The historic Domino Sugar Factory site at 300 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg has gained a new culinary tenant with the official opening of Birdee, a bakery and all-day café dedicated to the craft of sweet and savory treats. According to a report by Eater NY, Birdee emerges under the wing of acclaimed pastry chef Renata Ameni, known for her tenure as Executive Pastry Chef at Kent Hospitality Group.
With an eclectic array of offerings that includes pepperoni pizza, croissants, and garlic knot pretzels, Ameni brings a playful touch to traditional pastries. "Those are not the things that I like to eat — my palate for desserts [is] very basic," Ameni told Eater NY, revealing a preference for simplicity over complexity in her creations. The chef's Brazilian and Lebanese heritages are also showcased with items such as pão de queijo, a cheesy bun, and brigadeiros, which are chocolate truffles adorned with sprinkles.
Complementing the sweet side of Birdee's menu, Chef Justin Osorio, Culinary Director of Kent Hospitality Group, has crafted a selection of savory options. As highlighted by Greenpointers, the café’s savory menu tempt patrons with breakfast sandwiches including a smoked salmon offering on an English muffin, and a varied lunch menu featuring an Italian dip with giardiniera on a pretzel bun to satiate midday hunger.
The new bakery space revitalizes the historic sugar refinery, combining the industrial character of original brick walls with contemporary elements such as dark walnut furniture and green flooring, designed by Modellus Novus. Despite Ameni's achievement with Birdee, the journey is tinted with reminiscence and reverence for the late Jamal James Kent, whose legacy endures in the café's offerings and within the very walls of the establishment. One particularly special addition will be a smoker, accompanied by a dedicated plaque in Kent's honor, “This was his last project,” Ameni recalls, as she told Eater NY.
For Williamsburg locals and visitors alike, Birdee opens its doors daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, inviting all to partake in a culinary homage to sweet simplicity and sumptuous savories.
