Bites Nearby: Martine's Fine Bake Shoppe

If you’re in the mood for a sophisticated sweet treat, we have just the place for you. Martine’s Fine Bake Shoppe, famously of the Crestwood section of Tuckahoe, has opened a sister establishment in Scarsdale.

Located across the street from the Metro North railroad station on East Parkway, owners Tal Campana and her brother, Yuval Golan, have selected a near perfect location to sell the sweet and savory items that customers in Crestwood have been lining up to purchase for the past three years. Step into the Scarsdale location with its eclectic selection of confections and bistro style tables, and you might think you have stepped into an international bake shop -- which you have.

In addition to such classic bakery offerings as apple pie, cupcakes, carrot cake and the now ubiquitous red velvet cake, Martine’s customers will be delighted to find French macaroons and skinny ficelle (French baguettes). German and Israeli baked goods include jelly donuts made using Campana’s mother’s recipe from Israel, which one reviewer on Chow Hound found quite pleasing:“It was huge and weighed about two ounces. I don't think I've ever had a jelly donut with more jelly, better jelly and a more pleasant taste," the reviewer wrote. Martine’s böreks (a collection of small baked or fried pastries with various fillings) was the recipient of Westchester Magazine’s Best of Westchester: 2010 – Editors Pick.

Campana noted that since the Scarsdale opening in December, customer support and traffic have been very welcoming and wonderful. “I’ve seen a lot of the customers we had in Crestwood who actually live in Scarsdale. They told me how happy they are that we are in the Village now," Campana said.

And who wouldn’t be? Perhaps there are those committed to their New Year’s resolutions to forgo sweets, but for the rest of us there is a lot to entice us through the shop's doors. Meltaways in apple, almond, chocolate, raspberry and other flavors are irresistible, as are the big and flaky croissants.

The colorful array of French macaroons is a treat for the palette as well as for the eyes, but baked treats are not the sole reason to visit Martine’s. With seating available for about 16, a sit-down lunch or brunch or a cup of Segafredo gourmet Italian coffee are also reasons enough to visit. According to one coffee drinker, on Yelp, "the lattes and espresso is some of the best I have had in this country”.

Bread is also freshly baked on the premises. “This place bakes some great bread,” said one customer on Yelp. “Do yourself a favor, and the next time you're faced with buying that pre-packaged stuff at the grocery store head over to Martine's." Sandwiches and pannins can be made to order, and are delicious options alone or as accompaniments to Martine’s homemade hearty soups.

Martine’s chooses to forgo offering a traditional menu, since Campana feels that providing one “can sometimes make an establishment lazy and dependent upon the same ingredients time after time.” Instead, she prefers to see what her vendors have to offer. She then creates soups, sandwiches and baked goods from the selection. “You’ll never know what will be available," Campana said.

This makes for a wonderful element of surprise, but if you expect the tried and true fill in the blank, Martine’s also has the full complement of regular goods ready and waiting for their loyal customers. Need gluten free? They’ve got it here. Vegan? Martine’s offers vegan cookies. “We go by what people ask us to do. We’ll be adding new sandwiches and new pastries in the spring as well [when dining al fresco will also be available]." 

With prices at Martine’s ranging from $1.25 for a fresh-from-the-oven crumb bun upward to special cake orders with prices depending on size, decoration, etc., there is a price to satisfy every purse at Martine's. According to a recent New York Times article, by Tara Parker-Pope, four out of five people who make New Year’s resolutions will eventually break them. A third won’t even make it to the end of January. We’ve almost hit that mark. See you at Martine’s.

Martine’s Bake Shoppe is located on 48 East Parkway, Scarsdale. Hours are Mon-Sat, 6:45 a.m-7:30 p.m., Sun., 6:45 a.m-4:30 p.m. For more information, call 914-722-4949.