Frequently Asked Questions
(Don’t see your question here? Send it to me on the contact form.)
Q: When is the next Wisteria Tearoom mystery coming out?
A: Book 8, A Valentine for One, will be released on August 10, 2021. (Fanfare!)
Q: Is there a real Wisteria Tearoom?
A: Not in Santa Fe. There is one in Florida, though I’ve never visited it.
Q: Where in Santa Fe is the Wisteria Tearoom located?
A: The Wisteria Tearoom is based on a real building, built as officer’s quarters for Fort Marcy in the mid-19th century.
Q: Why is the word “portal” italicized in your books?
A: Because this is a Spanish word (por-TAL), not the English word (POR-tal). A portal is a covered porch, often running the length of a building, a common feature of New Mexican architecture.
Q: Where can I go for tea in Santa Fe?
A: At present there is no place in Santa Fe that serves afternoon tea, but there is a lovely café called the Teahouse on Canyon Road. I posted about it. http://teahousesantafe.com/
If you’re going to be in Albuquerque at all, I recommend the St. James Tearoom for afternoon tea. This is the tearoom that inspired me to write the Wisteria Tearoom mysteries. It’s a bit pricey, but the food is all handmade and delicious, and the atmosphere is wonderful. It’s also the only place where you can buy Wisteria White tea.
http://stjamestearoom.com/wp/
And since a recent conversation with a friend resulted in my making a list of other places in the U.S. where I’ve enjoyed tea, here they are:
The Rose Garden Tea Room at the Huntington, San Marino, CA
The Brown Palace, Denver, CO (a bit bready, but good)
The Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans, LA
The Plaza Hotel, New York City, NY
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
The Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA
The Palace Hotel, San Francisco, CA
The Silver Spoon Tea House, Spokane, WA
Hidden Peak Teahouse, Santa Cruz, CA
and in Canada (Victoria):
The Empress Hotel
Butchart Gardens
