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Brooklyn Bread is Open and Delicious

As far as I’m concerned, it’s officially soup season when the first frosts and first snowflakes hit. And what goes best with soup? Bread. What also pairs well with a steaming bowl of fresh pasta? Bread. What is delicious when slathered with butter or dipped in olive oil? I’m sure you know: bread.Brooklyn Bread and Sweets
And so, what better time for a new Italian bakery to set up shop in Nyack? The bakery is called Brooklyn Bread & Sweets (79 South Broadway). Their front window is piled high with beautiful loaves in all shapes and sizes. When I stopped in on a rainy morning this week, I was greeted with a smile, a sample of biscotti, and some Sinatra in the background.
Co-owners Joann DeAraujo and Frank Giusto have been in the Nyack area for two years, and live on the block. They noticed that there was no Italian bakery in town. But they also conceived their new storefront to be a one-stop shop for dinner. In addition to bread, they carry fresh homemade mozzarella, imported pastas and sauces, plus an array of cookies and desserts. DeAraujo says that if you live in town, “you can park your car, stop in, and find enough here for a whole meal.”
Actually, I left there with a whole day’s-worth of goodies. I had a crunchy walnut raisin roll for breakfast. I dipped some wonderful Kalamata-Rosemary bread into my soup at lunch. Together, my three-year-old son and I made short work of this rather large loaf. The Kalamata-Rosemary is chock-full of olives. Like the roll, it manages to be dense and moist at the same time, with a crisp crust. Finally, we made some all-natural, imported pasta for dinner with tomato sauce and a dollop of artichoke cream, as suggested by DeAraujo, which added a fresh, tangy layer to the dish.
While the bread is currently baked about 20 minutes away, Brooklyn Bread has fresh loaves delivered two to three times per day. Eventually they would like to bake on the premises. For now though, they are proud to be a “clean-label” bakery, meaning that they only use natural products.
Giusto is a third generation baker who has been baking commercially for years. He bakes for local restaurants such as Sixty 5 on Main, 8 North Broadway, La Fontanella in Tappan, and Del’ Arte in Orangeburg.
Together, he and DeAraujo, spent two months getting the store ready: spackling, painting, and refurbishing antique furniture for the displays and seating. During this time, when curious neighbors popped their heads in, they gave away loaves of bread. “The local outpouring has been amazing,” DeAraujo said. “The surrounding businesses have been very welcoming and supportive.” In fact, nearby Maria Luisa, Gene Reed, Lydecker Realty, and Archive Home have all gifted them with pieces of décor for the quaint space.
Their soft opening was November 17 and they are full steam ahead, but on December 13 they’ll hold a grand opening party from 4-7p. They are going to have an Italian singer, cake, and, of course, lots of bread.
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