Ezekiel 47 Cafe: Leaves of Tea

Leaves of Tea and a Leap of Faith

by Allison Favila

When Gigi and Rene Ruiz met in high school, they could not have imagined the journey life would take them on – but they always let themselves be guided by their faith. They moved from New York City to central Pennsylvania to Florida, and along the way married and had three children together. While living in Florida, they felt called to return to Pennsylvania, to become involved in a community here and help people as much as possible. In an unlikely and daring step during a pandemic, they connected with a local pastor online, sold their house in Florida, and invested in a lucky property find close to the Avenue.

Deciding they wanted to run a coffee shop, they dove right in. They completed a course about coffee and became experts. They source their coffee from a local supplier, but the beans come from all over the world. Gigi and Rene can tell you all about where your coffee was grown, and how soil, water, altitude, and a variety of other factors will affect the taste. Ever the traveler, Rene had also taken many trips to Turkey. He brought some loose-leaf tea back for Gigi once, and she fell in love with it. She knew they had to feature teas on their menu. They began with Turkish teas but have since expanded to Chinese, German, and Canadian blends. Everything they serve is all-natural, and just like with their coffee, they can talk to you about origins of the tea and how water, temperature, and steep time will affect the taste.

One thing that sets this café apart from others nearby is their paninis. With the goal of representing multiple cultures under one roof, they designed a fun and versatile panini menu (which is available all day!). Taking inspiration from their time in Florida, there is a Cuban sandwich. There is an Argentine-inspired choripan and a Dominican-inspired creation by Rene himself. They have a Gordon Ramsay-inspired truffle grilled cheese. There are vegetarian options and even a salted chocolate and brie panini! All the paninis are served with potato sticks, a common snack in Gigi’s native Puerto Rico.

The owners, since moving back, have become active in their church. Their pastor was just starting out during the pandemic, and they wanted to offer him support. They serve as youth leaders and they counsel married couples. Their faith has remained strong through all the many challenges the pandemic has presented.

Their name, Ezekiel 47, refers to a Bible verse. The verse details the course of a river flowing from the temple, which Ezekiel steps into; the river allows him to understand where his faith must take him. The verse also mentions the river providing for trees that bear fruit for food and leaves for medicine. The Ruizes felt a connection to their experience of being called back to Pennsylvania, and were also reminded of the health and comfort given by their teas.

The café’s hours at the time of this writing are Monday-Friday 8am-6pm and Saturday 8am-4pm, but the hours change a lot with seasons as well as events on the Avenue. They also have a new fall menu coming soon (yes, including PSLs!). Stay up to date with hours, features, and specials on social media: Ezekiel 47 on Facebook and @ezekiel47cafe on Instagram.

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