The Canada Magazine - February 2023

FEBRUARY 2023

T he Sun is Shining!

DELRAY BEACH FLORIDA

TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

Plus

CASCADES & CANYONS HOPE B.C. A PASSPORT THROUGH TIME DINOSAUR DISCOVERIES

ALL THE SIGHTS AND INSIGHTS, up close and personal.

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FEBRUARY 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

04 Fun in the Sun at Delray Beach 08 Hope, Cascades & Canyons 16 Science North: Dinosaur Discoveries 18 Explore More at TRM 20 Great Winter Staycation Idea: PAMA

04

22 A Taste of Winter in Lanark County & the Ottawa Valley 24 Manitouwadge – Better Natured 28 Beautiful Haliburton Highlands 34 When Home Isn’t Safe

16

08

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Visit FloridasHistoricCoast.com to learn more.

Explore

Okeechobee

County

Famous for its down-home hospitality, Okeechobee is perfectly situated on the northern shores of Lake Okeechobee, the best freshwater fishery in the state. This is an ideal destination for all types of outdoor activities.

Fishing

Hiking and Biking

Airboat Excursions

Agri-Tourism

Stargazing

Rodeos

Shooting Sports

Bird Watching

Contact Us

www.VisitOkeechobeeCounty.com

tourism@co.okeechobee.fl.us

WAKE UP TO OUR MOUNTAIN PARADISE. Book your stay at Sunshine Mountain Lodge today. sunshinemountainlodge.com

visitfrontenac.ca Imagine yourself winding through miles and miles of hard packed gravel trails, weaving through rock cuts, small rural towns, lakes and wetlands, suddenly covered by a vibrant lush canopy of hardwood; you feel the dip in temperature as you escape the sun. Just up ahead there is wide open farmland dotted with grazing cattle, and you keep pedaling on, one, two, one, two….

It is so peaceful, quiet, and relaxing, you don’t want to stop. This day is a century ride in the making.

Your legs are tired, covered with dust and your brow is dripping wet; you inhale as you close your eyes for a moment to feel the wind on your face. A deep, crystal-clear lake comes into view, and it is inviting you to unclip and cool off......

In Frontenac County, we don’t just imagine this; we live these rides every day.

We have centuries of gravel

KITCHENER-WATERLOO SYMPHONY 22|23 SEASON

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Andrei Feher, Music Director | Photography by Ben Lariviere

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FEBRUARY PERFORMANCES KiNDERCONCERTS: PEER GYNT FEBRUARY 4 & 11

SIGNATURE: LA TRAVIATA IN CONCERT FEBRUARY 11 & 12

POPS: THE MAGICAL WORLD OF HARRY POTTER

FEBRUARY 17 & 18 | Family Day Weekend

FAMILY: GOOD VIBRATIONS FEBRUARY 18 | Family Day Weekend

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TRAVEL

DINOSAUR DISCOVERIES: A PASSPORT THROUGH TIME

February 18, 2023 to September 4, 2023 At Science North and Dynamic Earth in Sudbury, Ontario

and bring a more personalized experience to your visit as you learn more about dinosaur DNA, dinosaur living relatives, plants, geology, and fossils.

Your passport through time will allow you to explore the exhibits at both Science North and Dynamic Earth. Stamp your passport to collect all your dinosaur memories with two epic experiences!

B

race yourself for a close encounter with some of the most extraordinary creatures to walk the Earth. Featuring life-size dinosaur replicas with ultra-realistic movement and sounds, these exhibitions will be your passport to our planet’s past. Purchase a Dino Duo Package and get access to both Science North and Dynamic Earth where you can double the dino fun!

Become a paleontologist, compare and analyze fossil evidence leading to new

discoveries about the life and death of dinosaurs, discover fossils and skeletons, and explore the life dinosaurs lived. There are many surprises in the exhibitions including fossil digs, interactive discoveries, and even an opportunity to ride a Triceratops!

