Elegant Aiken
Executive pastry chef Kirstie MacVean and her mom, tea master Kelly MacVean, opened their popular shop in downtown Aiken last November.
La Dolce Gourmet Bakery, Coffee and Tea Bar Tea, as MacVean happily explains, is much more than the generic tea bags we tend to overboil, sugar up and ice down. Different teas call for special temperatures and steeping times to maximize their flavors. Certain teas, like fine wines, pair well with particular foods; many can be cooking ingredients. Four cups of tea a day, she says, can lower the risk of heart disease by 60 percent. When people tell MacVean they don’t like tea, she responds: “Then you haven’t had tea made the right way. Can I make you a real cup of tea?” The afternoon tea experience is a new adventure for most. Tiered trays of scones with lemon curd, jam and clotted cream, plus savory tea sandwiches and assorted desserts, are served with multiple tea courses. MacVean walks guests through the history and trivia of afternoon tea, disabusing them of misconceptions about “high tea” MacVean dedicated herself to learning all she could about (the working man’s hearty tea, served on high dining tea—different types, how to blend it, how to brew it, how tables) versus “low tea” (for aristocrats, served on low to serve it—and she earned tea master certification from drawing room tables). both the United Kingdom Tea Council and the American La Dolce’s cool colors and soft music offer a soothing Tea Masters Association. environment to enjoy teas and treats, served on the 80-plus Add it up, and you get the Tea Lady, bringing a new sets of tea china MacVean collected while in England. twist on tea to downtown Aiken. “Our goal was to have an atmosphere that brought you La Dolce is the gourmet bakery, coffee and tea bar in and immediately had you take a deep breath and just MacVean shares with her daughter, executive pastry chef relax,” MacVean says. Kirstie MacVean, on Laurens Street, in the heart of Aiken’s And maybe wear a hat. MacVean has collected an array busy retail district. Open since November 2012, it has of hats suited to a tea party. Without fail, she wears one enchanted customers with, literally, a world of teas, plus for afternoon tea and encourages customers gourmet desserts, sandwiches and soups. Web Extra Visit to don hats as well—“as it should be,” for “There was clearly a hole in the market SCLiving.coop in Aiken,” says MacVean, an Aiken Electric proper tea. this month Cooperative member. “We were offering someto explore four more La Dolce is at 123A Laurens St. NW. Visit thing that people were looking for but hadn’t Aiken attractions. ladolce-aiken.com or call (803) 335-1440. had. The afternoon teas were a big hit.” Steeped in Southern culture, sweet iced tea is well known in these parts. But if you have a real passion for teas, spend an afternoon with internationally certified tea master Lady Kelly MacVean. The title and credentials are for real. MacVean’s husband, Stuart, traces his family history to the Scottish Highlands, and he owns a plot of land there, making him Laird Stuart and his wife Lady Kelly. Then, while living in England several years ago, Kelly
“ We were offering something that people were looking for but hadn’t had.”
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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | July 2013 | scliving.coop