TASTES from HOME Recipes from the Refugee Community PREFACE
TASTES FROM HOME Recipes from the Refugee Community PREFACE In writing the articles for this cookbook, I had the privilege and pleasure of speaking with refugees from all over the world who now call Canada home. Sometimes we had the good fortune of meeting in person, but because this project originated during the 2020 pandemic, often we spoke over the phone or through a video call, each of us holed up in our homes. They shared their stories, and they shared their recipes. From one foodie to another, the excitement and pride each person felt about their recipes was palpable. For many, the recipes hold a personal connection to a family member or to a memory, and the food is an indisputable connection to their culture. Each person has a unique story, with different outlooks, challenges, and rewards, but I was struck by one thing they all had in common—a desire to give back to Canada. From the Mexican restaurant owner who plans to employ dozens of Canadians, to the Syrian entrepreneur who donated the proceeds from his chocolate factory to Canadians impacted by wildfires, to the former Governor General who became a figurehead for the country, each person expressed profound gratitude and an eagerness to help the country that took them in. We often hear about refugees in abstract faraway terms, through statistics about the number of people fleeing from one country to another, but in speaking with these 14 people those statistics became humanized and the abstract became real experiences. Their stories are captivating, their recipes are mouthwatering, and I hope you enjoy both in the following pages.
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