A pair of experienced chefs has joined forces to open a new food shop in a recently renovated building in Downtown Cornwall. Keitha Fisher and Monique Vermeulen recently opened the doors to Dish ... Real Food at 15 1/2 Second Street East.

PHOTO CREDIT - Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre

Cornwall - Dec. 7, 2011 - A pair of experienced chefs has joined forces to open a new food shop in a recently renovated building in Downtown Cornwall.

Keitha Fisher and Monique Vermeulen recently opened the doors to Dish ... Real Food at 15 1/2 Second Street East. The new eatery offers a variety of freshly-made lunch items such as sandwiches, soups and salads for those on the go. Dish ... Real Food makes use of local foods where possible, including meats from Langview Farms in Williamstown and coffee from Cafe de Joel in Rockland.

The food shop features an open kitchen concept where patrons can see the food being prepared right in front of them, and the kitchen equipment is similar to what you would find in a typical home kitchen. The goal is to provide wholesome meals in a home-based setting.

"We want to give them food that is at once comfortable and familiar," said Keitha Fisher. "These are wholesome meals that people can make for themselves, but their busy schedules simply don't give them the time to do so."

The two ladies first met several years ago while they were both working as personal chefs, and they started to bounce around the idea of opening a restaurant together. Their exploration eventually brought them to Downtown Cornwall and Mr. Mostafa Elgazzar's newly-restored building on Second Street, which provides a prime location to serve the thousands of people who live and work in the Downtown core.

"It just clicked," said Monique Vermeulen of the location. "It's a primary street with lots of pedestrian and car traffic, making it easy to pop in to grab a coffee or sandwich."

"Keitha and Monique are good examples of entrepreneurs who have started with a great idea, did their due diligence and are executing a business plan," said Candy Pollard, Business Consultant with the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre. "They join a growing list of entrepreneurs who have recently opened new businesses in Cornwall, and we wish them the very best."

The business partners said they have been warmly received by neighbouring businesses, and they are thrilled to be part of a growing restaurant scene that is transforming Downtown Cornwall into a dining destination.

Dish ... Real Food is currently open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. The New Year will bring expanded operation hours and offerings, including take-home food and cooking lessons. You can follow Dish ... Real Food on Facebook or on Twitter @DishRealFood.

The Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre helps small business owners and entrepreneurs succeed in Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry & Akwesasne by offering information, tools and support during the start-up and growth stages of business operation. The Centre also offers seminars, workshops and networking opportunities that are designed with the entrepreneur in mind. Please visit www.BusinessEnterpriseCentre.ca for more information.

The Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre is operated by Cornwall Economic Development in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation.