining experience.

And so began the pursuit of one of our favorite pastimes: afternoon tea. We discovered the beloved ritual of drinking tea and all the interesting traditions that come with it including wearing fancy hats and dousing clotted cream and jam on a flaky, freshly baked scone. And who knew that there are edible flower petals that add vibrant color to a green salad?

We made it our mission to locate all the tearooms and tea salons in Southern California to feed our habit and explore the myriad ways of serving and drinking tea. In the process we found a half dozen tea rooms that we’ve returned to again and again. It’s become a wonderful way to commemorate birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, baby or bridal showers or simply to celebrate the end of a busy, stressful week.

And then we discovered the Paris in a Cup Tea Salon. Their tagline struck a chord. “We’ll always have Paris…In a Cup”.

The owner was drawn to old movies filmed in Paris in the 1940’s and 50’s and envisioned a space that created the ambiance and romance of the City of Light during that period. Located in the historic Old Towne section of Orange in Southern California, the tea salon embodies all of our favorite things: delectable food, enticing tea flavors, stunning interior design, authentic French music and servers who treat their customers with tender loving care. An added treat is the boutique in front of the tea room which sells French macaroons in all colors of the rainbow, French-themed accessories like mugs, jewelry and scarves and tins of aromatic loose leaf tea.

And let’s not forget the star of the show. The food! Mouth-watering baked potato soup, hearty French dipped roast beef sandwiches, PIC’s signature chicken salad, and beautifully crafted tea sandwiches. The dessert selections are heavenly: crème brulee, petit fours, chocolate mousse and oh, those French macaroons! Now let’s get to the tea flavors: Fruits of Summer, Passion Berry, Red Toffee, Cherries & Cream, Parisian Tango, Orange Spice, Jasmine Flower, Black Rose…to name just a few.

The salon also hosts special tea events for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas and these affairs sell out very quickly. They’ve created unique events with intriguing themes such as “Launch your Creativity Tea”, “French Quarter Tea” or the “Mother Daughter Victorian Tea”. The owner and staff frequently coordinate events with the city and have participated in the Old Towne Orange Food Walking Tour. If you book a tea with family and/or friends and tell them that you’re celebrating a special occasion, they surprise their guests with complimentary gifts from the boutique like mirror compacts in the shape of the Eiffel Tower. One of my favorite memories of dining there was when my sister and I took our two nieces to the salon. It was a lovely culinary experience spent with two of our favorite people and a marvelous time was had by all.

This has become our favorite tea salon and one of the best dining experiences in our community. But you often don’t fully appreciate an establishment like this one until a pandemic occurs and there’s a very real possibility that your favorite restaurant could close temporarily…or maybe even permanently.

And this nearly happened.

Like many business owners whose livelihoods were threatened by the pandemic, the Paris in a Cup team restructured its business model during this challenging time and set up a take-out menu so its loyal customers could still enjoy selected items from the menu including their one-of-a-kind scones and handcrafted soups. Naturally it wasn’t the same as dining in the restaurant with the lovely French interiors and authentic European music but we all did what we could to support their new normal.

I was always impressed with the stellar customer service and tantalizing food at PIC but the resilience, determination and creativity that the owner and staff exhibited during this past year has been nothing short of amazing and inspiring. At every challenging turn they came up with creative avenues to make it work and stay in business while keeping their loyal customers informed every step of the way. I’m overjoyed to see that they’re slowly making their way back to normality and can now service customers indoors while still following all city and state protocols to a T. (No pun intended.) It may be some time before they can fill their tea salon to full capacity again but they have come back with renewed purpose, passion and determination.

Paris in a Cup is so much more than a dining experience. It’s a multi-layered Parisian adventure and love letter to food, ambiance, travel, music, beauty, joy, laughter, great conversation, and really awesome tea. If you live in Southern California and drink tea to distraction, please go to Paris in a Cup. You’ll be welcomed with open arms and open hearts.

Bienvenue and Bon Appetit!