And then there’s the white board behind the counter advertising mushy peas.
No, the word “mushy” is not a criticism — that’s the popular English way of preparing them.
Walley has stayed true to her roots since moving to America two decades ago, and she’s keen on winning over the locals to her home cuisine.
“I have one woman who comes in with three teenage boys, and each of them picks their own tea,” she said. “There are really nice people who live here.”
Walley, a Manchester native, started out in her home country running a hotel in Essex and a tea room in Cornwall.
When her daughter, Janet Ingham, immigrated to America to get married, Walley followed her, and the two later opened an English-style restaurant, Tea and Sympathy, in Costa Mesa.
Walley sold the restaurant in March because she wanted a more relaxing schedule, but she found she wasn’t ready to retire just yet.
With the help of a local importer, she stocked up on English frozen food, tea and other delicacies, and set up the Copper Kettle two months later.
Many of her customers, she said, are natives of England and Scotland who stop by the store when they feel homesick.
Some, though, are just locals curious to taste another culture — even if that means forsaking Starbucks.
“Tea is in England,” Walley said. “Coffee is here. But I’ll tell you, there’s a lot of people in America turning to tea.”
In February, the shop plans to begin offering afternoon tea with Walley’s favorite fixings: two scones, jam and authentic Devon cream for $8.50. To many in her home country, Ingham noted, that menu was an essential part of the day.
“If we don’t have tea, we’re pretty miserable,” she said.
LOCATION: 1113 Baker St., Suite F, Costa Mesa
HOURS: Noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
SPECIALTY: English tea, food and china
CONTACT: (714) 241-1228
MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.
