National Dessert Day: 5 Questions With Dolce And Bean

ALEXANDRIA, VA—What better way to kick off the weekend than enjoying Del Ray's delicious local food? This weekend, there's even more reason for residents with a sweet tooth to stop by Del Ray's dessert shops.

Saturday, Oct. 14 is National Dessert Day, and it's no surprise Dolce and Bean (2003a Mt Vernon Avenue) is getting in on the festivities. The store, which held its grand opening earlier this year, offers fine desserts such as Belgian chocolates, French macarons, crepes and gelato, as well as coffee and soda. Offerings include gluten-free and vegan options.

Patch reached out to owner Cookie Seifu to discuss sweet deals for National Dessert Day. (Subscribe to a Patch News Alert and Newsletter for more Del Ray and Alexandria news.)

1. Describe what your business is about.

Dolce and Bean offers decadent dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth. Sweet, salty, creamy, nutty, fruity . . . whatever you're craving we can satisfy it. Our most popular items are the delectable pastries (and yes we have gluten-free options),Italian gelato, Belgian chocolates, French macarons and soon crepes including gluten free. Whether visiting our store in Del Ray, having us come to you with catering, or shipping anywhere in the US, there's no sweeter way to end a meal (or day).

2. How long have you been in business?

We've been in business for almost a year now. It's been such a joy meeting the people in the community and partnering with the local businesses to keep Main Street strong.

3. What made you decide to open your business?

My partner and I fell in love with Del Ray about 12 years ago. We used to come and walk on Mount Vernon Avenue, have delicious meals in the different restaurants, and enjoyed popping in each locally owned shop. We said to each other, "Wouldn't it be great to have our own shop here on the Avenue?" Voila! A new business was formed.

4. What is your favorite part of working in the Del Ray community?

Del Ray is about community. Dolce and Bean is about dessert. Together it's a "sweet" relationship. We firmly believe that people do not come to a store just for the product, but for the pleasant encounter with the staff, the cozy ambiance of the store and the genuine smiles and the detailed personal service they received . . . the whole experience. That's what we're committed to providing visitors each and every time they visit us.

5. Are you doing anything special for National Dessert Day and the upcoming holiday season?

There's never a bad time for dessert, but we're always offering exciting specials both in the store and online. For National Dessert Day and National Chocolate Day (October 28), we're giving away 1 free piece of Neuhaus chocolate with any purchase. We've got seasonal favorites right now such as pumpkin macarons, pumpkin truffles, and pumpkin lattes. For the upcoming holidays, we'll be busy with dessert bar catering for holiday parties and corporate gifts. We're really excited to launch soon personalized macarons where your name, logo, or colors can be custom-printed on a macaron. A great and memorable gift. Speaking of gifts, the most popular gift people love to receive during the holidays is food, especially "sweet things." We're making holiday shopping easy with online ordering at DolceandBean.com/shop and free nationwide shipping on all orders received by December 1. New items are being added daily. We're committed to making your holidays stress free so let us know how we can create a custom dessert package for you.

Image courtesy of Del Ray Business Association