The Story of Scones & Tea Time

Misty Sumner's love of baking started as a child, when her Scottish-English grandmother summoned her to the kitchen. "Put on your apron, we're baking." Sumner remembers her nana saying. A British native and registered nurse, she moved to Arizona 13 years ago and is now selling scones and other sweet and savory baked goods at Old Town Scottsdale and High Street farmers' markets.

Sumner's traditional scones are the real English deal - soft, light and biscuit-like, not like the crumbly, dry, hard-to-eat scones we consume here. "The secret with scones is not to handle them too much," the Scottsdale resident says. "The moment you start messing with the dough, they're going to be heavy." The scones come neatly packaged with a shot of Chantilly cream (cream whipped with coarse sugar) and "really good" straw-berry jam. Sumner will also deliver and set up afternoon tea at your home or office. The spread includes crust-less finger sandwiches, scones, pastries, cakes and, of course, English tea served on fine English china. Page 416 PHOENIX [MAGAZINE] - MARCH/APRIL 2023