Provisions Bread and Cheese Opens in Oyster Bay

Jesse Schenker, Oyster Bay’s culinary “mayor,” is at it again: The chef-owner’s latest venture is Provisions Bread and Cheese, a market and bakery just steps from his four village restaurants.

The idea was to create a commercial bakery that would sell many of the breads, cheeses and treats that dot its menus, from Gimme Burger’s buns (which can be ordered specially for barbecues) to 2 Spring’s sourdough to focaccia from its Italian restaurant, Gioia. For sweets, there are colorful French macarons and chocolate truffles that cap off Four’s lush tasting menu, also made in-house. The first read: Bread is the star of the show, with offerings including brioche, ciabatta, rye, whole grain and multi-grain, baguettes, pastries and croissants.

When the pandemic began in March 2020, “we basically taught ourselves how to make bread,” Schenker said. Provisions is anchored by an open kitchen where customers can watch staff knead and feed sourdoughs and other future loaves at various stages of fermentation. It all makes for some pretty cool checkout visits. The bakery is spread across five shifts.

“You can come in the morning and have a coffee and a croissant. But when the croissants are done, they’re done. They’ll be made again the next morning. It’s the same with bread,” Schenker said.

The walls are adorned with nostalgic artwork depicting varieties like Camembert, Pecorino Romano, Brie and more. A handful of blond-wood bistro tables await those who want to eat in. A small retail section at the front of the shop offers niche products from Marcelli Formaggi, a family-run producer in Abruzzo, Italy, that produces honey; Sicilian Bono Castelvetrano olives, Le Guérandais fleur de sel and French Lescure butter. The cheese offerings include price-by-weight selections ranging from soft-ripened triple creams like La Tur and Kunik to dense Italian Bianco Sardos, as well as French Comtés, numerous blues and Goudas of varying ages.

Schenker said the made-to-order artisan sandwiches ($10) have quickly become popular. Currently, there are four, made from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The “Bologna” sandwich features mortadella, mozzarella, artichoke cream and pistachios on whole-wheat focaccia, while the loaded “BEC” features a potato and caramelized onion frittata, bacon and Swiss cheese, all on ciabatta.

Provisions, 17 E. Main Street, Oyster Bay, 516-022-0333; provisionsoysterbay.com. Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; Sunday until 4 p.m.

Marie Elena, an international freelancer who left her suitcase behind to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, always makes time for great mezcal, even better tacos, and interesting people to chat with. Preferably in a corner of the bar. You can find her on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.