The Café at Thistle Farms
By Anne Elise Ray
Very few companies can boast exceptional goods and services while at the same time foster a network that fully supports women in need. Drive over to The Café at Thistle Farms and find “Love Heals Every Body,” scripted along its outside wall. This haven for those starting anew in both personal life and career is open to diners looking for a hearty chicken pot pie or a heavenly honey lavender latte.
Thistle Farms is a curative community created to help women heal from trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Founded in 1997, Thistle Farms eventually grew its business to create funding for program growth, as well as sustainable, dignified income for the women survivors. The Café became part of that mission in 2013. The West Nashville eatery provides breakfast and lunch serving locally sourced goodness ranging from buttermilk pancakes to veggie lasagna. If you really want a treat, stay for the afternoon tea.
As you walk into the modern farmhouse-style café, look up and admire the exquisite teacup installation suspended from the ceiling. Two thousand teacups dangle from the ceiling donated by survivors, celebrities and Thistle Farms friends. One of The Café’s guiding principles is “chado.” Chado is translated from Japanese to “The Way of Tea.” Chado is about more than just preparing tea, but about serving and sharing it from a deep place of love and intention. The teacup itself represents hospitality, healing, chado and story. Along with each teacup donated, a story was shared about the teacup or the person donating it. The teacups are displayed to honor those stories.
Nashville’s only afternoon tea service includes a traditional 3-tiered display of finger sandwiches, house-made scones complete with jams and clotted cream, and an assortment of savory and sweet bites to go along with your pot of tea. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance and costs $25/person. After renovating in 2017, The Café now offers a rental space for your events and includes catering from a fully staffed kitchen and dedicated servers. Host a private dinner for 10 or book a reception for 100 guests. For more information about The Café at Thistle Farms or to make your afternoon tea reservations, visit thecafeatthistlefarms.org. To learn more about Thistle Farms or to shop their products, visit thistlefarms.org.
Photos by Mary Craven Photography @marycravenphotography