In this coffee blog, Mexican-duo Rebeca (mom) and Diego-Max (son) explore New York coffee shops and cafes. Rebeca rates the coffee and 5 year-old Diego rates the cupcakes, cookies, and pastries.
Diego and I have been coming here to Podunk, an American teahouse in the East Village, for close to five years. The place has been in New York City since August 2002. We never told you about this little secret of ours because it is not a coffee shop. This week we decided to be tea leaves for a day so that we could tell you about it.
Even though Podunk is not a coffee shop, it is still an essential place to visit if you are one who wants to explore the neighborhoods of New York City. Podunk has helped us make the city our home, without places like this, New Yorkers would feel empty.
The family business unwaveringly succeeds at drawing you back again to share in the tradition of two things: 1) enjoying the sense of taste and 2) sharing a moment with those you most enjoy. So if you are alone in New York City, make it a goal to make a friend and invite them here to share a memorable experience with you. We promise that you will crave it and its offerings forever afterward.
The tea. There are twenty-two informal tea & fare offerings. I can’t describe them all but one of my favorites is “Old Friends’ Tea”. This one offers cucumber sandwiches, scones, cakes, cookies, jam and cream with the suggested tea of earl gray (for one: 29, to share: 27.50 each). Other assorted tea sandwiches are available a la carte: ham, cucumber, walnut-date, turkey, sprouts & olive, and manchego. If you are on a limited budget you can order the tea by the pot and tiny baked goods from the counter.
The baked goods. When you walk along 5th Street you may smell the baking coming from Podunk’s front porch door. Every time we come, something is baking in the oven, waiting for us to arrive. The variety changes upon availability but we have been there when the following was available: ginger, shortbread, or chocolate chip cookies, cheddar biscuits, billowy scones (blueberry too) and pink frosting cupcakes (Diego’s favorite).
The family. Elspeth Treadwell, her daughter and husband all made the business what it is today. Eight years ago Elspeth wanted a tearoom because her daughter said, “mom, can you be home more?” Elspeth spoke to her husband, Mr. Podunk, to see what they could do so that she did not have to be working in the office all day. At the time, he was a professor with a serious Ivy league education and they sat and talked about what kind of family business they could start. Elspeth told him her idea and he said, “well, we can do that”. “He is still the money man of the business and he is the one responsible for why the store looks like it does…he made the room. He was placing everything while I was in the back baking.”
Elspeth says that “in New York its’ hard to drop in”, she wants Podunk to be the place people stop by. Now years after her daughter has left, the store is “still a neighborhood but now people who stop by are friends from all over the globe”. Podunk is located at 231 5th Street between Second and Third Avenues.
(212) 677-7722
Atmosphere: 5 Stars
Tea: 5 Stars
Baked Goods: 5 Stars
Service: Special
Price: $$$
*Note: There is no restroom so be careful how much tea you drink.
My name is Elspeth. I came across this lovely piece by Rebeca and Diego and want to say how grateful I am that the always charming coffeebeaners strayed into the leaves. Thank you both for portraying little Podunk so beautifully--we will try to live up to your kind words.
I love this place! I would have some tea there - instead of coffee. Love the bookshelves. Funny the things you notice....Thelma
ReplyDeleteMy name is Elspeth. I came across this lovely piece by Rebeca and Diego and want to say how grateful I am that the always charming coffeebeaners strayed into the leaves. Thank you both for portraying little Podunk so beautifully--we will try to live up to your kind words.
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