The Cookery by Cyn and Trudy, a gourmet bakery and food shop, has opened a brick-and-mortar location in East Hampton on Springs Fireplace Road, in the space that most recently housed Simply Sublime.
The brainchild of Cynthia Sestito and Trudy Craney, the bakery is a labor of love that began with the duo building their brand at farmers markets in Springs, East Hampton, and Sag Harbor during the pandemic. The demand for their high-quality fine baked goods was high, so it was time to open up a shop.
“We killed it at the farmers markets. We started in Springs, then we went from there to East Hampton and then to Sag Harbor. I don’t think I was in shock, because I’ve opened restaurants before, but it was crazy. The two of us knocking out this ridiculous amount of food,” said Sestito.
Sestito is no stranger to the East End culinary scene and has worked here for decades. She treats food as an art and mixes flavor and fun into any celebration. She has created some of the most exciting events in the New York area, worked for top restaurants, and built the successful catering company, Cynfulfood. She’s been chef to the stars, creating meals for the likes of President Barack Obama, Beyonce, Jay Z, Chris Martin, Scarlett Johansson, and many others. You’ll find a lot of vegan options available at The Cookery, a skill she perfected while making dishes for Russell Simmons at events.
Sestito also grew up on ranches where she got a first look at organic gardening, which began her love and respect for food.
Craney is a Soprano, and when Covid took its toll on the performing arts, she started baking with Sestito. Her grandmother was born in Grassano, the province of Basilicata, Italy, where she was one of 21 children. She had brought her centuries-old recipes to Brooklyn in the 1920s and these recipes were passed down to each generation. It’s this love of food that pushed Craney to perfect her ricotta cheesecake recipe, a 20-year labor. We must say, run, don’t walk, to try the mascarpone cheesecake at The Cookery. (Chef’s kiss!)
From tarts to biscotti, to the handmade artisanal Mediterranean cookies, when Cyn and Trudy came together, magic happened. “She’s a wizard” said Craney. “This women could basically do anything.”
“Our motto is the food has to be over the top in terms of flavor… Because if you’re going to have butter and sugar, it better be good,” she continued.
At The Cookery you can find a wide variety of baked goods, from sweet to savory, from vegan to gluten free. The price points are dictated by the ingredients, so there will be options for $5 sandwiches, while also there are higher priced items that include the more expensive ingredients. The quality is consistent in all of the menu items and they want to ensure that there’s something for every customer.
They also highlight local artists and sell created goods like coasters and placemats, options for “things that relate to the table, maybe locally inspired, and gift baskets,” said Sestito.
They aim to teach a younger generation these skills in thier staff. “We want to contribute. We want to give back, and we want to help other people along,” said Craney.
They also plan to do community events like tastings, and offer social situations. Stay tuned!
