Documenting and sharing what we know, roots us in identity and creates memory. It reveals what is important to us and our experiences. The recipes submitted for A Taste of History, The Bread & Honey Festival Cookbook, and Taste of Mississauga show each individual’s identity—they represent themselves and various communities they belong to. Also, through the sharing of recipes, community is found, and collective memory is made. A consumer of a community cookbook can see others’ food traditions and relate, maybe even reach out and form connections over a specific ingredient or way of doing things. Historically, this may have been done with a letter written from the lady of a house or a cook to another to be discussed over tea or at the market, sharing stories and passing information.
Although historical community cookbooks of women sharing their tips and tricks of running a household may be on the decline, the sharing of foodways and traditions continues outside the cookbook context. Abhijeeth Swaminathan of Toronto has created a video game, Venba, a narrative game that follows an Indian family and their immigration to Canada. The story is explored through cooking tasks. Recipes are remembered and forgotten by the main character’s mother as she recalls her mother’s cooking and attempts to teach her son. The son then explores his identity as growing up in Toronto and what his family’s food means to him. Food and recipes hold immense cultural information that reinforce and form communities.
We invite you to come and see the “Create” exhibit, on now at The Grange, home of Heritage Mississauga (1921 Dundas Street West), featuring items from the collection including a lawn bowling set and a 1930s UniveX camera. Come in and take a look!