Helping people enjoy fine food has always been part of Melanie Mulherin’s life. Her grandfather owned a grocery store, and her grandmother took joy in entertaining dinner guests.
Mulherin founded Salt Spring Kitchen Co. in 2012 and since then has been proudly producing savoury, spicy and sweet jams, chutneys and sauces by hand on the artisan-rich Gulf Islands. The company’s small band of jam lovers are constantly inventing recipes that excite and delight, says Mulherin.
She learned the art of preserving in the early 2000s from her mother-in-law and started experimenting with recipes in her family’s restaurant. One of the earliest hits was a spicy tomato jam that is still one of Salt Spring Kitchen’s best-sellers today.
Salt Spring Kitchen Finds a Following
“I started sharing the creations I made in my home kitchen at Salt Spring Island’s Saturday market in 2012 and found a loyal following right away,” Mulherin said.
“Bit by bit, our little jam company grew until we moved it out of our home and into a commercial jam kitchen. Since then, I’ve been able to share my love of canning with jam aficionados in BC and across the country. We love the idea that everyone deserves a little bit of Salt Spring Island. We hope to take you there through the love of our preserves.”
You can find Salt Spring Kitchen preserves carried in select fine food and gift shops across Canada. They’re also available online through saltspringkitchen.com.