Community sourced, community driven at Craft Corner Kitchen

When a community is built, it’s built with purpose.

Enter Craft Corner Kitchen. Living and breathing by the tagline “community sourced” and community driven, they promise to not only eat more locally at a restaurant than ever but a chance to join their foodie fellowship.

“When you find yourself at Craft Corner, you’re going to find yourself stepping into a little piece of our circle, and I know you’ll love it,” said Jon Côté, owner of Craft Corner Kitchen, which was chosen as a Top 10 business in the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce Facebook Favourites contest.

Like many others, Côté was on a wine tour when he first fell in love with the Okanagan. When his good friend, and former co-worker, James Holmes moved to the area everything clicked into place. Penticton would be their hometown and it was time to venture on their own and take a risk to open their own restaurant.

Handcrafted cocktails and outstanding food will have you coming back for more. Much more than a restaurant, when you support Craft Corner you support an entire network of local vendors that sets the standard higher.

“You will help prove that one small team can make a big impact and that two friends can become the cornerstone of a small city and game changers in a much larger campaign of awareness,” said Côté.

The owner is passionate about keeping it local — making food and drinks with local companies like Bad Tattoo Brewery, Cannery Brewery, Peoples Craft House, Dubh Glas Distillery, Old Vintage Distillery and local cheeses.

“These are all our neighbours, some of their kids go to school with my kids. It means a lot to know who the money is going to and being able to keep the money in the community and help everyone grow. There are 1.5 million people that come through Penticton, let’s keep some of that money right here in our town, with local business owners,” said Côté.

The Craft Corner Kitchen owner admits none of this could have been possible without his good friend and business partner Holmes by his side.

“James is the heart and soul of this project. I have great trust in him, and I wouldn’t be doing this without him and the team he brought with him,” said Côté.

Craft Kitchen makes all their own bread and doughnuts daily.

Côté, who is a master-mixologist, is part of the Okanagan Cocktail Movement. Using a field to glass philosophy, Côté believes in old-school bartender techniques.

This feature is part of a series in partnership with the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce featuring winners of their social media contest.