Dine in 519: How Jesse Walker Turned His Love of Local Food into a Movement When you talk to Jesse Walker, it’s easy to see how Dine in 519 became more than a social media account; it became a full-fledged community. What started as a few weekend photo shoots has grown into one of Southwestern Ontario’s most recognizable food platforms, connecting diners to local restaurants across the 519-area code. Jesse, who has family here in Elgin, now calls London home. Explaining why he settled in London after years in Toronto, Jesse says, “I think it was just that perfect mix between a bit of a city vibe with a small-town essence. You can still feel like you know everybody and build a community without having to pay an arm and a leg to live there. It’s a little more affordable, a little more accessible -- that was a big driving force.” Jesse worked in kitchens throughout high school before going to school in Toronto, where he met “an incredible cook” who sparked a deeper passion for food. “That really grew my love for food from just being a fan to actually cooking and creating,” he recalls. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Jesse, who was then working in marketing, decided to use his skills to help struggling restaurants. “I started Dine in 519 when everything was shutting down. I wasn’t charging anyone; I just wanted to build a community resource so people could find great local spots to eat. I thought, if I can use my skill set to grow a brand that supports local, why not?”
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Those early posts, often featuring restaurants from the Covent Garden Market and other London favourites, quickly caught attention. Over time, Jesse’s format evolved from behind- the-camera photography to on-camera videos. “For the first four years, I wasn’t even on camera; it was never meant to be about me. Then one night, I decided to film myself at a spot I’d featured before, and it exploded. People just resonated with that format.” They sure did. Today, Jesse has over 80,000 followers on Instagram and more than 176,000 across platforms. “Face- book’s been growing like a weed lately,” he says. “That’s my older demographic -- all the folks in the smaller towns like Komoka or Port Rowan, they’ve really gotten behind it.” Jesse’s reach has extended far beyond London, but his focus remains true to the 519. “A lot of people don’t realize how big
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Page 14 Hometown St. Thomas • December 2025
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