There’s a new kid in on the confectionary culinary block in downtown Southampton.
Open since August and situated inside the space that housed Ye Olde Bake Shoppe for the past three decades, Windmill Lane Bakery (17 Windmill Lane), is helmed by holistic chef and certified ayurvedic nutritionist Karoline Cerqueira, who’s served as a private chef and property manager for the past 12 years. Her business, KC Healthy Ways, specializes in personal chef services, cooking classes and nutritional counseling throughout New York City, Palm Beach and the Hamptons. And now, professional vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free baker is her latest culinary triumph.
“When I was doing meal prepping and private cheffing, I noticed a lot of the people I was working for had celiac disease and other dietary issues,” she says. “I know I did myself. I noticed it the older I got. I think something in my body changed chemically so I started to create a lot of recipes for myself to make me feel better. And, of course, that made me want to make other people feel better.”
Once settled on the East End, Cerqueira sold her creations at the Southampton Farmers Market just around the corner from her current shop. She did product testing for about three years, carefully perfecting her vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free bakes.
With the help of chef and restaurant consultant Andrew Molen, Cerqueira was able to revamp the bakery space, brightening up the interiors and offering a small café-style seating area. With a pastry-heavy menu, offerings include a vast choice of classic, familiar baked goods as well as a rotating selection of artisanal breads, custom cakes, pies and desserts. Cerqueira is also striving to include a user-friendly arsenal of savory items as well, such as petit-sized grab-and-go charcuterie boards, hand-made sandwiches and Pão de queijo (a cheese bread from her native country, Brazil). Click here to take a look at some of their daily goodies.
Other items include freshly squeezed juices, coffee from Coalition Coffee Roasters and tea products from Southampton-born Plain-T. The space is also offering a curated selection of home décor items, like . All pastries and cakes are built on-site, the Brazilian-born owner says, noting she will also be offering savory catering services, just in time for Thanksgiving. To take a peek at the bakery’s catering menu, click here.
Cerqueira worked with a culinary entrepreneur that specialized in selling baked goods and dairy goods, doing product testing for about three years. “This led me to want to start selling my own baked goods,” she says, noting the specialization in vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free.
For the winter season, Cerqueira is looking for her newly opened business to serve the community with more than just sweet treats and strong coffee. Last month, the bakery hosted a couple of workshops for kids as they participated in a cupcake decorating session to celebrate Halloween. Last month the bakery also hosted an adult paint and sip done in collaboration with Shippy’s Restaurant, the bakery’s across-the-street-neighbor.
“I like to do custom service, and I like to make it nice,” Cerqueira says of her style. “I’m trying to create a unique experience. I think it’s something Southampton was lacking. This is what I love, it’s my passion.”
Windmill Lane Bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday and holidays. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Call 631-998-0430 or check out their Insta here.
