Mel The Bakery

Visit : Mel The Bakery

Whether the feeling is rooted in nostalgia or anticipation, there’s an instant comfort when you step into a bakery and are enveloped by the warm aroma of fresh bread baking. Mel The Bakery, opened in Hudson in December 2023 and offers a feast for the senses: the scent of breads baked in-house, the sight of gleaming pastries, the texture of crust cracking, and the sounds of an enthusiastic team.

“Food tastes better when made while laughing, and maybe it’s a little cheesy but creating food in a positive environment is important,” says Nora Allen, owner and founder. “Our goal is to create food that’s delicious and nourishing in many ways.”

Originally located on the Lower East Side, Allen opened Mel the Bakery in September 2020. With ingredients like freshly milled flour and heirloom grains, the concept took off, thanks in part to the following she gained while working at New York City restaurants like Roberta’s and The Standard, and her prior decade-plus experience of working on farms, in restaurants, and with bakeries. “I had been doing bread for some really good chefs, who also started doing their own projects during that time, and I managed to create a little buzz in the industry side before generating public and wholesale interest,” she says. “We’re guided by both quality and kindness, and I think people can taste the thought and care in our products. Even by using hand-milled grain, I have such an appreciation for ingredients that I know people worked hard to provide.”

Plans to unroll a full menu are in the works, but for now, customers can find an evolving selection of goods. The Olive Sunflower Seeded loaf ($12) is a top seller; there’s currently also a country loaf ($10), Einkorn Poppy Miche ($12), and Rugbrød ($14), a Danish rye bread and the only non-vegan bread offered. Pastries include classic sweets like their lauded sourdough chocolate croissant ($5.75), cinnamon rolls with just enough frosting to border decadent ($5.50), and French favorite kouign-amann ($6) a caramelized pastry that’s both crispy and fluffy. Savory ham and cheese croissants, with Kinderhook Farm ham, are an irresistible savory option ($6.50).