Dining: Billy Corgan revives suburban tea shop
Madame ZuZu’s, the tea shop from suburban Chicago’s very own Billy Corgan, is back after a two-year slumber. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman, along with partner and fashion designer Chloe Mendel, have revived the tea shop at 1876 First Street in Highland Park.
The shop will brew drinks from Rare Tea Cellar, the Ravenswood gourmet vendor that supplies teas to some of Chicago’s best restaurants. The teas compliment a largely gluten-free vegan menu with salads, bowls, and “over-the-top” grilled “cheese” sandwiches.
ZuZu’s is using its own vegan cheese made with coconut oil, which Mendel says is superior because it lacks the synthetic taste that plagues other vegan cheese substitutes. Pastries and breads are made on premises, as are condiments like vegan mayonnaise and pickled veggies.
“Our goal is to bring good, quality food to Highland Park,” says Mendel. “We want to be involved in the community.”
Corgan and Mendel closed the original iteration of Madame ZuZu’s in 2018 after a six-year run. At the time Corgan said business was strong, but they wanted a change. Mendel says the original tea shop was tiny. Even though they had room for live events, like comedy nights — Corgan even played concerts on occasion — the new space is larger. These events aren’t permitted during the pandemic, but Mendel is hopeful the teahouse could host them in the future.
As far as the timing of the opening, Mendel says she feels healthy food is important during the pandemic. Stay at home left people susceptible to poor eating habits. Mendel wants to give Highland Park healthy choices. The teas rotate seasonally, and on occasion they’ll pour a special selection from Rare Tea Cellar’s vault.