33-04 Broadway (Photo: Bassim Sifelnasr)
- April 19, 2018 By Tara Law
Two young bakers plan to open an innovative patisserie and dessert bar in Astoria this May.
Queens Bake House will open at 33-04 Broadway next month, the former location of Nature’s Soul Organic Cafe.
The Bake House will offer a shifting menu of pastries and desserts— such as cakes, croissants and bonbons— made from inventive new recipes that blend flavors from around the world.
The shop also plans to apply for a beer and wine license, and to serve desserts paired with drinks in the evenings.
The shop is owned by two men who have very different baking backgrounds. Colm Singh, 28, is a Woodside resident and the owner of Brooklyn Bagel Boys, while Bassim Sifelnasr, a 27-year-old Kew Gardens resident, is a Paris-trained pastry chef who worked at Manhattan’s Patisserie Chanson.
The pair, however, shared a vision to open a non-traditional bake shop in Astoria, Singh said. The men had both noticed that despite the changing demographics in the neighborhood, the majority of bakeries in Astoria continue to offer just the classical items, and rarely introduce new pastries or desserts.
Caramel Cheesecake made with chocolate, hazelnut and Praline (Photo: Queens Bake House)
At Queens Bake House, Singh and Sifelnasr are looking to appeal to the neighborhood’s growing millennial market, who Singh says are interested in trying new and interesting flavors.
“We’re going to be constantly changing the menu,” said Singh. “Nothing is going to go stale.”
Many of the desserts will be inspired by the borough’s ethnic diversity, Singh said. Singh is particularly fond of a Bailey’s mousse cardamom chocolate ganache cake, which honors Singh’s Irish and Indian heritage.
Sifelnasr will be responsible for creating all the baked goods.
The bakery has not yet released a menu, but Singh swears by his colleague’s desserts.
“They’re all really good, and extremely creative,” he said. “A lot of thought goes into each pastry.”
The bakery will deliver and provide catering soon after opening.
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Bailey’s Mousse Cardamom Chocolate Ganache (Photo: Queens Bake House)
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10 Comments
Diet out the window!
Sugar doesn’t kill. Artificial ingredients found in most food products do. I’m so proud of my son for embarking upon this exciting new venture. Did I mention that the eggs he will use will come from our family’s organic, free range, cage free poultry farm in northern Westchester? Astoria will be blessed to have this shop. Can’t wait for the grand opening.
For the sake of accuracy .
eating high level of sugar causes inflammation and can lead to heart disease . Sugar lobby has tried very hard to make it sugar safe .
When is the grand opening
Can we attend?
Sugar kills! Stop the madness! We must all do out part to eat healthier . Read the April issue of Readers Digest. You will be surprised.
Congratulations!!!!! I am so excited can’t wait until they open.
I sure hope they’re planning on offering a full array of Vegan desserts and wines. You’ll get a LOT more business if you do!
Yes I agree…..it’s a growing trend and they are lighter and delicious!!
Carmel cheesecake $9 moose chocolate $12 millennial prices
In 1980, when the first “millenials” were born, the inflation-adjusted price is about $4.
Also, so sorry you don’t want to give an expert confectioner $12 for something that’s likely delicious and looks like it should be in a Parisian storefront. How dare they make something amazing and demand below-market prices while saving locals the time of going to Manhattan for high-end sweets.