Science North ‘Bluecoat’ scientists are on hand to dive deeper into topics that will engage both children and adults in hands-on workshops and experiences. The Bluecoats are here to guide you every step of the way

To learn more or plan your trip, visit sciencenorth.ca

&

MARCH 11TH TO MARCH 19TH WWW.AQUATARIUM.CA/MERMAIDS/

613-342-6789 6 BROAD STREET BROCKVILLE,ONTARIO

TRAVEL

EXPLORE MORE AT TRM

Toronto Railway Museum (TRM) is located in Roundhouse Park, across from the CN Tower, in the heart of downtown Toronto. We share the stories of Toronto’s railway history. The Toronto Railway Museum is the repository of Toronto’s vibrant railway history. With one of the largest collections of Toronto-based artifacts in Ontario, including locomotives, rail cars, an operational 120-foot-long locomotive turntable, historical photos, and documents. The Toronto Railway Museum’s most important goal is to preserve the legacy of rail in the City and tell its story.

The Railway Simulator Looking for a hands-on experience that you can’t get anywhere else? We’re the only place in the Greater Toronto Area where you can get behind the controls of a locomotive. Our train simulator transports you back to the Toronto Rail Lands in the 1950s, which you can explore freely. Firstly, museum staff

will give you a tutorial on the basics of how to operate a diesel locomotive.

From there, you will travel through Toronto and encounter many famous landmarks like Union Station, and the John Street Roundhouse.

The Museum Store carries a range of gifts, toys, souvenirs and books. By shopping with us, you are supporting

the preservation of Toronto’s railway heritage and all sales are in support of the museum.

TRM is Open Wednesday-Sunday 12-5 Annual Family & Individual pass available.

For more information about TRM visit torontorailwaymuseum.com torailwaymuseum @TORailwayMuseum facebook.com/TORailwayMuseum

Journey across history.

TRAVEL

LOOKING FOR A GREAT WINTER STAYCATION IDEA?

Check Out Peel Art Gallery, Museum + Archives (PAMA) PAMA has so many great events and programs each month for all ages, currently with FREE general admission until March 4!

Not only can you take a tour of the Historic Courthouse, you will be able to tour the Historic Jail once again which is re-opening on February 20 for Family Day.

I

f your New Years resolution is to explore your creative side, then join in PAMA’s Painting Workshop (18+) and get an exclusive look at the PAMA Art Collection and create your own work of art on Thursday, February 9 from 7-9 p.m. Registration is required and tickets are on sale for $15 plus HST. If you love to ice skate or you love hockey then be sure to join Brampton’s own Mikyla Grant-Mentis in conversation with Jacintha Braithwaite on Saturday, February 11. Mikyla is a top professional hockey player currently playing with the Buffalo Beauts of the Premier Hockey Federation. Jacintha is an actress from Brampton and experienced in ice dancing.

Exhibitions on now Facing Claude Cahun & Marcel Moore UN/COVERINGS: Mennonite & Muslim Women’s Heads and Hearts We Are Hockey Russna Kaur: Maze Of Control and the Slightest Chaos

After the discussion, grab your skates and meet Mikyla and Jacintha at 4 p.m. at Gage Park. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to meet and skate with one of hockey’s best!

Plus don’t miss PAMA’s annal Family Day event on Feb. 20 with loads of family fun!

Sedna: Inuit Goddess of the Sea Visit pama.peelregion.ca to learn about hours, admission and reservations.

Explore exciting exhibitions plus Create and Connect during great programs and events for all ages!

Visit www.pama.peelregion.ca to learn more

W re.ca O N K O nt BO overyCe

sc LANDDi O G E L . www inside Located ls Mall n Mil Vaugha aughan V , e v i r D ro Mills 1 Bass P N L4K 5W4 O ©2022 The LEGO Group.

At the ultimate indoor LEGO® playground

TRAVEL

A Taste of Winter in

LANARK COUNTY and THE OTTAWA VALLEY

Surrounded by numerous trails, breathtaking views and delicious culinary experiences – this is an adventure you do not want to miss out on.

