About Wild Poppy Market

[ get to know us ]

Formerly Wild Poppy Bistro, the newly re-opened Wild Poppy Market offers thoughtfully delicious gluten free grab & go meals, baked goods, and drinks. The market is also stocked with a variety of local retail food products & gluten free staples. We offer indoor seating in a counter service format.

COVID-19 presented us with a host of challenges, limiting our capacity to operate as an eat-in restaurant. With much thought and consideration, we decided to re-invent Wild Poppy into a market. Our commitment is to continue to provide thoughtfully sourced and prepared food & baked goods in a take-way format. We are also excited to partner with numerous local food producers providing passionately prepared goods such Cowichan Milk Company, Westholme Tea, Qualicum Cheese and many vegan & gluten free products, beverages.

Meet the chef…

Kate Cram is a married mother of 3 boys. She grew up on Vancouver Island, moving to New York after high school to attend The Culinary Institute of America, in Hyde Park. Upon graduating with an associate degree in Culinary Arts, she returned to the island to pursue a career in fine dining. In August of 1999 she and her family, opened her first restaurant, The Sunflower Café. In 2003, she opened Old Town Bakery in Ladysmith. The Old Town Bakery became very successful and is widely known for its cinnamon buns.

Happily, immersed in baking. Kate became a Red Seal Baker in 2008. In 2013, after experiencing many health challenges, Kate and her husband Geoff, opened Wild Poppy Bistro, a restaurant specializing in thoughtfully sourced and prepared foods with an emphasis on gluten free and vegan options. In 2018, Kate became a Registered Holistic Nutritionist which aided in menu development and helped her to understand that food itself is natures best medicine.  In 2021, Geoff and Kate opened Old Town Ice Cream neighbouring Wild Poppy Market.