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The Darien location is the third for SoNo Baking Company. The first bakery was launched by owner John Barricelli in 2005 in South Norwalk. A second location in Westport opened on the Post Road a few years later.
The SoNo Baking's menu features a variety of breads, including baguettes, multigrain bread, Pain Au Levain and SoNo Sourdough, as well as pastries such as eclairs, fruit tart, tiramisu cup and cupcakes. A few gluten-free and vegan options are also on the menu.
Manager Tyler Holder attributes the popularity of the bakery items to the locally sourced, all-natural ingredients and the fact that everything is made by hand.
"All the breads are baked the real way. The bakers are up and working at 2 a.m.," said Holder, who mentioned that his favorite item on the menu is the almond croissant. "It's a little more work, but you can really tell the difference in the product."
Fellow manager Pauline Michel-Vencer is from France, and said the French pastries at SoNo Baking Company taste like authentic treats from her home country. She believes customers in Darien will be drawn to the freshly baked products, as well as the atmosphere.
"Our customer service is exceptional. We have a young and dynamic team, everybody's really nice and friendly," she said. "It's not just a bakery, it's a cafe. It's a good place to come for breakfast, lunch, maybe a late afternoon tea with pastries."
After the Darien location opened its doors Tuesday, Holder said the early reaction from customers has been positive.
"It's been pretty busy. People are excited to see us, and we're excited to be open," he said. He said that they would be adding a limited kitchen for soups and sandwiches in the near future.
SoNo Baking Company is located at 49 Tokeneke Road and is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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