T

he Ottawa Valley is more than a rural community. It’s a “sense” of place with a warm, creative and proud vibe that invites everyone who visits to stay awhile, play awhile and let us show you around. The Ottawa Valley spans Renfrew County, the largest county in the province of Ontario, parts Western Quebec (the

Pontiac Region) and the outskirts of the City of Ottawa. Lanark County is just a short distance away and features breathtaking stone architecture, urban-inspired shops and first class dining experiences.

This is the perfect destination for people that are craving their next winter adventure. With so many

activities and experiences available, you will be planning your next trip back before your stay is over. You can start your adventure off skiing at Mount Pakenham, followed by a tasty meal at Neat Café in Burnstown with live music, finish off your stay at Somewhere Inn in Calabogie or one of the Cabinscape properties also located in Calabogie.

For more information, please visit: lanarkcountytourism.com/ or ottawavalley.travel/

Winter Adventures In Sarnia-Lambton

Canatara Animal Farm - Sarnia

Two Water Brewing - Corunna

District Beta - Sarnia

Lambton Heritage Museum - Grand Bend

Sarnia-Lambton is home to amazing adventures for you and your family to conquer during the winter months or any time of the year.

Plan your winter adventure in Sarnia-Lambton today and explore a new town, find fun and exciting indoor and outdoor adventures, learn something amazing, and create lasting memories.

Plan your adventure today

ontbluecoast.com

TRAVEL

MANITOUWADGE – BETTER NATURED Manitouwadge, Ontario is a full-service community located at the end of Highway 614, 30 minutes north of Highway 17, midway between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay, Ontario.

L

ocated just beyond the city, in the heart of the Boreal forest with the Canadian Shield as our backdrop, Manitouwadge is surrounded by fresh air, trees, lakes and rivers. Conveniently situated on Manitouwadge Lake, our natural and pristine environment makes the Township a convenient location for hunting and fishing enthusiasts, berry and mushroom pickers, as well as those wanting to capture a candid photo of many species of wildlife whose natural habitat is within our back yard.

Year-round outdoor recreation opportunities abound from downhill and cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and kilometres of snowmobile trails in the winter months, to golfing, hiking, paddling, fishing and ATV trails.

The Township of Manitouwadge has an abundant stock of adequate and affordable housing, access to excellent health care facilities, education institutions, small business and excellent employment opportunities in the healthcare, mining and forestry sectors.

Additionally, Manitouwadge is home to many artists and artisans, who are inspired by the beauty of their natural surroundings.

Join the growing number of people who are looking for an alternative to the busy city life but need access to the same quality infrastructure you would expect to find in one.

The Township of Manitouwadge has everything you need to prosper in a safe, friendly and healthy environment which makes our Township a perfect place to call home.

For further information, please visit: www.manitouwadge.ca

www.manitouwadge.ca (807) 826-3227

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Experience Luxury and Adventure in Muskoka Sprawling grounds

Outdoor fun in winter

Dine at Muskoka Ice Caves

Exclusive Icebar experience

v Luxurious guestrooms with kitchenette v Award winning Hydrospa with Icebar v Year-round indoor-outdoor heated pool v Exquisite outdoor winter dining experience in the Muskoka Ice Caves v Intimate event spaces for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and more v An abundance of indoor and outdoor activities all year round

JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa 1050 Paignton House Road | Minett | Muskoka Lakes, ON | P0B 1G0 705.765.1900 | jwrosseau.com

TRAVEL

Spectacular Romantic Retreat in the

BEAUTIFUL HALIBURTON HIGHLANDS!

Looking for a quaint romantic lodge to recharge through all four seasons?

Heather Lodge located in the rolling hills and over 600+ lakes of the beautiful Haliburton Highlands — offering a memorable experience only 2+ plus hours from Toronto. The lodge is only 45 minutes to Algonquin Park and 20 minutes to The Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve, not to mention all the other things to do in the area year-round.

Not only are they only 12 studio style, well appointed boutique rooms, they are an adult only resort! But the big draw to the lodge is by far the culinary experience, packages that include both dinner and breakfast get rave reviews.

The restaurant prides on being a Feast ON Member providing fresh, local products & Ontario Wines and local Craft Beer.

