Dining News

Honor Thy Mother with Tea at Elise’s

By Lyn Jensen

Mother’s Day and tea service — two traditions that make a good pair for a celebration. To celebrate with generations of mothers and children, Elise’s Tea Room in Long Beach will be hosting a Mother’s Day special, May 13. Just be sure you make reservations. They’re necessary for Sunday at Elise’s and doubly so for Mother’s Day.

Owner and executive chef Elise Benavidez — a mother, herself — says she opened the tea room because as a child she loved having tea with her English grandmother, going to English tea rooms in nearby communities. She thought Long Beach could use an English tea room, so she started one.

So for nearly 23 years, Benavidez has been replicating English tea service at her elegant little storefront restaurant at 3924 Atlantic Ave. in Long Beach. Through the years she’s managed the restaurant while raising a family and earning her certificate in hotel restaurant and institutional cooking, baking and chocolate from the Long Beach Culinary Institute.

She’s written a book, Elise’s Tea Room and Recipes: Where Tea Warms the Heart. It includes a history of tea along with her recipes. It’s for sale at the tea room and on Amazon.

She began with her grandmother’s recipes but has developed her own specialties over the years. She serves made-from-scratch soups, salads and baked goods. She also blends her own teas — about 50 flavors, including five different Earl Greys.

At Elise’s Tea Room, tea parties are always happening, regardless of the day on the calendar. Benavidez said workers from nearby businesses often stop in for lunch, and her restaurant is a popular spot for bridal showers, baby showers and Red Hat Society gatherings.

After Mother’s Day, Elise’s Tea Room will host another special event: a party to watch the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Henry. It’ll be televised live at 4 a.m. Pacific Coast time on May 19. For the occasion Benavidez will open up her tea room early so guests may have tea and wedding cake while watching. No breakfast at that hour, however.

“It’s not a breakfast,” she explained. “It’s a tea.”

Hours:  11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Friday. Reservations needed on weekends.

Details: (562) 424-2134; www.ElisesTeaRoom.com

Venue: Elise’s Tea Room, 3924 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach

[vc_btn title=”Full Overview” style=”flat” shape=”round” color=”blue”]
Lyn Jensen

Lyn Jensen has been a freelance journalist in southern California since the 80s. Her byline has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, the Los Angeles Weekly, the Los Angeles Reader, Music Connection, Bloglandia, Senior Reporter, and many other periodicals. She blogs about music, manga, and more at lynjensen.blogspot.com and she graduated from UCLA with a major in Theater Arts. Follow her on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook.

Recent Posts

County to Protect Medi-Cal and CalFresh Access for 1.7 Million Residents Amid New Federal Work Requirements

The motion also calls for the expansion of workfare and volunteer opportunities across county departments…

14 hours ago

Governors Briefs: CalRx® Insulin, $11 a Pen, Will Soon be Available and Appointment Announced

This launch marks a significant step in the state's ongoing effort to lower prescription drug…

14 hours ago

Purdue Student Paper Shows Solidarity With Rival

  After the Indiana University Media School fired its director of student media and banned…

15 hours ago

POLA Lead Attorney Steve Otera Named Corporate Counsel of the Year by LA Business Journal

  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Business Journal has given a top legal honor…

15 hours ago

Ports Briefs: POLB Cargo Slows as Clean Truck Study and Air Quality Report Highlight Progress

The Final 2024 Class 8 Drayage Truck Feasibility Assessment Report focuses on battery electric and…

18 hours ago

Public Health Investigating Possible Local Spread of Clade I Mpox; Third Case Confirmed in Los Angeles County

So far in 2025, Public Health has reported 118 cases of clade II mpox.

2 days ago