- Story by Sandra Jones Photography by Don Denton

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

乌鸦传媒淢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,乌鸦传媒� recalls Kate. 乌鸦传媒淭hey figured that this chef would know where that was, so my Dad tracked her down and called her.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淭he great part was that it taught me all of the practical skills but also the business management skills.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淚 ended up changing my diet and going gluten-friendly. Our two youngest sons were also affected by gluten and couldn乌鸦传媒檛 eat anything at the bakery.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淲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 don乌鸦传媒檛 even realize they乌鸦传媒檙e eating gluten-free.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淚 had a four-year-old when we were creating the recipes for Wild Poppy so I乌鸦传媒檇 start there: 乌鸦传媒榃ill this pass the Ben test?乌鸦传媒櫸谘淮�媒� Kate laughs. 乌鸦传媒淚f it did, we knew we had a winner.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淎 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 people乌鸦传媒檚 lives and was so much more than what we envisioned.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淲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.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淚 love the morning bakes and coming in at 3 am when you乌鸦传媒檙e the only one on the street. For me it乌鸦传媒檚 therapeutic to be busy with my hands. I think my secret ingredient is love because when you乌鸦传媒檙e really happy and enjoying what you乌鸦传媒檙e doing, it goes into the baking.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淲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 we乌鸦传媒檇 have to change what we were doing so the market seemed like the right idea.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淥ur bestsellers are probably our breads, our muffins and our cheesecakes, but also our salads,乌鸦传媒� says Kate. 乌鸦传媒淚 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.乌鸦传媒�

While public demand for gluten-free products has more than caught up to Kate乌鸦传媒檚 original vision for Wild Poppy Market, it乌鸦传媒檚 her artistry in creating the products that has people lining up for more.

乌鸦传媒淚 use a blend of five or six different starches that varies depending on what we乌鸦传媒檙e making. That乌鸦传媒檚 why they taste so good and aren乌鸦传媒檛 like a 乌鸦传媒榬ock乌鸦传媒� 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.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淲e import a lot of ingredients from Germany and they were out of shipping containers so we乌鸦传媒檝e had delays in getting our products. Even getting it transported from Montreal is taking extra time these days.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淲e carry a local selection of jams, jellies, vinegars and more. As summer approaches, we乌鸦传媒檙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.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙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.乌鸦传媒�

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.

乌鸦传媒淲e have customers that come every morning and we try to make them part of our lives as much as we can. We乌鸦传媒檙e part of the Ladysmith family and if we didn乌鸦传媒檛 have their support, we wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 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. We乌鸦传媒檙e excited about what we do and I wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 trade it for anything.乌鸦传媒�

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