Ashley Rowland purchased a home in Patchogue last year.
Being a vegetarian, she was quick to notice the lack of vegetarian or vegan options among Patchogue’s dozens of restaurants — outside of the ubiquitous veggie burger.
So she decided to open up her own place.
On Tuesday night, the village Planning Board approved plans for Peach & Pine, a vegan and vegetarian café that Rowland is looking to open this winter or early spring at 38 South Ocean Avenue.
This is the space last occupied by the short-lived Bar A Dessert rolled ice cream shop.
“We just purchased a home in Patchogue last year, so being close to home is ideal,” Rowland told the Planning Board. “We love the village and the direction it’s going. And, we feel the village can really use some options that we’ll be offering in the café.”
Rowland also has an online baking company called Sugar Lane Cake Shop, but this is her first foray into brick and mortar.
Peach & Pine will be stocked with vegan baked goods daily — including her signature brioche donuts that will change seasonally, as well as tarts, croissants and bear claws, to name a few.
They’ll also be offering breakfast, lunch and late-night stacks.
Some breakfast menu items include the vegetarian egg sandwich, or you can go vegan and substitute the eggs with tofu and add vegan cheddar and a vegan English muffin.
There’s also the vegetarian or vegan hash and eggs.
For lunch or late night, diners could enjoy a truffle gouda grilled cheese (vegetarian only) or a umami burger (vegan), with sides like poutine or a bean salad.
The menu is subject to change, but the idea will be to sell comfort foods that people are already used to eating, except at Peach & Pine they’re all be made from plant-based products.
There are hundreds of such spots in New York City, and Rowland and her family think Long Island deserves something similar, she said.
They figured Patchogue was the perfect place.
about the name
Rowland went sentimental in naming her new business Peach & Pine.
The name is reminiscent of her late grandfather, Buzz Rowland, who grew up in Patchogue, she told Planning Board members Tuesday night.
In fact, she later added, her grandfather worked at a shoe store that existed right across the street, at what’s now 35 South Ocean Avenue.
He worked there growing up.
“We actually looked at that space not knowing it was the location of the shoe store, and found some of his graffiti in the basement from 1946,” she said. “It was definitely an awesome moment!”
Check back at GreaterPatchogue.com this winter for updates. Top: The future home of Peach & Pine at 38 South Ocean Avenue. (Michael White)
