An Impressive Array of Products Plus Piping Hot Fresh Bread
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER - Early one morning, I recently took a drive out to sunny White Rock to visit the new Celtic Treasure Chest shop and bakery. Owners Steve and Lil McVittie opened their first shop in the Dunbar area of Vancouver three years ago and expanded to the White Rock area a few months ago.
 |
| STEVE McVITTIE is seen here holding some freshly baked bread beside Andrea Boyle holding a specialty meat pieat The Celtic Treasure Chest at Central Plaza in White Rock. |
Steve had told me that early in the morning was the best time to see the White Rock location because that’s when the fresh bread and buns would be coming out of the oven...he was right.
When you drive into the parking lot at the Celtic Treasure Chest, all you need to do is follow your nose to the tantalizing smell of freshly baked bread. There’s something very homey and comforting about fresh bread.
I watched as the friendly and enthusiastic staff removed piping hot loaves of perfectly browned bread from the huge oven and proceeded to prepare them for distribution to the Celtic Treasure Chest shops and other wholesale locations.
There was an impressive variety of whole grain bread, cheese bread, fruit bread, rye bread to spelt bread. Something for everyone’s taste. These are distributed to over 70 commercial accounts. They supply the buns for a submarine shop, specialty bread for a high-end restaurant in White Rock, and various grocery stores.
They also supply the bread and buns to 21 schools for their hot lunch program. In addition, of course, there are customers who come into the shop for their specialty breads, buns and British groceries. So, all in all, it’s a busy place that Steve has going and it was an eye opener for me to see the magnitude of his operation.
Like the Dunbar location, the Celtic Treasure Chest shop in White Rock carries a huge selection of British groceries including specialty teas, jams, marmalades, sausages, black pudding, bridies, Irish potato bread, Bakewell tarts, along with Marks and Spencer products, souvenirs, charms and CD’s. The shops are a virtual treasure chest of exciting specialty items from the old country where people discover treasures and memories of home.
 |
| Anna, Steve and Barb holding some of the piping hot and delicious bread fresh out of the oven at the Celtic Treasure Chest Bakery. |
Steve said, “We have people who come quite a distance just to get our cinnamon buns, because they’re out of this world. They are the old-fashioned type of cinnamon bun, not the modern little round ones. These buns are made individually by our staff which gives them a whole different flavour.”
Jock Laidlaw (the former owner of Laidlaw’s Scottish bakery), comes in to bake the specialty products such as oat cakes, Scottish scones, Scottish soda bread, his specialty steak and kidney pie and delicious steak pot pies. Steve said, “they sell like hot cakes.”
Steve McVittie is very happy and excited about his staff and the level of support he has received from the community in White Rock. The other store owners in town have referred many of their customers to the Celtic Treasure Chest.
He said, “The Dunbar location is a destination where people come from all over because it’s a British store, whereas here in White Rock we are part of the community.” Steve is also giving back to the community, he is a director in the Business Improvement Association of White Rock, he is also an active in the Chamber of Commerce along with several other organizations.
McVittie is also the parade marshal at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Vancouver. This will be his third year to oversee the floats and organizations and keep the parade running smoothly and on time. Look for the Celtic Treasure Chest tent at the CelticFest Marketplace on March 18 and 19 on Granville Street.
*
The Celtic Treasure Chest Shops are located at 5639 Dunbar Street in Vancouver, call: (604) 261-3688. And 1534 Foster Street in White Rock, call: (604) 538-2277. For more information, visit: www.celtictreasurechest.com, or www.celticbakeryvancouver.ca.
|
