Kimberley Elise, a businesswoman and entrepreneur in metro Detroit, is the owner of Lily’s & Elise Tea House. This charming new cafe is known for high tea, delectable French pastries, fine dining and mocktails.
Growing up, Elise would get dressed up on special occasions to visit tea houses with her mother and grandmother in metro Detroit, often attending high tea at The Whitney. She didn’t care much for traditional British high tea foods, but she fell in love with French high tea during a trip to Nice. It was while sitting in a tea café in Nice that she realized she wanted to create something similar back home in Michigan.
“I told my mom, and she said… ‘A tea house? How are you gonna do that?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t know.’ So I started to Google,” Kimberley laughed. “I found a tea school in New York, and it was one of the best ones in the world. I actually completed their tea sommelier program. It’s a program which teaches the business of tea. There are three tea sommeliers in Michigan, and I’m the only African-American one.”
The vision behind Lily’s & Elise Tea House
Lily and Elise brings Detroit something special and new — a blend of a European-style street cafe afternoon and the regality of a British high tea — with a modern touch. The space is soft and elegant, with a sleek black and white color scheme perfectly accented by pink roses and beautiful pastries.
A visit is a sensory experience. From the calming aromas of the tea to the beautifully arranged treats, every detail is thoughtfully designed to create mindful luxury. It’s perfect for moms and littles alike; it’s truly a fairy tale dream in the heart of Detroit.
The tea house offers a space where moms and their kids can enjoy tea together and a special children’s menu. For the littles, options include cookie butter and jelly sandwiches, Strawberry and Marshmallow sandwiches, and the classic grilled cheese.
Kimberley’s training as a tea sommelier ensures quality in the teas offered. The tea house aims to provide a relaxed environment for families, offering both traditional high tea and kid-friendly treats.
For moms looking for a new place to celebrate, Lily’s & Elise is just that. It’s the kind of place that makes everything and everyone feel just a little more fancy than they were when they first walked in.
Q&A with Kimberly Elise
You’ve mentioned how your experience at a French tea house inspired Lilly and Elise. Can you tell me more about this?
Kimberley: I was in France — Nice specifically — and while I was in this cafe, it was just like everything was downloaded into my brain. This was in 2013 or 2014. I had told friends that I had wanted a flower cafe where you could come and make flowers and you can have tea and coffee, but I didn’t really take that into heart. It wasn’t something that I thought that I would be doing to be honest with you. But then the idea of Lilly and Elise just came to me, and it was like everything from the colors to the atmosphere.
Well, we are very glad that it did! Tell me how French tea is different from British tea?
Kimberley: French tea is more relaxed, more modern. So a person can dress up with their fascinator and their beautiful hair and their beautiful gown, but a mom with kids who may be a little unruly or may not want to sit still, she can bring her children. We have high chairs, car seats, cradles and booster seats, so she can come and bring all of her children to enjoy themselves.
Tell us about your children’s menu.
Kimberley: So we have the cookie butter and jelly, we have marshmallow fluff and strawberry. We have ham and cheese, and turkey and cheese. I tried to create a menu that was appealing for kids. So I’m gonna serve scones, we’re going to serve croissants, but we’re not serving meat patties and chicken pot pies, and all that kind of traditional stuffy faire. We’re serving French macaroons, cannolis, and fresh fruits shaped like hearts.
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