Listen to “Born And Raised” on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.

HuffPost Canada is serving up culture on a plate in a new podcast series.

“Where are you really from?” is a loaded question for children of immigrants in Canada. Part reflection, part storytelling, the “Born And Raised” podcast digs into our experiences and connections with identity, family, and culture.

In this first season, host Angelyn Francis and reporter Al Donato focus on food, taking us through the childhood kitchens and family restaurants that second-generation Canadians called home, to discover the unique ways they negotiate their identities through what they eat.

Hungry? Episodes one and two are out now on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts.


Episode 1: That One Dish

Listen below on Soundcloud:

We all have favourite foods, but there’s always “that one dish” that transports us into childhood memories, reminds us of people we care about, and can play a role in fostering who we are.

Guests

  • Amir Ahmed, technical writer
  • Carine Abouseif, editor
  • Kumari Giles, artist
  • Paul Taylor, FoodShare Toronto executive director

More from this episode: show notes, transcript and photos


Episode 2: The Family Restaurant

Listen below on SoundCloud:

Restaurants have helped many immigrant families make a living in Canada. Parents work long hours in the kitchen and on the floor serving tables so their children can have better opportunities. We investigate what happens when the kids want to get into the food biz themselves.

Guests

  • Vanessa Ling Yu, caterToronto founder
  • Eden Hagos, Black Foodie founder
  • Mike Tan, Tuk Tuk Canteen chef and co-owner
  • Featuring an appearance by Salima Jivraj, Halal Foodie founder

More from this episode: show notes, transcript and photos


Episode 3: Lost In Translation

Listen below on SoundCloud:

How immigrant families make and eat food is important. But what about the ways we talk about it? We explore what it means when food gets lost in translation between generations, and why fully understanding the meaning of the dishes we eat can be especially significant for the children of immigrants.

Guests

  • Carol Nguyen, filmmaker
  • Adam Chen, journalist

More from this episode: show notes, transcript and photos


Episode 4: Mom’s Cooking

Listen below on SoundCloud:

Mom knows best, especially in the kitchen. There’s just something magical about what she does that makes her food taste better than anyone else’s. But is it possible to adapt our immigrant mothers’ recipes and cook as well as she does … or even better?

Guests

  • Tasha Stansbury, law student
  • Preena Chauhan, Arvinda’s co-founder and class instructor
  • Ben Lootens, chef

More from this episode: show notes, transcript and photos


Episode 5: Fitting In

Listen below on SoundCloud:

We all want to belong. Many second-generation Canadians can recall how their “stinky” immigrant lunches red-flagged them as “different” at school. “Fitting in” gets complicated when it feels like you have to choose one culture over another. But food helps us finds our way.

Guests

  • Natalie Ramtahal, Hangry, Hangrier, Hangriest blogger
  • Mark Ramtahal, digital marketing manager
  • Mark Furukawa, record store owner
  • Jusep Sim, Chopsticks+Forks owner

More from this episode: show notes, transcript and photos

All “Born And Raised: Food” episodes are available on Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts. Subscribe to enjoy this season and for our next instalment, coming in 2019!

Meet the team:

Hosts:

  • Angelyn Francis: Jamaican/Chinese roots, born and raised in Toronto. Comfort food: red-pea soup
  • Al Donato: Filipino roots, born and raised in Toronto. Comfort food: palabok

Producers:

  • Stephanie Werner: German/Chinese roots, born and raised in Vancouver. Comfort food: potato dumplings
  • Al Donato

Executive producers:

  • Lisa Yeung: Chinese-Trinidadian roots, born and raised in Toronto. Comfort food: callaloo and stew chicken
  • Andree Lau: Chinese roots, born and raised in Vancouver. Comfort food: congee

About Born And Raised:

HuffPost Canada’s “Born And Raised” is an ongoing series featuring the stories and perspectives of second-generation Canadians. Want to join the conversation? Email us at [email protected]

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