Baker Kathleen King | Tate’s Bake Shop

Kathleen King, Tate’s Bake Shop, Baker, Southampton, Bakery, Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookbook, Recipes, Tate’s Bake Shop: Baking for Friends Cookbook, The Hamptons, New York, NY, Where to eat, Where to drink, Where to shop, Recommendations, Chefs Recs, Chefs Feed, Where Chefs Eat, Where Bakers Shop, Sweets

Q. Tell us about your book Tate’s Bake Shop: Baking for Friends Cookbook.

A. The book is a compilation of over 120 dessert recipes that are perfect for both special occasions and everyday baking. Sharing happiness with the people I love has always been my wish as a baker and baking for friends is inspired by that desire. I still get the same thrill from sharing my baked goods as I did when I started baking as a child on my parent's farmstead on Long Island—not far from where my bakery in Southampton is today.

Baking Tips & Advice

Ingredients | Salted Butter

I might be alone on this one, but I like to use salted butter in my cookies. Folks are often afraid of over-salting baked goods, but salt adds a depth to chocolate chip cookies and cuts some of the sweetness for a nice balanced cookie. If you have unsalted butter, you can add salt at the rate of 1/8 teaspoon for each 8 tablespoons (1 stick).

All Parts Equal

For even baking, drop cookies should be made with equal amounts of dough. I like to use a 1-ounce ice cream scoop.

Biggest Rookie Mistake

Over-mixing the batter. It develops the gluten and will result in a cakey cookie instead of a thin and crisp or deliciously chewy one.

Hamptons Recommendations

Gelato at Sant’Ambroeus in Southampton

Photograph courtesy of Sant’Ambroeus

Find | Sweets

Sant’Ambroeus

I'm a big fan of ice cream and I love the gelato here.

30 Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968

T: 631.283.1233 (make a reservation) | santambroeus.com

Cavaniola’s Gourmet in Sag Harbor

Photograph courtesy of Cavaniola’s Gourmet

Find | Markets & Shops

Cavaniola’s Gourmet

I love this Sag Harbor gourmet shop for specialty food items.

89 Division Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963

T: 631.725.8100 | cavaniola.com

North Sea Farms

You can never go wrong with the fresh eggs and chickens from here (it’s my dad's farm!).

Eat | Restaurants

Stone Creek Inn

Photograph courtesy of Stone Creek Inn

Stone Creek Inn

I love all of their food. The calamari salad is wonderful. I like to try something different each time I go. Never disappoints.

405 Montauk Highway, East Quogue, NY 11942
T: 631.653.6770 (make a reservation) | stonecreekinn.com

Canal Cafe

I'll drive to Hampton Bays for the lobster roll here. Instead of a traditional hot dog bun, they use a toasted ciabatta. It's the best lobster roll from Southampton to Montauk.

44 Newtown Road, Hampton Bays, NY 11946

T: 631.723.2155 | thecanalcafe.com

North Fork Table and Inn

Anything pastry chef Claudia Fleming makes here is spectacular.

57225 Main Road, Southold, New York 11971

T: 631.765.0177 (make a reservation) | northforktableandinn.com

F.E.D. Recs on the Go

Download the F.E.D. iPhone app and get Kathleen King’s Hamptons recommendations as well as more recs from other chefs, sommeliers and bartenders around the country.

Southampton, NY

Kathleen King is the owner of Tate’s Bake Shop, known mostly for their signature thin and crispy chocolate chip cookies. King began selling her cookies on a folding card table at her father’s farm in Southampton when she was just eleven years old. Decades later, her sweets are sold nationwide and have earned her a Gold Sofi Award for Best Cookie. Her latest cookbook is called Tate’s Bake Shop: Baking for Friends.

Kathleen talks about her new book, passes along useful baking tips and recommends a few of her favorite Hamptons spots.

Baker Kathleen King | Tate’s Bake Shop

May 20, 2013