Heather Lodge has many frequent guests that feel the team of staff provide attentive customer service, giving the guests a feeling of being “spoiled”, leaving an impression on them to return year after year.

But don’t wait long, with only 12 rooms and being so popular…they book up fast! And they can’t wait to spoil you too!

For more information, visit: heatherlodge.com

heatherlodge.com 1-800-362-6676

14483 Highway 35 Minden, Ontario K0M 2K0

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Down Hill Skiing and World Class Snowmobile Trails approximately 10 minute drive from the Resort.

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IN THE SUN AND HAVIN’ FUN

STUCK INSIDE, FUN DENIED DUKORAL® is a drinkable vaccine that may help you spend your vacation where you want – and not in the bathroom.

DUKORAL® [Oral, Inactivated Cholera and LT-producing ETEC Diarrhea Vaccine] is indicated for the prevention of and protection against cholera and diarrhea caused by heat-labile toxin producing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (LT-ETEC) in adults and children from 2 years of age.

DUKORAL® does not treat diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli once it develops. DUKORAL® will only protect against cholera and LT-producing enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). Not everyone who gets vaccinated will be fully protected. Therefore, precautions to avoid contaminated food or water should be taken. Allergic reactions and side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting may occur. Rehydration measures should be taken in case of diarrhea.

ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL ABOUT TAKING 2 WEEKS BEFORE TRAVELLING

Visit dukoralcanada.com for more information.

Prevent LT-ETEC diarrhea

VALNEVA Canada Inc. 600-3535, Saint-Charles Blvd. Kirkland (Montreal), Quebec H9H 5B9 © 2022 VALNEVA Canada Inc. All trademarks used under license.

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We can see the power in what we do, and work to highlight the unwavering passion of precision oncology and personalized medicine. With a disease that feels so ugly, and with patients who often feel the same, we can remind them of the beauty of our actions.

Doreen & Kristine, Mother-Daughter Survivors

The more we know, the sooner we can end breast cancer. The more time researchers have in the lab. The more technology they can use. The more support we can get.

Advancements in early detection and personalized treatment are in reach, and with your help we can find a cure and make cancer an illness, not a life-threatening disease.

Donate to breast cancer research today

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TRAVEL

WHEN HOME ISN’T SAFE Home is supposed to be a safe space, but for anyone experience intimate partner violence, it can feel more like a house of horrors.

In Canada alone, 1 in 4 women has experienced domestic abuse. The issue of intimate partner violence garnered greater attention during the pandemic, but those in the violence against women (VAW) sector have witnessed a steady increase in this type of violence. For years the Assaulted Women’s Helpline (AWHL) saw calls to the crisis line increase but those numbers skyrocketed during the pandemic jumping from 50,000 annually to over 90,000.

AWHL provides telephone and TTY crisis line counselling, online counselling, safety planning, emotional support, information, and referrals in over 200 languages, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The Helpline is often the first point of contact for abused

women, especially for those whose vulnerability is exacerbated by isolation, language barriers, or disability.

Gender-based violence is a complex issue with no easy solution, but very often, when people hear about cases of

domestic abuse, they ask the same question: “Why doesn’t she just leave?”

Leaving an abusive relationship isn’t as simple as ‘just leaving’. There may be children in the home, there are financial repercussions to think about, and many women are too scared to flee for fear of what their partners might do.

Everyday AWHL counsellors assist callers facing extreme challenges. We continue to provide a lifeline to thousands of women when they need it most. In many instances, a call to the Helpline can and does save a woman’s life and that of her children’s.

Learn more at awhl.org

When you live with abuse, there’s no easy way out.

For help escaping domestic abuse, visit awhl.org or call 1-866-863-0511.

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“

“My Food Story goes back to any harvest or planting season on my farm. We’re very busy and can’t all sit around the kitchen table to enjoy a meal together, but my Mom makes it very special for us — she’ll bring out homecooked meals to the field, and no matter who is working with us, they are all able to get a meal, and share it together - it’s just not at the kitchen table it’s in the field.”

”

Homemade chili Ingredients

Directions

• 1 cup chopped onion • 1/2 cup celery • 2 cloves garlic • 2 pounds of lean hamburger • 1 tsp salt • 1/2 tsp pepper • 1 can of diced tomatoes • 1 tsp chili powder • 1/2 tsp paprika • 1 can of niblet corn • 1 can of kidney beans

1. Fry onions, celery and garlic until transparent then add hamburger and fry until meat looks well cooked.

2. Transfer all to a crock pot.

3. Add tomatoes, a can of kidney beans, a can of niblet corn and spices.

4. Let simmer on high in crock pot for an hour stirring occasionally.

5. Reduce to low for an hour or until ready to eat.

Find out how #YourFarmers are the beginning of our food stories:

www.WhatsYourFoodStory.ca

Twitter: @YourFoodStoryON Facebook: @YourFoodStoryOn Instagram: @whatsyourfoodstory Tik Tok: @whatsyourfoodstory YouTube: What’s your food story

CHEF SPOTLIGHT

CHEF NOEL CUNNINGHAM

Chef Noel Cunningham takes diners on a culinary journey through Jamaica.

W

hile Chef Noel Cunningham has sewn his culinary roots in Toronto, Canada, his story starts in Kingston, Jamaica. He recalls that his love of cooking began in his mom’s kitchen in Jamaica, borne out of a natural curiosity for the kitchen and a love for food. “I would often ask her questions while she was cooking, or would volunteer to help her,” he says.

“Eventually, I got the chance to cook on my own. I would use Sundays to cook and try new recipes for my family.”

As a child, Chef Cunningham also used to watch local cooking shows and would see different chefs showcasing their skills. It was when his aunt introduced him to the Food Network that he truly realized his passion for the culinary arts. He went on to study food and nutrition in high school, where he was awarded twice as a top performer in his class. “It made me realize that the kitchen is where I belonged,” he says.

After graduating top-of-his-class at culinary school in Jamaica, Chef Cunningham decided to bring his skills to Canada, working in several hotels and restaurants in first Manitoba, and now Toronto.

Over the years, Chef Cunningham earned numerous awards while building a multimedia empire. He was voted Best Chef in Winnipeg in 2018 and has worked for top restaurants, including the James Beard house in New York. In 2020, he was voted Best Black Chef in Canada by ByBlacks People’s Choice Awards, and was recognized as a champion for brand Jamaica in the Culinary Arts by the Prime Minister Youth Awards. He’s appeared on several TV programs, and ran his own catering company before teaming with Freeplay,

a Toronto-based arcade bar to serve up his Jamaican offerings to customers.

He’s currently working on the fourth season of his podcast, What’s Cooking With Chef Noel – a weekly podcast where Chef Cunningham takes listeners on a culinary journey through conversations with culinary experts, celebrities and chefs, delving into topics about food trends and the challenges of being an entrepreneur. He released his first cookbook, Cuisine by Noel: A Culinary Journey Through Recipes and Stories, in 2019, and is following it up with his second cookbook, Dirty Thirty, later this year. He’s also finalizing a schedule for his culinary tour, “An Evening With Chef Noel” — a dinner series aimed at

showcasing elevated Afro-Caribbean cuisine. He’s kicking off the dinner series in New York in late March, along with a series of pop-ups serving Caribbean comfort food.

Connect with Chef Noel Cunningham: @iamchefnoel @cuisinebynoel www.cuisinebynoel.com CANADA FOOD & DRINK | 15

FOOD & DRINK

INCARCERATION

Inspiration

I went to prison on a mission. A mission to change myself and a mission to make a difference. I didn’t know how I’d make a difference at the time, but I knew I would find something I cared about that would benefit from a purpose driven face-lift.

C

oming to prison as a first-time offender was unnerving, and I felt so much anxiety at first. If you think it’s hard on the outside to eat a healthy diet, being in prison brings that challenge to the next level.

It was only a month a or so in when I noticed that some of the women were making their own popcorn recipes with the ingredients possible within the food budget. I was instantly struck by how smart and creative it was. Popcorn was like this simple blank canvas for women of all backgrounds to express themselves through different mixes of spices and other flavours.

comebacksnacks.com

and overnight it became my mission to build this company.

Comeback Snacks — made with conviction!

So it all sort of came together at once: I would start a popcorn company that uses quality ingredients and offers unique flavour, some inspired by the very ones we made inside prison. Most of all, one that attempts to remove some of the stigma associated with having a prior conviction, and one that has fun and a sense of humour about itself.

The company can give offenders the opportunity and confidence to gain and maintain pro-social employment, keeping the community safer by helping ex-cons refrain from returning to their old ways.

It just seemed like all the stars had aligned

To find out more, visit: comebacksnacks.com

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Our cattle are raised on the lush farmlands of Canada without the use of added hormones or antibiotics and are grain-finished. All our farmers and ranchers follow strict humane handling standards ensuring each animal is provided the best care.

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CHEF SPOTLIGHT

CHEF RAQUEL FOX

Celebrating Black History Month with the Inimitable Island Gurl

C

hef Raquel Fox learned the art of traditional Bahamian cuisine from her elders, while growing up in Nassau, Bahamas.

She helped prepare celebratory meals alongside her grandmother for her family as well as for neighbours on Sundays. “Food is a universal language, one with a complex history and ancestral stories” says Fox. She believes that exploring ancestry through food can not only deepen our connection to our roots, but also enhance our love for people and food.

After years of working as co-owner and Executive Chef at what USA Today called one of the 10 Best Bahamian Lounges, Fox decided to expand her knowledge and moved to Canada to study. “It helped me define my style of cooking while bringing all those collective experiences to my plates” she says. Through both home-based and international education, she’s accumulated a vast collection of both inherited and newly acquired recipes influenced by interactions and experiences.

Inspiration struck Chef Fox in 2018, when she created the concept and wrote the cookbook Dining in Paradise.

It was nominated for The Taste Canada Awards in 2019 and celebrated at Canada’s Table and received the Gourmand Award in 2020.

Today, Fox is a motivational speaker, media personality and business owner.

In 2022, she received the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award and the George Brown College Leadership Award. The ardent chef has her own line of authentic Caribbean Island Gurl

Foods sauces with her grandmother’s classic recipes. With this, she shares slow-cooked sauces with bold, rich and authentic flavours made with the highest quality ingredients. They are incredibly versatile and enhance the taste of anything be it poultry, seafood, beef, pork or vegetables.

The traditional Bahama Steamed Sauce is a savoury-tangy, tomato-based sauce with elusive herbs and spices that really makes you feel like you’re enjoying a meal on the island. Her delicious Mango Jerk Sauce can be used as a marinade, finishing and dipping sauce and is infused with tropical mangoes. Then finally the Flavour Pepper Sauce brings a flavourful heat.

It’s a blend of Caribbean scotch bonnet chilies, fruits, herbs and spices. All options are gluten-free and low in sugar and sodium.

In 2022 Island Gurl Foods sauces became available for purchase at select Loblaws locations in Canada. Her collection of recipes on islandgurlfoods.com provides many appetizing meal ideas along with ways to enjoy and incorporate her sauces. Fox is a regular guest expert Chef on Canadian television shows like Cityline, Breakfast Television and Global News. “Through this I found and embraced opportunities to promote my brand, all while sharing my Bahamian heritage,” says Fox. “One thing I recognize and appreciate about Canada is the diversity and I’m proud to express and blend my Canadian and Caribbean cultures through food. It’s who I am.”

Follow Chef Raquel on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter: @islandgurlfoods

CANADA FOOD & DRINK | 9

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COVER FEATURE

Chef TRE SANDERSON

MAKING HISTORY ON TOP CHEF CANADA Chef Trevane “Tre” Sanderson is no stranger to working under pressure. He’s honed his skills in fast-paced kitchens across the city, with successful stints at notable Toronto restaurants such as Baro and Hotel X.

I

n November, Chef Sanderson’s culinary expertise was recognized nationwide when he was named the winner of Top Chef Canada Season 10. The victory wasn’t only a personal and professional win for Chef Sanderson — it was a milestone for the series. Chef Sanderson made history as the first Black contestant to win the competition.

Chef Sanderson won a number of challenges over the course of the series, impressing the judges with dishes such as jerk shrimp and grilled triggerfish.

He showed off his culinary skills throughout the competition, all while staying true to his style and showcasing traditional Jamaican flavours.

“It was the food that I knew and that I grew up on, so I wanted to blend those flavours with the new techniques and flavours I’ve learned during my culinary journey,” he says. “I wanted to put my own name on my food and my cuisine.”

In the final episode, the finalists were tasked with cooking a five-course meal for the judges. Chef Sanderson came out on top with a red snapper escovitch with caramelized shallots and roasted red pepper purée.

4 | CANADA FOOD & DRINK

Following the win, Chef Sanderson told Food Network Canada that he hoped his victory could inspire other chefs of colour to make their mark. “This means a lot and I’m so excited for what’s to come next, for the next generation.”

While Chef Sanderson is thinking about future generations of chefs,

he’s also keen to never forget his past. Growing up in a Jamaican home where food and cooking brought his family together, he nurtured a love of food and cooking from an early age.

He recalls, growing up in a household with several brothers and sisters, that putting meals on the table

wasn’t always an easy task. But accompanying his mom to buy groceries, he remembers the pride she would take to find the best ingredients close to home. “Tasting such unique, high-quality ingredients at a young age inspired my passion to cook elevated food with Caribbean roots,” he explains.

Some nights, his mom would come home late from work, meaning Chef Sanderson would get full control of the kitchen. “I would have to make something out of nothing, but I didn’t mind because I enjoyed doing it.”

Chef Sanderson went on to study the culinary arts at Durham College, graduating in 2015 before applying his skills in Toronto’s vibrant culinary scene.

Fresh off of his Top Chef Canada win, Chef Sanderson is hoping to build the culinary empire of his dreams, working to modernize and popularize Caribbean cuisine. “I believe this cuisine deserves to shine,” he says.

“Caribbean restaurants aren’t often considered Michelin-star level, but I want to change that.”

Elsewhere, Chef Sanderson is working with local chefs on pop-ups around the city, and is hoping to give back to the community, and wants to mentor aspiring chefs.

While Chef Sanderson was admittedly one of the less experienced chefs in that season of Top Chef Canada, he says

knowing that only pushed him harder and prove any doubters wrong. And he’s not looking to take any baby steps to reach his dreams. “I don’t need to take my time to learn different things.

I’m going to bet on myself,” he told Food Network Canada.

Chef Sanderson says the key to his success has been to avoid complacency. While he’s been in the industry for a decade, he constantly strives to learn new techniques, and skills to apply to his craft.

With the culinary industry always changing, he says “the moment you stop learning is the moment you stop progressing.”

He also attests to the importance of being yourself, and to not conform to industry expectations. Even throughout his time competing on Top Chef Canada, he says his desire to elevate Jamaican cuisine and introduce it to a new audience was the aspiration that carried him throughout the whole competition: cooking from his heart.

“It’s my dream to inspire the next generation of young chefs, and to encourage them to believe in themselves and their abilities, despite what anyone may think.”

Get in touch with Chef Tre Sanderson: @tre.sanderson

CANADA FOOD & DRINK | 5

FEBRUARY 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

04 Chef Tre Sanderson: Making History 09 Chef Raquel Fox: The Island Gurl

04

12 The Comeback Snacks Story 15 Chef Noel Cunningham: A Culinary Journey through Jamaica 16 Recipe: What’s Your

09

Food Story?

17 Recipe: Nearly No-Knead Sourdough

Cover photo by: Jared Poirier Galaxy Creative | @galaxycreativeto Galaxycreative.ca

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FEBRUARY 2023

FOOD & DRINK

Chef

TRE SANDERSON MAKING HISTORY ON TOP CHEF CANADA

PLUS

Chef

RAQUEL FOX

Chef

NOEL

CUNNINGHAM