Amsterdam Tea Room
To a tea
Mark Turner doesn’t look like the person you may picture when you conjure up an image of a tea room proprietor – and the Amsterdam Tea Room is no dusty cliché either.
You won’t find doilies, floral-patterned porcelain or dainty sandwiches in sight. Turner is the tall, slim fellow with a full-sleeve tattoo behind the bar he designed and topped with thousands of Scottish – and one Canadian – pennies. Exposed brick, wood and metal are the backbone of the décor, with a modern mural by artist Michael Johnston highlighting the space.
Six years ago, Turner decided to move to Winnipeg from Glasgow. He was interested in the hospitality industry, but recession there made it difficult to pursue. One branch of his family tree extended across the pond to Canada. “I had been to Manitoba to visit family, so I was familiar with the place,” said Turner, who set out to learn about the business landscape here by working at King’s Head Pub.
It’s all falling into place, from food to entertainment and of course – everything that’s to a tea.
Mark Turner
When a location became available in Old Market Square in the Exchange District, he and his business partner snapped it up, even though it was a year ahead of their original schedule. It began as a retail tea shop, as the evolution of the business took shape in Turner’s imagination. “I always wanted it to be licensed establishment with beer, wine, and good food.
The tea room recently launched a new menu by Chef Frank McCann, previously of Close Co. on Stafford. “He understands making the most of small space.” A Dutch influence remains with menu items including appetizers, or hapjes, small plates, or kleine borden, for sharing, and house-made desserts, or snoepgoed. You’ll find stamppot, a traditional Dutch dish, made here with local sausage from Zinn Farms, and snert, a Dutch split pea soup with celery, onion and leek.
“It’s been my dream for a long time to build something from the ground up.” It’s all falling into place, from food to entertainment and of course – everything that’s to a tea. “No one is Winnipeg is doing what Amsterdam is – here or anywhere.”
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Photos by Mark Tabaquero
