- Story by Sandra Jones Photography by Don Denton

Kate Cram is living proof that you can91裸聊视频檛 go wrong when you find career inspiration on an episode of Oprah. Indeed, serendipity crossed paths with talk show television in the 91裸聊视频�90s when this prolific chef and serial entrepreneur was finishing high school in Ladysmith.

91裸聊视频淢y Dad saw an episode of Oprah and the guest was the executive chef of the Four Seasons Hotel in New York. My parents knew my passion was cooking and baking and they wanted me to go to the best school available,91裸聊视频� recalls Kate. 91裸聊视频淭hey figured that this chef would know where that was, so my Dad tracked her down and called her.91裸聊视频�

The answer: The Culinary Institute of America. Five days after her 18th birthday, Kate and her knife set jumped on a plane and headed to upstate New York for the two-and-a-half-year program.

91裸聊视频淭he great part was that it taught me all of the practical skills but also the business management skills.91裸聊视频�

Both would prove to be necessary ingredients when Kate ultimately returned to Ladysmith and opened her first restaurant, The Sunflower Caf茅. But when the Old Town Bakery became available, she bought it and closed the caf茅.

Under her guidance, Old Town Bakery experienced spectacular growth, but years later, Kate began experiencing health issues.

91裸聊视频淚 ended up changing my diet and going gluten-friendly. Our two youngest sons were also affected by gluten and couldn91裸聊视频檛 eat anything at the bakery.91裸聊视频�

That was the motivation for the launch of Wild Poppy Bistro in 2013.

91裸聊视频淲e focused on gluten-free and some vegan options, neither of which were mainstream at the time. A lot of people doubted the idea and thought it was pretty risky being so tailored to one specific thing. But we truly believe that we make gluten-free really delicious and a lot of people come in and don91裸聊视频檛 even realize they91裸聊视频檙e eating gluten-free.91裸聊视频�

Standards for producing the range of bread, muffins, cookies, cakes and baked goods are exceptionally high and the harshest critics are at home when Kate develops a new recipe.

91裸聊视频淚 had a four-year-old when we were creating the recipes for Wild Poppy so I91裸聊视频檇 start there: 91裸聊视频榃ill this pass the Ben test?91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Kate laughs. 91裸聊视频淚f it did, we knew we had a winner.91裸聊视频�

Wild Poppy opened its doors during Ladysmith Days and Kate was surprised and overwhelmed by the response.

91裸聊视频淎 mom brought her daughter in and she got her a gluten-free donut. The mother was crying because she had never been able to get her little girl a treat she could safely eat. We realized pretty quickly that what we were doing had an impact on people91裸聊视频檚 lives and was so much more than what we envisioned.91裸聊视频�

Customers quickly came from up and down the Island as well as from farther afield.

91裸聊视频淲e are a destination for people with dietary restrictions, for those who follow keto or paleo diets and for many who are looking for delicious but healthy options. We have customers who come to Ladysmith from Calgary or Vancouver to visit family and pick up big orders to take home.91裸聊视频�

For Kate, running two food-based businesses and a staff of more than 50 requires early mornings and long days.

91裸聊视频淚 love the morning bakes and coming in at 3 am when you91裸聊视频檙e the only one on the street. For me it91裸聊视频檚 therapeutic to be busy with my hands. I think my secret ingredient is love because when you91裸聊视频檙e really happy and enjoying what you91裸聊视频檙e doing, it goes into the baking.91裸聊视频�

While Wild Poppy began its life as a dine-in restaurant and bakery, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Kate to adapt their offerings and pivot into a take-out market.

91裸聊视频淲e had just leased the unit next to us with plans to create a bigger restaurant, but then COVID-19 dictated we could only have six people in our dining room. We knew we91裸聊视频檇 have to change what we were doing so the market seemed like the right idea.91裸聊视频�

Wild Poppy Market still features their sought-after baked goods plus many savoury items from their restaurant menu.

91裸聊视频淥ur bestsellers are probably our breads, our muffins and our cheesecakes, but also our salads,91裸聊视频� says Kate. 91裸聊视频淚 like to think of our salads as a rainbow. There are so many beautiful vegetables, and we combine crisp greens with some grains, roasted vegetables and proteins like free-range roasted chicken or wild sockeye salmon. We take a lot of pride in using fresh ingredients and the response has been fabulous.91裸聊视频�

While public demand for gluten-free products has more than caught up to Kate91裸聊视频檚 original vision for Wild Poppy Market, it91裸聊视频檚 her artistry in creating the products that has people lining up for more.

91裸聊视频淚 use a blend of five or six different starches that varies depending on what we91裸聊视频檙e making. That91裸聊视频檚 why they taste so good and aren91裸聊视频檛 like a 91裸聊视频榬ock91裸聊视频� the way some gluten-free products are. It takes more time and we have to carry more inventory but it makes a way better product.91裸聊视频�

The pandemic environment has affected the steady supply of the high-quality, specialty ingredients that Kate relies on to create her recipes.

91裸聊视频淲e import a lot of ingredients from Germany and they were out of shipping containers so we91裸聊视频檝e had delays in getting our products. Even getting it transported from Montreal is taking extra time these days.91裸聊视频�

Island-sourced products also play a prominent role at the market.

91裸聊视频淲e carry a local selection of jams, jellies, vinegars and more. As summer approaches, we91裸聊视频檙e going to carry fresh flowers and produce from a couple of different farms. We like being able to pull all of these specialty products together, support other local producers and be a hub.91裸聊视频�

In fact, a third community hub is under construction at their newly leased space.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e opening an ice cream shop next to Wild Poppy Market. Families will be able to wander down in the day or evening and enjoy a specialty coffee or ice cream and take it to the beach.91裸聊视频�

Despite the pandemic and the pressure it places on the restaurant and food industry, Wild Poppy Market, as well as Old Town Bakery, continue to evolve and thrive.

91裸聊视频淲e have customers that come every morning and we try to make them part of our lives as much as we can. We91裸聊视频檙e part of the Ladysmith family and if we didn91裸聊视频檛 have their support, we wouldn91裸聊视频檛 have survived. Whether people come to us for the socialization or because of food sensitivities, we believe that our businesses are an important part of town life. We91裸聊视频檙e excited about what we do and I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 trade it for anything.91裸聊视频�

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Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
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