I agree with William Cowper’s famous expression, “Variety is the spice of life that gives it all its flavour”—except that is, where food is concerned. I have never been one to seek out new or unique food experiences. While my kids and grandkids all seem to have adventurous tastebuds, I have always been quite comfortable with my limited palate.
But wanting to expand my experiences, I recently attended an international cooking class in Niverville. These classes are hosted by Eastman Immigrant Services out of Steinbach, whose job is to help settle new immigrants into our communities. The best part is that the classes are taught by immigrant women themselves, thus giving us an opportunity to learn about traditional recipes from those who have mastered them. More important, it’s an opportunity to learn about their personal stories.
I dove right in and chopped, wrapped, and rolled while listening to a lovely Filipina woman share her memories of growing up in the Philippines and making this same food with her family. She spoke of the hardships she faced when she immigrated to Canada as an adult. As we ate the delicious pancit bihon, spring rolls, and desserts wrapped in banana leaves, I felt a great appreciation for this woman, her culture, and her food.
The same was true when we cooked alongside a Syrian woman who was clothed in a headscarf and full-length black coat. She showed us how to make basbousa, a traditional Middle Eastern sweet cake, and maqluba, a halal chicken and rice dish, the name literally meaning “upside down” in Arabic. I was moved to tears as she humbly shared with us what her life had been like in Syria, how she had met her Iranian husband, and of the loss and heartache they had suffered there.
Although these women and I came from very different cultures, and prepared very different foods, I realized that we had much in common, much that connected us. We enjoyed preparing food for our loved ones and we shared a deep desire for peace, security, and happiness for our families.
This experience expanded my palette and understanding, teaching me that the world not only contains a wide variety of food, but also a great variety of people. Diversity is the spice that adds texture and flavour to our lives. It is something worthy of being savoured.
