Taste Canada Awards

Taste Canada Awards - Oh, What a Night!

I recently attended the Taste Canada Awards Gala in Toronto, ON. My cookbook, Some Good, was shortlisted for an award and, while I did not win, I was tremendously honoured to be part of such a special night and to spend time among so many inspiring food writers from across Canada. 

The Gala took place within the palatial halls of the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel, right in the heart of downtown Toronto. It was a beautiful venue for an amazing evening.

Once I had registered, gathering the lovely programs and my name tag at the entrance booth, Gareth and I made our into the Welcome Reception. There, we were offered nibbles and drinks while mingling and networking with the other inspiring authors who were also there to enjoy this very special night. I even got to walk on the red carpet and have our photos taken!

After posing for the cameras, we were off to the ballroom to enjoy the Gala Awards Ceremony. Kind of like The Oscars for Canadian cookbooks, this was the main event, recognizing the efforts of so many talented authors that had been shortlisted for awards. The hosts were a hoot - funny, enlightening, and happy to give the shortlisted authors their chance to shine!

A particularly proud moment for me was when the hosts asked all the shortlisted authors to not only stand, but to stand on our chairs! It was a wonderful opportunity to be recognized among my peers and touching to be able to count myself amid their talented company. When this journey began four years ago in a tiny community on the west coast of my native Newfoundland, I could never have dreamed that my idea for a cookbook would come this far.

Some Good represented my first time undertaking the considerable challenge of writing a cookbook. It was created with minimal resources, a lot of hard work, and more than a little help from my friends. The book was intended as a tool for nutrition education, designed to help people cook delicious dishes made with whole foods and from scratch. The recipes needed to be easy to follow, the ingredients accessible, and the final product on the plate as satisfying as anything the reader had tasted before.

Inspired by the traditional dishes and ingredients of my home province of Newfoundland, I set out to provide a collection of recipes to share with friends, family, clients, and interested foodies and nutrition seekers. To four years later be shortlisted for a national award among established cooks, chefs and nutritionists was something I hadn’t even dare consider a possibility at the beginning of this journey. To be one of five books across Canada deemed worthy of consideration for a Taste Canada Award in the fitting category of Health and Special Diet was in all honesty beyond my wildest dreams.

The authors that were shortlisted alongside me brought to the table some truly amazing work. Their cookbooks provide inspiration and showcase the many delicious foods we are lucky to have available to us here in Canada. To be part of such a beautiful community fills my heart. The ceremony itself was an evening of inspiration I will never forget, providing me with ample motivation to continue my work as a cookbook author.

After the ceremony, Gareth and I attended the Farm2City Night Market, where many talented chefs shared their creations with the attendees. There were so many mouthwatering dishes, including curry chicken, beef brisket, smokey sausage, shrimp and mushrooms, chocolates and so much more! We enjoyed a few dishes and topped off the night with some chocolate for dessert. (Of course!)

And so we left the bright lights and scintillating smells, with a full belly and a full heart. The Taste Canada Awards Gala was a truly special night filled with beautiful, talented people, and inspiration at every turn. Congratulations to all the winning and shortlisted authors on your inspiring achievements.