After working for two-years as a chef in New York restaurants, Atlantic Canadian Chef Michael Smith took a leap of faith and started his own traditional food experience in Prince Edward Island that now has customers reserving flights to the remote island just to get a taste.
Now one of Atlantic Canada’s most famous Chefs says people living in rural communities have the region’s economic comeback growing in their backyard. Maritimers just need to revitalize the region’s rich history of authentic cuisine and follow his example — wait for them to come to us.
“I’m not going to let the world tell me where I need to be. I can make my business work anywhere I want in this world and I choose Bay Fortune, P.E.I.,” said Chef Smith.
Smith told delegates of the Georgetown Conference on reigniting enthusiasm and creating opportunities in Atlantic Canada, held Prince Edward Island, that you can get the same processed foods anywhere, but you can only get freshly grown local delicacies straight from the locals themselves.
He says that in his experience, it’s not only something people will pay good money for, but were in the perfect place to jump on the global trend favoring the freshly grown, locally sourced and traditional styled cuisine that makes Atlantic Canada unique.
We at the Conservation Council believe in supporting our local sourced products and the restaurants that support them. Read more about CCNB Buy Local Program, and how we’re supporting our provinces local food producers, here.
Planning your own Traditional Atlantic Canadian feast? Want to see what local products are available to you in New Brunswick? We’ve got an App for that!