Three Sisters Tea Room opens in Grand Hotel

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Sharing a love for England, its history, pageantry, tradition and china, sisters Laurel Konsor, Paulette Kuehn and Joan Foss opened the Three Sisters Team Room last week at 208 N. Minnesota.

Located in the historic Grand Hotel, which was known as the Union Hotel in the late 1800s, the business began as a dream of the youngest sister, Laurel Konsor.

Briefly, you could call the Tea Room "the opposite of fast food" as Barry Konsor, Laurel's husband, put it.

"People can come in relax, and keep the table all day if they want to," Laurel Konsor said.

The tea room occupies the space originally used as the Union Hotel's restaurant when it opened in 1876. A saloon occupied the space next door.

The trio got inspiration for the business from their mother, grandmothers and aunts who baked cookies, cakes and other desserts for many years. The idea came during a telephone conservation among the sisters a year ago in which they discussed starting a British restaurant.

When Laurel's husband got a job with Mathiowetz Construction of Leavenworth, the Konsors moved to New Ulm from Litchfield.

Locating here allowed Laurel and her sisters to fulfill the dream.

Paulette Kuehn, who did the interior decorating of the team room, lives in Forest Lake. Joan Foss, who ordered the tea services and other tableware, lives in Montgomery, Ala.

Laurel Konsor will be the most actively involved in the business.

The restaurant menu includes scones (small, light, biscuit-like quick bread), finger sandwiches, clotted (cooked) cream, jam, lemon curd, fresh fruit, coffee, iced and potted tea, milk, specialty sodas and bottled water. Tea and gift selections are available. Tea is brewed fresh.

Black teas lead a lengthy tea selection. Black teas include Ceylon Breakfast, Darjeeling, Early Grey White Tip, Formosa Choice Oolong, Lap Sang Souchong, Togo Chai Vanilla and Yorkshire and Yorkshire Gold.

Green teas include Green Melange, Jasmine and Organic Mao Seng. Herbal teas include Evening in Missoula, Montana Gold, Red Berries and Rooi Bios. A tea that smells like bratwurst is also available.

The Tea Room is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.threesisterstearoom.net

Future plans include a possible Charles Dickens festival around Christmas, Valentine's Day event and book signings.

Hats are available for women who chose to don millinery while having tea.

A dress-up corner with many hat options is also available for girls attending children's birthday parties.