Tea and Roses: de Rose Kitchen

Tea and roses

Story by Kate Le Gallez. Photography by Jason Porter.

Life unfolds in a series of decisions. There’s the daily minutiae of which shoes to wear (the flats) to whether there’s time to sneak in another coffee (always). Then there’s the big things, like who we choose to spend our lives with and what we pursue professionally.

Some people examine every detail of a decision before committing. Others dive in, the details trailing along in their wake, there to be sorted through later. Mandy de Rose is most certainly the latter. The creator of looseleaf tea company The Dandy Tea Co., and the newly re-branded Willunga café, de Rose Kitchen, has crafted her dream job through a willingness to take a chance and a respect for the people and producers that make up her community.

Mandy grew up in a family of fruit growers in the Riverland, moving to Adelaide after high school. At eighteen, she’d just met a man named Dan de Rose who would eventually become her husband and would lead her towards the Fleurieu, where he’d grown up. But then, just a week after they met and well before this happy ending was a certainty, Mandy found out she needed major hip surgery. Dan naturally suggested they move in together. ‘It was like logic to him to go, ‘oh, we should just move in and then I can look after you’,’ laughs Mandy. ‘So that’s what we did. And everyone thought we were crazy. And that was, this is typical impulsive me. But we showed them.’

The hip surgery didn’t only accelerate Mandy and Dan’s relationship, it also set Mandy on a new professional path. The surgery caused her stomach and bowel to shut down and kept her in hospital for almost six months. No longer able to drink coffee, she tried tea, but found that the preservatives, dyes and flavourings that big tea brands used made her sick. And so she made her next impulsive and ultimately life-changing decision – she decided to make her own.

Now living in Port Willunga, Mandy was working at Homegrain Bakery and crafting teas on the side, working with seasonal ingredients. Homegrain caught wind of her tea experiments and became her first stockist. Eight years and around eighty stockists later, Mandy has continued to heed the early lessons she learned. She works with small batches (no preservatives) and with a certified organic tea importer and local producers (no flavourings, no dyes). ‘I think just treating the produce with respect is a big one and I made it a really big point from the get go,’ she says. ‘And it’s the same in here. If it’s not seasonal, then we might say no, so our menu is always subject to change and I love having that conversation.’

‘Here’ is de Rose Kitchen, and it’s the result of impulsive, lifechanging decision number three. Mandy began working in the iconic 1860s building on Willunga’s High Street when it was still Three

Previous page: Over the holidays Hither & Yon and de Rose Kitchen have joined forces to offer the Christmas Grazing Box with either a red or rosé. Above: Mandy and Dan de Rose.

Monkeys. An unfortunate twist of fate for the then owner meant the business was up for sale in late 2017. Mandy messaged Dan: ‘we should buy it.’ She was joking, but Dan’s typically supportive response was ‘sure.’ And suddenly it became a possibility. ‘I’m the creative impulsive one and he’s the black and white straight down the line one, much more practical,’ says Mandy. ‘I’ve never had to ask for permission to do anything, but he’s always just kind of given really good advice.’ Between them, they worked out the details and took over in January 2018.

The evolution from Three Monkeys to de Rose Kitchen has been gentle, respectful of the cafe’s existing customer base. Mandy shifted to a more casual, seasonal menu early on, but held back on other, more substantial changes like renovations and the new name. But it’s when she talks about how she wants both her customers and staff to feel, that hints at her grander vision. ‘We want people to feel like they’re coming to our house for a coffee,’ says Mandy. ‘It’s our connection with the customers that creates the community.’ She attributes this sense of hospitality to her nanna. ‘Their house was always open, and there was always apricot slice or scones ready for unexpected guests,’ she tells me.

At the end of each day, Mandy sits on the step in the middle of the café, surveying all that’s happened so far; the decisions made and those yet to come. ‘I can’t believe I get to do what I do for a living. I get to come to work and hang out with all my friends, meet amazing producers and people, be creative and have fun,’ she says. ‘We love Willunga, our community and I love my job. How lucky am I?’.

All well and good

Six new Fleurieu businesses committed to keeping you on track and feeling your best.

ALDINGA PHYSIOTHERAPY

AND REHAB Aldinga Aldinga Physio and Rehab provides a personalised, locally owned service offering appointments in clinic and within client’s homes from 8am-7pm daily. Cameron and the team can provide rehab post orthopaedic surgery, sporting injuries, or for disabilities, as well as treatment to manage common aches and pains like lower back, knees, neck or headaches. Long appointments and genuine care for each client help to take your treatment further. Bookings via phone or online. aldingaphysiotherapy.com (08) 8257 9177

FLEURIEU COUNSELLING

AND WELLNESS Aldinga Trained counsellors with over twenty years’ experience, Rebecca and Simon wanted to create a hub for professional, experienced mental health practitioners on the Fleurieu. The result is Fleurieu Counselling and Wellness – a place that people can rely on for expertise and support for their mental health and wellbeing when they need it. Their professional and down-to-earth team offers services for teens, women, men, and couples from their newly renovated practice in Moana. fleurieucounsellingandwellness.com 0472 633 343 HARMONISED HEALTH Willunga Naturopath Morgan (BHSc Naturopathy) is passionate about supporting and educating people to reach their optimal health in all aspects including mental, emotional and physical health. Her approach focuses on treating the causes of disease rather than symptomatic relief. Morgan offers clinical naturopathic consultation with a warm, client focused approach. She incorporates a range of modalities into her client’s treatment plans, including diet and lifestyle advice, herbal medicine, nutritional supplementation, flower essence and hydrotherapy. harmonisedhealth.com.au 0423 964 606

HILL STREET YOGA Port Elliot Hill Street Yoga studio space was created intentionally to feel inviting, calm, clear, grounded and loved – a space where everyone feels welcome. Offering a range of yoga classes from yin yoga, hatha flow, restorative nourish class, yin~hatha flow, as well as sound bath-yoga healing and ‘Girls Night Yin’ events. There is a yoga class to suit everybody – just reach out if you’re not sure which class will suit you, we’d love to help. @hill_street_yoga 0490 782 044 P.E. PILATES Port Elliot P.E. Pilates is a studio opening in the heart of Port Elliot. The studio ethos is all about finding enjoyment in exercise. Come for the sweaty classes, stay for the great playlists and experienced instructors. Reformer pilates classes will be fun and fast-paced, but always safe and inclusive. Other classes will include mat pilates, yogalates, barre and retro aerobics. We’re peachy keen to meet everyone in December 2020! pepilates.com.au

Yve e Victoria

BEAUTY STUDIO

YVETTE VICTORIA BEAUTY

STUDIO Aldinga Beach Yvette has created a nurturing space to live out her passion for helping women to feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. This boutique beauty studio in the heart of Aldinga Beach provides a professional range of beauty services and products including facial treatments and makeup, waxing and tinting, lash lifts, massage and pedicures. Yvette aims to help women feel supported with their selfcare routine in a relaxing environment. instagram.com/yvettevictoria_beautystudio facebook.com/YvetteVictoriaBeautyStudio 0422 103 346