A New Culinary Presence in Brightwaters
The Brightwaters Market recently opened its doors at 348 N. Windsor Ave., marking a significant addition to the village’s commercial landscape. The market occupies a former hardware store space, featuring a double-height entryway and a specialized open kitchen layout. Danielle Strafford-Mobarak, the proprietor, spent the last two years transforming the empty shell into a functioning grocery and cafe. The facility operates daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., catering to local demand for specialized dietary options.
Strafford-Mobarak transitioned into this role after years of professional experience with national chains like Checkers and Costco, followed by private cooking ventures. Health challenges prompted her to focus on organic, minimally processed, and allergen-friendly foods. While the market provides a broad inventory, its core menu emphasizes vegan, gluten-free, and seed-oil-free preparations. She describes the venture as a necessary step after outgrowing her home kitchen operations in Bay Shore.
Menu Offerings and Ingredient Standards
The cafe menu features a variety of wraps and sandwiches priced between $10.99 and $18.99. The wraps rely on a house-made base of sweet potato, cassava flour, and organic coconut oil. Sandwiches utilize house-baked sourdough or whole-grain gluten-free bread. Ingredient transparency is a priority for the operation, with all components clearly identified for customers with specific dietary requirements.
Protein options include egg salad sourced from local farms, line-caught tuna, and organic chicken. These are prepared using avocado-oil-based mayonnaise to maintain a focus on specific health goals. The menu also offers nitrite-free ham, sliced turkey, and various cheeses. Additionally, the cafe serves 16-ounce soups for $14.99 and bowls ranging from $19.99 to $22.99 that feature quinoa or brown rice bases. Pasta dishes priced at $14.99 come with house-made pesto or butter-tomato sauce.
Local Sourcing and Community Integration
Pastry chef Jessica Zeb oversees the dessert counter through her business, Exquisite Bakes, which moved its operations to the market during the grand opening. Her offerings, including cakes, pies, muffins, and cookies, follow the market’s strict ingredient guidelines. Zeb excludes all artificial dyes, resulting in muted color palettes for her rainbow cookies and pastel sprinkles for her signature fairy cookies.
Beyond prepared foods, the market serves as a grocery source for Brightwaters residents. Strafford-Mobarak stocks essentials such as milk and olive oil, alongside free-range eggs sourced from Grodski Farm in Riverhead. A portion of the dining area functions as a gallery, showcasing goods from local artisans. The establishment reflects a growing trend of boutique markets that prioritize specific dietary standards while maintaining the convenience of a neighborhood grocery store. This model addresses gaps in food availability for specific diets within the community, providing a destination that merges retail grocery needs with high-end prepared dining.