Photo credit: Daisy Sindelar
Some people consider bakeries a pillar of community life, on a par with holiday parades and local libraries. By that measure, Pine Plains got a major boost in December 2022 with the opening of Heaven’s Light bakery.
Owner Sarah Hakobian said she has been delighted by the enthusiastic response among residents who have stopped by her Pilch Drive shop to indulge in everything from brownies and fruit pies to cream-filled eclairs and giant chocolate chip cookies.
Hakobian, who took up baking as a hobby as she raised her five children, will branch out further on April 24, offering hot and cold savory dishes to eat in or take away for lunch.
In a nod to her family’s Armenian and Iranian roots, she’ll begin with a selection of Middle Eastern dishes timed to coincide with Eid al-Fitr, the holiday ending the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and with Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
Dishes will include hummus, tabouleh, lentil salads, stuffed peppers and other items that can be eaten separately or combined for a do-it-yourself mezze platter. Hakobian will also be preparing lahmajoun – a savory mix of ground lamb or beef served on crispy flatbread that is also known as Armenian pizza – as well as sini kofte, a lasagne-type dish featuring layers of ground beef and bulgur.
For dessert, Hakobian will offer Armenian gata — a sweet, cake-like bread stuffed with a mixture of walnuts, butter, sugar and vanilla – in addition to baklava and knafeh, which is made from spun pastry, nuts and clotted cream and soaked in rosewater syrup.
“There are a lot of people in Pine Plains who want Middle Eastern food,” said Hakobian, adding that she’ll adapt her offerings according to feedback from customers. Looking ahead to next month and Cinco de Mayo, she’s contemplating an array of Latin American treats like sweet factura pastries, savory cemita sandwiches and pandebono cheese bread.
“I really like celebrating different cultures – through music, crafts, and especially food,” Hakobian said. Accordingly, Heaven’s Light will offer Armenian music and decorations for much of next week. The café currently has seating for 12; with the warmer weather, Hakobian hopes to offer outdoor dining as well. The bakery also has vegan and gluten- and dairy-free options, in addition to taking custom orders for cakes and other baked goods.
Hakobian, who grew up in Rye, New York and now lives in Hyde Park, wears several hats in addition to being a baker. She’s also a reverend with Millennial Kingdom, a nondenominational Christian church, as well as providing home-school instruction for her children. Hakobian, who holds the rights to an additional unit at the Pilch Drive complex, is also looking to open a day care facility in the coming months.
Sound superhuman? Hakobian offered a down-to-earth explanation. “I really enjoy helping people,” she said.
Heaven’s Light Bakery and Café is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Friday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; closed Sunday. 19 Pilch Drive, Suite 3. 845-240-5948. www.heavenslightbakeryandcafeinc.com