In Part 2 of our PEI road trip series, Christine and Lara tour Canada’s Smartest Kitchen (CSK) and sit down with Chef Krista MacQuarrie, a culinary veteran turned product development expert helping food businesses bring bold ideas to market.

With 15+ years in restaurant kitchens and another 15 years at the intersection of food and innovation, Chef Krista shares what it takes to turn great recipes into scalable, shelf-ready products that resonate with consumers.

Highlights from the episode:

• Krista’s journey into culinary innovation, from restaurant chef to product development collaborator

• How Canada’s Smartest Kitchen helps brands accelerate development with real-world testing and sensory science

• Advice for food professionals and students looking to build their product development careers 

Whether you're in product development, culinary strategy, or curious about what it means to design food for market impact, this episode offers thoughtful insights.

Resources: https://smartestkitchen.ca

Chef Krista's recommendations:
- Richard's Fresh Seafood
- Cork & Cast
- Ada's Culinary Grab & Go 

Christine and Lara's PEI eats and culinary stops from their island road trip:
- Slaymakers 
- Leonhard's Cafe & Restaurant
- Founder's Food Hall