‘Καλημέρα’ everyone!
It’s been a couple of weeks, I know. Between being in Greece, then getting unwell, and running around the city attending different events, I didn’t have much time to go on my usual adventures. But I thought I’d come back strong with one of my favorite bakeries – especially now that I’ve recently discovered who owns it.
Let me introduce you to New York Bakery Café.
Now, if you read my weekly column, you might remember that back in July last year, I went on a hunt for the best karidopita in New York City – you know, that delicious traditional Greek dessert that’s moist, cake-like, and packed with walnuts, syrup, and cinnamon.
That search is what led me to discover my favorite spot for one – New York Bakery Café.
The portokalopita at New York Bakery Café. (Photo: Courtesy of New York Bakery Café)
After interviewing the owner for the opening of his first Greek restaurant in Island Park, Yalos, I discovered that he also owns the bakery that’s home to my favorite Greek sweet. So, without wasting any more time (or words in my word count), let me tell you all about this beloved Astoria bakery.
New York Bakery Café is the kind of place that screams nostalgia from the moment you walk in. Without a doubt, every time I visit, one of the highlights is seeing the ‘yiayiathes’ and ‘pappouthes’ reading a newspaper, gossiping or just talking loudly in Greek about the most random things, like sports, politics, their TV shows, or just the typical ‘κοτσοβολιό’.
The oreo cheesecake at New York Bakery Café. (Photo: Courtesy of New York Bakery Café)
Although it is currently owned and operated by Panagiotis (Peter) Kambitsis, the Greek-American restaurateur, entrepreneur, and CEO of Wolves Hospitality Group, and his business partner, Marco Munoz, who took it over in 2018, it originally opened back in 1977.
Today, almost 50 years later, it continues to thrive as a much-loved Greek bakery/’zaharoplasteio’ that serves delicious sweets and coffee, but also serves as a cozy meeting place for members of the Greek community, or those looking to get a taste of old-school New York.
Speaking to The National Herald, Kambitsis explained how he was inspired to take over this little piece of Greece in Astoria after visiting it for many years to pick up sweets for his family, as well as to serve at his restaurants and various businesses, and finding out the owner at the time was looking to retire.
The famous karidopita I love at New York Bakery Café. (Photo: Courtesy of New York Bakery Café)
“When I went to see the space, I looked at the employees again, and I realized that the head baker in the back, used to be a baker that I used to work with 30 years prior,” Kambitsis told TNH.
“He and I had started off together, learning the bakery business through the Greek bakers when I was 14 and he was 20 – and these bakers were like 40 to 45 at the time.”
From these bakers, they learned traditional Greek recipes, and even learned to measure things just like they do in Greece, in kilograms and liters.
After reconnecting, Kambitsis then made Munoz an offer, which led them to joining forces and taking over New York Bakery Café. Later on, they also opened Sugarberry Bakery Café together.
A red velvet cake at New York Bakery Café. (Photo: Courtesy of New York Bakery Café)
Now, if you’re unfamiliar with New York Bakery Cafe, they serve more than 300 desserts and supply their beloved sweets to nearly 100 restaurants and businesses across New York – from diners and steakhouses to restaurants and bakeries throughout Queens, Manhattan, and Long Island.
What I also found unique about this bakery, after speaking with Kambitsis, is that its production operations are 24 hours. He said there are three eight-hour shifts per day, meaning bakers work around the clock to provide the freshest, and most delicious sweets daily.
“The minute it’s made, it’s sold,” Kambitsis told me, which is a testament to the high-quality desserts they make every day.
The ekmek at New York Bakery Café. (Photo: Courtesy of New York Bakery Café)
Discussing some of the most popular and in-demand desserts at New York Bakery Café, Kambitsis said that in addition to the variety of more than 20 different cheesecakes they offer, which people love and always come back for, as well as the famous karidopita I rave about (which is actually made using Kambitsis’ mothers’ beloved recipe), “the Portokalopita is also a very big seller here, which is a traditional orange cake made with filo, Greek yogurt, eggs, orange zest and juice.”
“Obviously, all our Greek desserts are a hit here because they’re traditional and the recipes date back to the 60s and 70s,” the New York Bakery Café co-owner said.
“We also make really good tiramisu, profiteroles, and a very good Baba Rum – which is a classic French dessert that is very hard to find in a lot of places.”
As the owner of an Astoria staple that’s been serving up a taste of Greek traditions for almost 50 years, Kambitsis expressed what he loved most about owning a bakery with such rich history and iconic recipes that people have loved since the 70s.
“I love the old timers that come here – the pappouthes and the yiayiathes – because they’re bringing their kids, their grandchildren, and they’re showing them the traditional Greek desserts as they were made back in the days,” Kambitsis expressed.
New York Bakery Café offer a variety of 300 desserts. (Photo: Courtesy of New York Bakery Café)
“That’s my favorite part. You go there all the time and you’ll see the old mixing with the new. And when you go to these kinds of bakeries, if you don’t see an old timer out there, you know the bakery isn’t good.”
With attention to detail and a genuine care for their work, and desserts made with the highest quality of ingredients, including those imported from Greece and Europe, New York Bakery Café is definitely a zaharoplasteio worth visiting…and not only for their karidopita!
Another great thing about it, is that it makes for the perfect dessert spot late at night as it’s open from 8 AM to 12 AM daily.
To learn more about the Greek bakery, visit www.newyorkbakerycafe.com or @newyorkbakerycafe on Instagram.
Happy eating and exploring – ‘τα λέμε’!
