A popular area baker is planning to open a shop in New Canaan.
Inside 53 East Ave., future home of Flour Water Salt Bread. Credit: Michael Dinan
The New Canaan Building Department on Tuesday received an application for a sign at 53 East Ave. for “Flour Water Salt Bread,” records show.
Launched by Robert VanKeuren in Darien seven years ago, Flour Water Salt Bread (here on Instagram) makes a sourdough loaf among a wide variety of breads and pastries.
The shop is about one or two months from opening and VanKeuren told NewCanaanite.com that his team is “very excited to join the New Canaan community.”
“Flour Water Salt Bread is a fully sourdough American interpretation of a traditional French boulangerie, offering sourdough everything: breads, croissants, bagels, pastries, English muffins, sandwiches and more,” he said in a text message. “We’ll be serving great coffee in the New Canaan shop too. We’re looking forward to sharing our passion for sourdough with the neighborhood.”
According to the sign application, the New Canaan location—formerly Teriyaki East, and New Canaan Pizza for decades before that—will be a take-out bakery with all baking done off site.
“All of our sourdough bread with the exception of our brioche is dairy free and vegan,” according to the company website. “Although most of our pastry contains dairy, we do have a couple of vegan options available, and we are continuously testing and developing new products to provide delicious products that anyone can enjoy.”
VanKeuren himself started his baking business in 2012 with a wood fired oven in Lombardi’s Trattoria in Georgetown.
“He had spent the previous couple weeks in India on a yoga retreat which enlightened him to a truth that would change the entire dynamic of his life, he had a passion for food, and he needed to center his life around this passion,” according to the Flour Water Salt Bread website.
In 2017 he moved to the GreyBarns Inn in Norwalk, and in 2018 opened his first shop in Darien. There’s also a Cos Cob location inside Fjord Fish Market.
[Note: This article has been updated with comments from the business owner.]
Would sure be nice to see pizza sold there again! Wonder where that oven went from New Canaan Pizza….
Welcome to New Canaan! Great to have you here.
The sourdough English muffins are to die for.
Genuine sourdough made with starter yeast….thank you! Tasty, healthy bread.
Flour Water Salt’s sourdough loaves are the best!
It will be dangerous for me to have them local now…. (very excited)
This is great news! Wonderful bread and wonderful team!