Tea time arrives for Taste and See

The new home of Taste and See Ministries opens its doors today.

The tea room, a nonprofit which helps women who are transitioning out of homeless shelters, is now located in the Kirtland Cutter-designed house that is also home to Angelica’s Bed and Breakfast, at Ninth and Cedar in Spokane.

Thada Ziegler started the ministry in 2003 when she began hosting teas in her Colbert home to raise money for Anna Ogden Hall. The teas became a monthly event and, in two years, raised more than $10,000 for the women’s shelter.

Ziegler closed the tea room at the end of 2005 when the events became too big for her house. Since then, she’s been working to open a full-service tea room and store.

The new location will allow Taste and See Ministries to offer an internship program so women who are moving out of homeless shelters can train in the tea room. Ziegler says she hopes the skills they learn there will help them find future jobs.

The tea room will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday with a tea bar where customers may choose among 16 different loose leaf teas. Scones and treats will be offered. Their specialty is huckleberry scones, Ziegler says.

Afternoon teas will be served at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. To make reservations call (509)714-0097

The tea room also will have a small retail area with gift items, and loose leaf teas may be purchased. All proceeds will be used to hire women who are in transition from homeless shelters.

For more information, go to www.tasteandseeministries.com.

Greenbriar announces fall classes

The Greenbriar Inn chefs are teaching classes for everything from soup to sushi for the next two months.

Classes are $45 each and includes a meal (or equivalent noshing) along with nonalcoholic beverages and complimentary wine. They’ll also book private classes for groups of 10 or more. Call (208) 667-9660.

Classes are held at the Greenbriar Inn, 315 Wallace in Coeur d’Alene.

Here’s the schedule:

Monday – Traditional and authentic Tuscan recipes, from soups to desserts, 6 to 9 p.m.

Oct. 20 – True Mexican cuisines, taught by guest chef Lynne Wiedemann of Cook with US!, 6 to 9 p.m.

Oct. 27 – Sushi methods and garnishes, 6 to 9 p.m.

Nov. 3 – Country French cooking, 6 to 9 p.m.

Nov. 10 – Soups and sauces, 6 to 9 p.m.

Nov. 17 – Hors d’oeuvres and tapas for the holiday season, 6 to 9 p.m.

Nov. 22 – Gifts from the kitchen, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.