The Great Canadian Feast: A Celebration of Family Traditions from Canadian Kitchens

Ann Turner is the financial and budget manager of the University of
British Columbia Library.

This unusual collection of family favorites originated in a contest of
the same name sponsored by Canadian Geographic magazine and Food Network
Canada. Readers/viewers were invited to submit recipes special to them
and their families, and to share information about the recipe’s
origins and significance. The 63 recipes chosen for the book were
selected from nearly 1000 submissions, and they demonstrate the rich
cultural and regional diversity of Canadian cuisine. They include soups,
appetizers, salads, side dishes, main courses, sweets, breads, and
breakfasts. Each one is accompanied by its contributor’s name and
description of how the recipe is meaningful in that family’s
tradition. Most of the ingredients are readily available. The methods
are clearly set out, but some of these special dishes are quite
intricate and require lengthy preparation times. The yields are family
feast size, in the eight- to ten-serving range. Accompanying notes
provide background information on Canadian agriculture, food production,
and food-related regional events.