Business Profile: Tea Temptations, Mohegan Lake
PutnamValley resident Michael Adamovich opened Tea Temptations, his first business, on September 1, 2012
Adamovich is a retired New York State court officer who served for nearly 33 years and was in the active military reserve for 24 years. Why did he decide to open his own restaurant? He did so based on a talk he had with his late father, who had the same name, and was a bus mechanic for 32 years.
“He told me before his passing his regret in life was never owning or working in a restaurant. So with the money that I got from his passing and the sale of his house I decided to open up Tea Temptations in his memory,” Adamovich said last week.
Tea Temptations offers about 35 tea choices, crepes, paninis and a wide variety of baked goods, including cakes and scones. “I did not want to have the responsibility of a full service kitchen with gas and propane,” Adamovich said. “I said if I do a simplified tea with some items on the menu that can be done on a convection oven or on a panini or a crepe machine, I think I could be just as successful.”
Adamovich began baking years before he opened Tea Temptations. “I was baking while I was in the courthouse, supervising people,” he recalled. “When my father passed away the outpouring was so great, I said if Mickey could say thanks, how would he do it? He baked. So I said let me say thanks through him by baking. So I would bake and bring things to each floor.” He noted that he baked desserts for all 19 floors in the Westchester County Courthouse in White Plains.
Adamovich regularly bakes the scones that are served in his restaurant. One day last week he baked buttermilk, cheery raisin, banana chocolate chip and dried cranberry scones. He occasionally bakes some of the cakes, though most of the baked goods are purchased elsewhere. He started his restaurant based on his father’s regrets and family plays a large role in Tea Temptation. Three of the crepes served are named after immediate family members. The S’mores crepe, which includes graham cracker crumbs, chocolate syrup and marshmallows, which was made because one of his daughters, Alexis, is a S’mores fan. Krista, another daughter, who is a vegetarian, inspired a crepe with goat cheese, basil and fresh strawberries. For his wife Pamela, Adamovich created a crepe featuring white bean salad and a grilled chicken breast served over greens.
A special feature of Adamovich’s restaurant is the Afternoon Tea, which is available all day. “It is a traditional British tea,” Adamovich said. “It’s normally served on a three tier stand.” The Afternoon Tea includes small sandwiches, scones with butter and jam, fruit and desserts, and a pot of tea that includes two servings.
Tea Temptations has furniture that was owned by family members, including the only kitchen table owned by his late mother, Antoinette. There are also photographs of family members in the restaurant.
Adamovich said he set the décor of his restaurant with a purpose. “I wanted to bring my home and my life into this place in memory of my parents,” he said.
Tea Temptations is located at 1950 Main St. in Mohegan Lake. It is open every day except Monday. For more information, call (914) 743-1701 or visit Tea-Temptations.com.
