LiveLocalKW was Kitchener-Waterloo’s one week challenge to eat, shop and play local and get access to great deals.

Emerie Brine’s love of fresh food started as a young child while growing up on a farm on the east coast. As one of eleven children home canning was a yearly tradition providing nutritious food at a busy table, and was an avenue for the creative palate of a budding chef. Now, Emerie is the executive chef and brand manager for Bernardin mastering the efficiencies of preserving, and experimenting with new recipes.

After living with autoimmune conditions and chronic illnesses, Cassandra Eggleton took her health seriously by educating herself through school, articles and books. When others started seeing her transformation and success they came to her for help, leading Cassandra to get certified as a health coach.

“Grocery stores can have windows and good music playing but still have Heinz ketchup,” says Sarah Pepper, who co-owns the newly opened J&P Grocery with her husband, John Kent.

“There are so many entrepreneurs in this city – pioneers and trailblazers in the food community,” says Jennifer Fletcher, manager at Conestoga College’s department of Applied Research and Entrepreneurship. “We’re trying to foster that skillset, and inspire the next generation to push that entrepreneurial spirit even further.”

It was -17’C on the day I climbed out of bed to make the short, two block jaunt to visit River’s Edge Goat Dairy at their Kitchener Market vendor booth. And while I swathed myself in layers of sweaters and scarves, I was reminded the folks from River’s Edge Goat Dairy made a much longer trek from Arthur much earlier in the day.

“My nana had this piece of hardwood in her kitchen, and painted on it was this beleaguered looking swan and the words ‘a good hostess is like a swan: calm and unruffled above the water but paddling hard underneath.’”

Aura Hertzog and Tim Simpson are on a highly enviable mission: “Chocolate is our main focus, and we’ll continue to expand on that.”

Kerri Krawec’s first restaurant gig was a nostalgic summer spent at her Grandma’s tea house, an addition on the old family home supplied by a one-acre garden. She also fondly remembers her Grandma’s impulse to show love with shared...

Nick Benninger is a relatively fresh face in the Kitchener Market crowd, but his considerable talents as chef have been well known to local...