New organic bakery and café opens in downtown Kelowna today

Joining the string of new restaurants sprouting haphazardly in the core of Kelowna is a new drink and delicacy shop intended to become the newest community bakery.

Flashback ⚡️to being a baker instead of a first year carpenter/electrician/plumbing apprentice...looking forward to pulling fresh baguettes from the oven at 4am again!

A post shared by SPROUT (@sproutbreadshop) on Jun 1, 2018 at 10:14am PDT

Sprout Bread Shop is the outcome of a decade-long dream for Peter van Boekhout, owner and sole proprietor of the bread shop, and he is ready to take the completed product out of the oven today.

"I started off as a barista making coffee and then I got into sourdough baking. I originally wanted to have my own café and then as I got into baking I was like, 'I would love to have my own bakery café' and [I combined] my two passions," explained van Boekhout, who has over five years experience in the kitchen craft.

@socialcoffeeroasters dropped off our espresso machine and we had an awesome crew of new staff come in to get stoked on coffee today!! So excited it’s like 😵

A post shared by SPROUT (@sproutbreadshop) on Jul 11, 2018 at 4:39pm PDT

Sprout will be offering coffee, pastries, bread, toast, sandwiches and snack fixes for in-house customers to enjoy while lounging in a space that van Boekhout was audibly excited about.

"We're just trying to create a nice space for people to come and enjoy the space, enjoy the people around them, enjoy their neighbourhood and have some quality product to either take home or enjoy [in-house]."

Bit of a transformation last week...

A post shared by SPROUT (@sproutbreadshop) on Jun 18, 2018 at 8:19am PDT

However, the to-be newlywed is saving the shop's grand opening for September as he prepares for his big day and will restrict the menu to coffee, pastries and organic, in-house made bread for the time being.

Although Sprout does not feature any gluten-free options, Van Boekhout is encouraging gluten intolerant folks who find it difficult to digest standard supermarket bread to give his naturally fermented and locally sourced sourdoughs a try.

Sourdough bread produces acetic acid - a mold inhibitor - naturally preserving itself to keep longer in your cupboard!

A post shared by SPROUT (@sproutbreadshop) on Feb 26, 2018 at 10:21am PST

Despite the majority of his bread being the outcome of natural fermentation, he will also offer other eats like ciabatta and focaccia.

He expects that his table loaf, which makes a good clamp for sandwiches and a great canvas for jam, will be the most popular of his bread.

THIS IS IT! We’ve got the gang in here today getting all ready to serve you TOMORROW. Wednesday, August 8th soft open for Sprout. 8-4 see you there! Be gentle.

A post shared by SPROUT (@sproutbreadshop) on Aug 7, 2018 at 11:56am PDT

The Sprout Bread Shop was set to open late July, but some chance delays pushed the big day back and now we'll get our first taste of Sprout today!

You can sniff out the fresh bread at 1295 Cannery Lane; the shop will be operating from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday.