"I was a bit of a bad kid." That's how Jonny Blonde described himself to the Hamilton Spectator, explaining how he dropped out of high school at 15 and took the first job he could find—as a fry cook at the former Chaps restaurant on Barton Street.

But that first foray in the food industry sparked Jonny's passion: today, two decades later, he runs the increasingly popular Jonny Blonde Kitchen. There, he dishes out farm-to-table foods crafted with local, seasonal ingredients—especially award-winning sandwiches and artisan grilled flatbreads. Here's what the menu might feature:

• Peachy Blonde: This locally famous sandwich is stacked with roasted chicken breast, brie, red pepper and peach chutney, and sprouts and finished with a chimichurri aioli
• Beefy Blonde: Braised pulled beef headlines this savory creation alongside cheddar and a roasted garlic aioli
• Veggie Love: This meat-free alternative features sesame hummus, roasted candy cane beets, cucumbers, local mixed greens, pumpkin seeds, and sprouts
• Soups: They range from coconut curry sweet potato to Jerusalem artichoke and leek