November 1, 2017
From beef jerky to butchery “Fresh pork belly can be unreal,” Chris van Ouwerkerk, owner of Butcher & Butcher and Jerkules Fine Beef Jerky, tells me as we sit down to chat. My previous encounters with pork belly can be counted on one hand and only some have been favourable. But the passion with which van Ouwerkerk speaks about fresh…
October 31, 2017
The inspiration for our new business’ name I love playing with words. I like to tell stories. I am a visual person. So when my husband, Mike, and I started to seriously consider our marzipan idea becoming a business we had to give the baby a name. One that meant something – to us and to you. Our marzipan represents the traditions…
October 1, 2017
Island Abbey Foods sets sights on becoming a global brand I used to think innovation mostly happened in fancy buildings with walls of glass and white leather furniture, on well-manicured green lawns in places far-flung from Canada’s island province. It turns out I was way off the mark. Way, way off. In fact, innovation can happen anywhere that you find…
October 1, 2017
Maritime Marzipan—a German treat inspired by Island life If someone had told me a decade ago that we’d live in Canada one day I would have been surprised. If someone had told me two years ago that we’d have a house by the ocean I would have said they were crazy. If someone had told me six months ago that…
September 1, 2017
Growing popularity of brews inspire Island tea entrepreneurs Whether it’s two for tea, an elegant high tea party, or an after-dinner ritual, tea and all that it encompasses has made a resurgence in recent years. From national chains like David’s Tea to chic teahouses offering flights of tea to celebrity-endorsed ‘beauty’ teas, it’s clear this humble beverage has become en…
August 1, 2017
Isle Saint-Jean Farm opens on-site shop near Rustico Working from home is the day-to-day for every farmer —the barns and fields are their workstations, the livestock their temporary colleagues. But at the end of the day, farmers usually have to venture beyond their farmsteads to reach customers. There are some, however, like Deirdre and Gabriel Mercier of Isle Saint-Jean Farm,…
August 1, 2017
Riverview Country Market showcases local food entrepreneurs’ products With scores of new local products and a busy cafe serving up unique beverages, Riverview Country Market has changed since my last visit. I’d only been to Riverview a handful of times; this time it was their new coffee offerings featured on Instagram that drew me in. From Fat Coffee (coffee with…
June 1, 2017
Nabuur’s Gardens expands to include bakery and retail store with Jana Furness at the helm Timing is everything in life they say. And for Arnie and Mary Nabuurs and Jana Furness, the timing worked out perfectly to come together in a business venture. The long-time owners and operators of Nabuur’s Gardens have partnered with Furness to open an on-site bakery…
May 1, 2017
PEI Charcuterie brings 2017 food trend to the Island As food trends go, charcuterie will remain a hot one in 2017 according to a poll of 1,300 US chefs. That’s good news for Island food entrepreneurs and farmers, Karine Arsenault and Jordan Liantzakis. The couple launched PEI Charcuterie last month and are eager to share their ethically-raised, value-added meat product…
May 1, 2017
New artisanal vegan cheese business proving popular with Islanders For actress and singer Julain Molnar diving into the world of artisanal food production offered the opportunity for a fresh start. While such a sentiment may sound a bit cheese-y, it’s technically fauxmage-y. As the energetic, one-woman show behind Fresh Start Fauxmage, Molnar is making her mark on Canada’s Food Island…