365 days. 365 posts. Thousands of cafes, bakeries, restaurants, breweries, wineries and counting. One common goal — to unite, inspire and help small and independent businesses from coast to coast communicate and hold fast through a crisis unlike our world has seen in more than a century.

One year ago today, we launched Breaking Bread along with a group of 23 Vancouver restaurants that banded together to begin offering limited-time-only prix-fixe menus before dining rooms around the country were temporarily shuttered.

That solidarity quickly spread from coast to coast via our website, which offered advice on how people could continue to show their support for their favourite local restaurants in ways that included buying gifts cards, ordering take-out, delivery, meal kits and more.

Along the way we’ve partnered with tourism task forces, community organizations and industry support groups to help lift up local and showcase the many innovative ways our members got by, got through and got over.

We were constantly moved to witness firsthand how operators and employees alike banded together to support frontline workers, feed those less fortunate, navigate seismic shifts in the industry and perform pivot after pivot to persevere in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

One year out, vaccines are making the rounds and there is a hint of optimism in the spring air, but we also pause to remember the many businesses, livelihoods — and loved ones — that were lost in the throes of this ongoing pandemic.

A very heartfelt and sincere thank you from all of us here at Breaking Bread HQ to all of you who have been along for this journey from the start, or joined the cause along the way. We pledge to continue to act as a champion for all of you and do everything within our means to help with this recovery process as we look for a return to the ‘old normal’.

Swipe through the post above to see a snapshot of this long, strange trip so far.

Keep standing tall. Staying strong. Showing love. Supporting local.

No matter how you choose to pronounce it (Shau-dair? Chow-dah?) we’re thrilled to help pronounce @theedgekitchen as the winner of the @oceanwise #ChowderChowdown2021 in the "Best Use of Restorative Species" category for its ‘BC Carpet Shell Clam Chowder with Maple Smoked Turkey Bacon’ by Executive Sous Chef Mark Amos.

“For this year's chowder, we focused on ingredients that are local harvested, highly sustainable and very underrated,” says Amos. “The @OceanWiseSeafood program does amazing work supporting our oceans’ well being and Edge Catering is proud to be a continued partner and support in their initiatives however we can.”

Restorative aquaculture is defined as cultivating shellfish and seaweeds which generates positive social and environmental impacts. Amos used sustainably farmed Sugar Kelp and farmed Japanese Carpet Shell Clams from BC in his award-winning dish.

Big congrats to Chef Amos and his whole team at @theedgekitchen for the accolade!

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.

Big congrats to @legends_haul’s team of principals Alex Ploughman, Jonathan Burke and Craig & Jillian Sheridan!

@vanmag_com just named the powerhouse squad behind the local delivery service as one of their ‘Foodies of the Year 2021’ in the pages of the magazine in the category of ‘The Pivoters’.

In the article, Food & Wine Editor Neal McLennan sings their praises:

“The free delivery (on orders over $75), the always-fair pricing and the unbeatable curated selection of foodstuffs have catapulted [it] well past weathering the storm: the company doubled its staff, doubled its fleet and doubled its square footage since the pandemic began.

“And given that a key part of its inventory is ready-made foods from a broad selection of the region’s restaurants, the team is also helping the industry stay afloat — earning themselves the title of pivot champions.”

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.