One of my favourite events of the year is about to take place on June 25 from 5-8pm at UBC Farm. Fifteen home cooks of different cultural backgrounds – from Egypt to Switzerland to Turkey and beyond – will offer a taste of their favourite recipes at UBC Farm’s Joy of Feeding event. Showcasing culinary traditions from around the world, Joy of Feeding was created by Chef Meeru Dhalwala of Vij’s and Rangoli restaurants to celebrate whole foods, culture and cooking.
“Joy of Feeding is an international food celebration highlighting the importance of preserving cooking traditions from all cultures,” says Dhalwala. “Cooking is the gateway to caring about where our food comes from, taking care of our health, and taking care of our families.”
Family is a major theme at this year’s event, as many of the cooks are mothers and fathers who have enlisted their adult children to help them prepare family recipes representing their heritage – or vice versa. “From a 12 year-old boy who is preparing his grandfather’s special Sri Lankan goat curry to a father and daughter who are making Obijway-style bannock bread, each of our cooks has a great story behind their recipe,” adds Dhalwala. “We even have one cook representing Egypt whose mother will be flying in from Cairo to help him make his dish and ensure it’s perfect!”
Countries represented at Joy of Feeding include Chile, Dene First Nation, Egypt, Ethiopia, India (Bengal province), Ojibway First Nation, the Philippines, Poland, Italy (Sicily), South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Canada (Vancouver). All dishes will be prepared using as much organic and/or locally sourced ingredients, and include meat, vegetarian and vegan options along with several desserts. The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Terra Breads and UBC Food Services have all kindly donated their time and kitchens to help make this fundraiser for UBC Farm a success.
Joy of Feeding is an opportunity to enjoy delicious food and have fun at UBC Farm while discovering where our food comes from. The family-friendly outdoor event features multicultural beats, guided farm tours and children’s activities. Tickets are $55 and include a recipe book with each cook’s story and recipe. Event proceeds support learning, research, and community programs at UBC Farm.
Tickets and more information are available online here. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase.
By: Richard Wolak