Where can you find a place that has a “build-your-own” menu in addition to great standards; where you can take the children and relax; and where you can select foods that satisfy dietary restrictions with “from scratch” ingredients.
Frida’s is that place. A respite where you can congregate, relax, meet friends old and new, all while enjoying the comforts of a neighborhood café without any time restrictions on breakfast or lunch.
Want your waffles for lunch? You got ‘em. Want a half-pound Angus burger for breakfast or oatmeal with walnuts, blueberries, and coconut at 4pm? No problem—the entire menu is served from 7am to 5pm, seven days a week. Verity Howell, Frida’s Assistant Manager, says, “Not many places like ours offer breakfast all day. We know it’s an American staple to have sausage, egg, and cheese or bacon, egg, and cheese at any time of the day—so why stop customers from enjoying it when we can easily make it throughout the day for them?”
But this community gathering place is not just a bakery/café to get fresh- baked breads, confections, or café foods—they also offer a loft venue that accommodates up to 100 guests for
But this community gathering place is not just a bakery/café to get fresh- baked breads, confections, or café foods—they also offer a loft venue that accommodates up to 100 guests for special catered events, from intimate weddings to children’s parties.
special catered events. In addition, Frida’s even offers children’s cooking classes from age three and up!
“We have classes planned up to July this year, which currently include a crown craft on St. Patrick’s Day along with decorating a cupcake in green; Easter Day basket-making craft and egg-coloring; to pizza and pop tart making,” Verity explains, citing that staff members cater to all ages, making certain the activities are fun and informative.
“We’re also starting to offer baking classes in our Frida’s working kitchen for kids twelve and over in groups up to eight children… teaching how to create cupcakes, cookies, and crêpes so they get to have a hands-on educational experience,” says Verity, adding that classes are advertised both in-house and on Facebook.
Frida’s was opened in 2013 by owner Bob Pollock, who also owns the highly acclaimed and luxurious Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa and Henry’s at the Farm. Pollock’s vision for this bakery was to transform it into a space that celebrates the old world traditions of what a community bakery is all about and revitalize the feeling of Main Street, USA in the wonderful, heart-of-the-Hudson Valley’s quaint village of Milton.
The bakery/café is managed by General Manager Robyn Marquis, with Verity assisting her, ensuring that this unique establishment has a happy, satisfied, and knowledgeable staff to keep the business running like a well-oiled machine.
With three amazing chefs, Frida’s is well-equipped to offer high quality and delicious pastries, breads, and menu items. “Diana Matias, who graduated
With all foods made in-house using natural ingredients comes assurance that everything is as fresh and delicious as possible.
from the Culinary Institute of America in 2014, is our pastry expert,” says Verity. “She creates beautiful cakes, pastries, muffins, and scones, with part-timers Jordan and Stephanie in assistance, who offer their own unique items for the café, as well as events and catering.” The freshly made breads are the passionate work of Al Premuto, who creates his daily offerings with experience that started as a youth when working in his family’s bakery. John Munger, a 1996 CIA grad, is the café’s head chef for breakfast and lunch, offering plenty of diversity with his savory creations.
With all foods made in-house using natural ingredients comes assurance that everything is as fresh and delicious as possible. “We offer our customers a high-quality product we can be very proud of, which they’ll, without a doubt, enjoy and return to time and time again,” says Verity, adding, “It also offers a unique selling point for us—there are no artificial flavors or additives in our food, and it’s great for allergy sufferers who need to know exactly what they are eating. As a result, we can confidently offer gluten- and dairy-free products to our customers.” Whether it’s the Sunday brunch crowd or the weekday regulars, many of them come to Frida’s to seek out the healthy options of vegetarian and gluten-free breakfast fare.
Pick-up orders and deliveries provide convenience for customers who are on-the-go to work or early risers. The café also serves as a meeting place for morning customers who convene with friends for coffee, community camaraderie, and conversation. As Verity explains, “Many come in to pick up fresh bread and end up staying for breakfast or lunch. And vice versa—those who come in to sit down and eat, end up taking some cakes or bread home with them.”
Frida’s can also be a time-saver during the holidays: at Thanksgiving, a diversity of pies can be ordered; at Christmas, there are yuletide cookies; heart-shaped cakes are available for Valentine’s Day; and special pies are made for Easter.
Adding to the diversity of this wonderful community space is a “children’s zone” that’s totally unique to the area! Located in the loft, this colorful, dedicated kids’ area is a blessing and an extremely popular amenity with parents and families, who can enjoy some food and drink while watching children play with friends and a gamut of toys, ranging from large foam building blocks to dinosaurs, dolls, books, and so much more. “We find parents like to bring their children and let them run around and play while they sit and relax with a coffee and paper, or while they have lunch with friends, or to enjoy some time together away from their home,” says Verity, adding, “This allows for a ‘no-rush-ever’ experience as customers can take their time to unwind and make the most of their time spent here.”
With the advantage of two dining levels, Frida’s beautifully appointed loft area is also available for private event rentals such as baby and bridal showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and sweet sixteens and accommodates up to 100 people. The “Brides & Bowties” wedding services caters to everything bridal, from rehearsal gatherings to after-wedding brunches and even small, intimate weddings, all customized with Frida’s fabulous fare and beverages.
Besides the frequent sweet sixteen events, Verity says, “We hold a lot of children’s birthday parties, which includes a kids’ class appropriate for their age group, ranging from cookie-making to pie-baking. And all our events allow customers to rent out the full or partial space, dependent on their guest numbers and personal requirements.” Catering to everyone’s tastes, themes, and
budgets, Frida’s event rental offers hot and cold catering options to satisfy most needs and special requirements for planning a completely personalized, perfect event. “Our space is a blank canvas, which means renters can decorate any way they like for their theme—we’ve had everything from English tea parties, princess parties, and character themes to mad scientists and magicians,” Verity explains.
Overall, Frida’s offers a unique local bakery and café experience, with the charm and friendly service of a small-town establishment combined with big-town flavoring, in a beautifully decorated, pristine setting. “We love what we do at Frida’s and take pride in making sure everyone walks away happy—from the container of chicken salad for a lunch break or the full sheet cake decorated in chocolate flowers, to the gluten-free BLT sandwich and handmade truffles… and everything else in between,” Verity proudly states.
Frida’s Bakery & Café
26 Main Street, Milton, NY 12547 845-795-5550
Open: 7 days, 7am-5pm
fridasbakeryny.com @fridasbakeryny
