This dessert-devouring duo traverses the Bull City in search of its most scrumptious treats
In the fall of 2021, Ae Bügger, now 26, returned from a yoga workshop in Colombia, South America, when their grandmother, Margaret Teta, 90, suffered a stroke during a church service. Ae decided to become Margaret’s caregiver and moved into the circa 1929 family home on Iredell Street where Margaret’s grandmother originally lived.
Ae works with Soul Cocina at three farmers markets (the downtown Durham Farmers Market and the markets in Pittsboro and Carrboro) and is a group exercise instructor for YMCA of the Triangle as well as a yoga and communal movement guide at Threehouse Studios. Working with so many different groups in addition to being close with their maternal lineage gives Ae perspective. “For me, it’s been really meaningful to see both my mom and my grandma be really strong, independent women,” they say. “… I really enjoy it. I feel a lot of purpose living with grandma, and it makes me feel special that we have such a good bond.”
The pair embark on charming adventures together to explore dessert offerings in Durham and beyond. Their Instagram profile – @grandsweets.nc – currently has 655 followers; one video has more than 10,000 views. Not bad for a 90-year-old granny who graduated from Duke University’s Women’s College in 1954 and is a lifelong bowler (with the trophies to prove her skill), rose gardener and an Elvis fan.
Ae looks across the kitchen table and addresses their housemate. “Would you say you adore me, Grandma?” Ae grins at their own question, and Margaret smiles back. “Of course,” she responds.
“I think we have a loving dynamic, for sure,” Ae confirms. “I feel like [Ae has] been living with me for years,” Margaret teases. “I can’t tell if you’re saying that because you’re tired of me, or because it’s been so natural [of ] a transition,” Ae says. “It’s great,” Margaret says, pulling a wide smile. “I’m very happy to have [Ae] here with me.”
Chef’s Kiss List
Margaret has always loved sweets. She remembers being rewarded with a penny or a nickel when she was a child and running down to the corner store somewhere near Knox and Broad streets to buy anything chocolate. “It must have been cheap, because if it wasn’t cheap, I couldn’t afford it,” Margaret says.
“As far as favorites go, we do love a good chocolate chip cookie,” Ae says. These days Ae and Margaret often sample a bakery’s chocolate chip cookie to gauge the quality of the shop’s skills. The top three (so far) have been Monuts (“toffeeesque,” topped with sea salt), Loaf (crisp) and Bull City Bake Shop (rich). Other choice desserts include Pincho Loco’s ice cream and Foster’s Market’s chocolate chess pie.
