A Region That Really Schmecks celebrates Waterloo Region’s rich, multicultural culinary mosaic, from the point of view of a home cook.
In the early 21st Century, Waterloo Region’s population is a far cry from what it was 200, 100, even 50 years ago. Although our Mennonite, German, and British roots run deep, our cultural breadth is wide:
- We are home to nearly a half-million people.
- We come from every continent and represent more than 160 ethnicities.
- Almost 44 per cent is either first- or second-generation Canadians.
- Approximately one-in-four of us is an immigrant.
What newcomers bring—apart from skills and talents—is a taste of home. These foods convey memory—of time, place, and people—and prepared for, shared with, and passed to the next generation and friends. Sometimes, recipes or methods remain the same as they always were; sometimes, they are adapted. All these dishes, from snacks to soups to sweets, the familiar and the exotic, contribute to our community table.
Click here to explore the A Region That Really Schmecks series.
References:
A Region That Really Schmecks: Sharing your taste of home
We can’t celebrate Waterloo Region’s diverse culinary mosaic without stories and recipes.
If you’re in Waterloo Region, and have a favourite recipe or dish that connects you to your heritage, we’d love to hear from you. We’re interested in talking to and learning from people who keep their memories of home and of family alive through food—either everyday or for special meals—and are willing to share a recipe or two.
If this sounds like you, please contact us. We can’t promise every recipe or story will be used, but we’ll do our best to include as many as we can.