Slàinte mhath (pronounced slawn-ja-va) is Scottish Gaelic for "good health." It's the perfect way to cheers a glass of Scotch or a cup of tea.
Thankfully, at Torra Tea, you don't have to choose between the two.
This August, Kathryn Soady (pronounced so-AY-dee) opened the stylish Scottish high tea shop and craft cocktail bar in a shopping district off Dishman Mica Road. It features nearly 40 loose-leaf teas and almost as many whiskeys, plus small plates of sweet or savory comfort foods, from freshly baked scones and finger sandwiches for afternoon tea to short ribs and meat pies for heartier, pub-inspired bites.
It's all served in a swanky dining room that ditches kitschy cottagecore for more streamlined, gold-gilded glam.
"My mantra is 'Tradition with the unexpected,'" Soady says.
There are two ways to order meals at Torra Tea. You can choose from an assortment of small plates, lunch plates or entrees, then pair your own cuppa or cocktail if you like. Plates range from a savory snack of cheese, cherries and nuts ($8) or a Scottish oat cake with butter, chutney and fruit ($7), to a sandwich platter ($8) or savory pie with salad ($18), to bourbon maple short ribs ($34) or coddle, a traditional Irish dish with pearl barley, bacon, potatoes and banger-style sausages ($26).
Or, you can let Torra Tea do the pairing for you, and experience more of the care and thoughtfulness of a prepared tea service.
"Afternoon tea really is more British and came out of one of the queen's desires to have a little something to eat before supper time," Soady says. "A tea service is just designed to bring tea and some food together."
And of course, don't skimp on the cocktails. In addition to whiskey, Torra Tea has every other classic spirit available. The mixologists behind the bar are just as comfortable creating your favorite negroni or gimlet as they are with guiding you toward your new favorite tea.
PURE NORTHWEST
126 N. Division St., Spokane
Open Mon-Thu 11 am-10 pm; Fri 11 am-1 am; Sat 9:30 am-1 am; Sun 9:30 am-8 pm
Last summer, Pure Northwest, an homage to home sweet Washington, opened where Red Lion used to be. The big antique bar and built-in booths are still there, but gone are the darkened windows, the bison head and the Sam Adams banners. Instead, a cascading wall of ivy and hanging planters give the space a refreshing, welcoming vibe.
Not only is the new spot clean and comforting with a cozy new patio, but it's open for brunch, lunch and dinner — a food-centric option on a corner that's typically dominated by drinks and nightlife.
"We're trying to do something that's affordable and approachable, so you can actually go out and enjoy your time out," co-owner Darin Talotti says.
INDABA FLAGSHIP ROASTERY
2020 N. Monroe St., Spokane
Open daily 6 am-6 pm (kitchen closes at 2 pm)
The last Indaba coffee shop, which owner Bob Enslow affectionately calls the "world headquarters" of Indaba, is the newest spot in the North Monroe Business District.
The spacious coffee shop gives Apple store vibes, and it's where guests can try Indaba's most select roasts and food items like bagel sandwiches and pastries from West Central's Made with Love Bakery. It's also the new home of all the company's roasting operations, which Enslow relocated from Spokane Valley.
In his next chapter of life, Enslow plans to transition from coffee connoisseur to coffee consultant. The new flagship location will provide space for baristas to take Enslow's new certification program or for entrepreneurs to participate in workshops focused on opening coffee shops in their own neighborhoods.
JADE: A PNW BAR
920 W. First Ave., Spokane
Open Tue-Sat 5 pm-1 am
Tucked between the rocking concerts at the Knitting Factory and the rowdy jam sessions at its sister venue The District Bar, there's now a chiller, cozier joint with plenty of plants, cushions and conversation-centric vibes.
Jade, a Pacific Northwest-focused "microbar," opened this September thanks to co-owners Aaron Andreson, food and beverage director for The Knitting Factory, and Roman Bobrovnikov, The District's bar lead. The small spot between the two concert venues on First Avenue provides a haven from some of the excitement down the rest of the block.
"We're shooting for a very comfortable, casual living room vibe," Andreson says.
They celebrate home with plenty of Pacific Northwest-based spirits, plus cider and beer from Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
"We didn't know for sure how easy [it would be]," Andreson says. "But it turned out there are a lot of distillers in these three states that we found out about that carry incredible products."
