Jewel’s Teahouse Cafe & Antiques: American Fare on Antique China

MONTGOMERY, TX -- It’s a real jewel in the heart of Historic Montgomery, serving up dainty teas and cakes and so much more. At present it has a minimalist feel to it, but give it time since they just started up recently, and are still building clientele. And as far as taste, ‘Jewel’s Teahouse,’ on Liberty Street in Historic Montgomery, has the soups, sandwiches, and breakfast fare that will have your taste buds loving every minute of it and you wishin’ for more.

The menu is filled with surprise after surprise, of old favorites with slight tweaks that sets them apart from the competition, and for a few sandwiches, you will be surprised by the age of the designer. And even if the four parking spots in front are filled, you will be inclined to park elsewhere and walk for what I’m about to describe. Besides,. all of us can use a few extra steps in our day.

I first tried the ‘Green Tea Pomegranate,’ which is an excellent starter to any time of the day. I sweetened mine with some honey, but your choice of sugar is also available. The caffeine kick is enlightening to say the least, and intensifies your conversations. And I dare say you could ‘self-actualize’ while sipping this tea, and invent something on the spot, or write a brilliant food and drink column. I found the GPT tangy and fresh, and its essence I thought should be bottled and sold.

Since it was still breakfast time, I next tried a few ‘break fast’ items. ‘The Micah,’ the genius take on the BLT by the owner Cathy Brown’s crafty son, Micah, 9. I thought it was a real jewel (no pun intended), and found his kicked-up version of the BLT, on a thick slice of bread, with fried egg, cheese, bacon and sausage; to be simply superb. Bacon and sausage and fried egg adds wonders to the most important meal of the day, and gives new meaning to an old sandwich. On these reviews, I can’t eat everything, and just when I thought I was out, The Micah kept pulling me back in. I mean, I couldn’t help myself, I ate the whole thing. I might have been under the influence of the Green Tea Pomegranate Tea, so watch out for yourself. LOL.

Another great item on the breakfast menu, and especially if you are on the go, is the ‘Cowboy Burrito.’ Made with not one, but two flour tortillas, it is filled with scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, potato, bacon, and onion. Of course, they can add other stuff you like as well, but the egg is the real star along with the potatoes. And even just as a side their ‘Country Potatoes’ are great with a crispy texture and soft insides.

On the lunch side, the ‘Chicken Cordon Bleu,’ is a most excellent warm sandwich, and is the Teahouse’s take on the traditional entree, It is adorned with sliced chicken, smoked ham, provolone. The housemade garlic aioli brings everything in the sandwich together. Served with thick white or wheat slices, and for lunch you can have either a half or whole to serve your appetite. I enjoyed it immensely, as did my taste buds.

Jewel’s ‘Chicken Salad Sandwich,’ blew me away with flavor, and with ingredients that are not normally found in homemade sandwiches of this nature. Made from Cathy’s mother’s recipe with chopped grilled chicken, diced onions, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and served on a croissant roll, I enjoyed all the textures involved. I love the crunch of every bite with the cranberries and pecans, and I’ve got this sandwich in mind for future visits. Truly, if they entered this sandwich in a contest, I’m sure they’d walk away with the Blue Ribbon.

When I was presented with a bowl of Jewel’s ‘Caprese Chicken Gnocchi Soup,’ I suddenly realized that I got lunch backwards. “Why that’s back luck,” I thought, then grabbed a little pinch of salt and tossed it over my shoulder. When it comes to gnocchi everyone thinks of OG’s version, but the tomato based chicken gnocchi soup opens another flavor adventure here. I found the Caprese version a great counter to the creamy. It was warm and satisfying. I loved the gooey provolone cheese, the basil, the balsamic vinegar reduction, and how they enhanced the flavors of the soup. It’s a real Italian opera of flavors that sing to taste buds, asking ‘where have you been?’

Desserts at Jewel’s Teahouse are baked freshly daily by pastry chef Mimi Wilson, and she has a general rotation which is always changing. The good thing with Mimi, is she uses a lot of butter, which makes everything taste better. I tried the ‘Lemon Bar,’ which sounds healthy, and I deemed it so for my purposes. With the buttery crust and tart lemon filling being balanced out with the sweetness of the blueberry. I finished the meal with a piece of their moist Lemon Cake, which was nicely fluffy, moist, airy, tangy, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor. I was hooked after one sampling. I promptly went home, and as usual was told by my glucose meter that I was crazy.

Jewel’s is an homage to Cathy Brown’s great-grandmothers’ who were both named Jewel. Cathy’s mother and daughter are both named Jewel. And Brown is fulfilling the dream of her mother and grandmother in opening the teahouse. Antiquing is another family passion, and her grandma collected glass candy dishes shaped like chickens, so when she first viewed the building and saw a chicken shaped candy dish on a counter, Cathy immediately knew she found the right place.

Jewel’s Teahouse is a place for great conversation, and you can see it in the patrons who vie for the quiet corners for their visits with friends or family. It's there waiting for you for breakfast or lunch, while reading a newspaper (preferably MCN) with a coffee and morning sweet, or with a friend chatting over a tea and sandwich.

Jewel’s Teahouse is located at: 14351 Liberty Street, Montgomery, TX 77356

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net