Work at CSI for the day with our new Lounge Pass!

#StayAtHome activity: listen to inspiring food innovators on Marion Kane’s podcast

Self-isolation doesn’t have to be boring. To keep you inspired, we are passing along things that social innovators can read / do / listen to while we #StayAtHome.

For 18 years, CSI member Marion Kane was a food editor and columnist for The Toronto Star. Julia Child cooked breakfast for her. She had lunch with Sophia Loren. Nigella Lawson declared them to be “kitchen cousins” and Keith Richards signed her full-page tribute to shepherd’s pie (his favourite meal).

Sittin’ in the Kitchen®” is her podcast series about food; each episode features a 10 to 15 minute chat with a compelling person. Some are chefs, some are enthusiastic home cooks, and others are changing the world through food.

With more than 150 episodes in her archives, you’ve got hours of listening to look forward to. To get you started, here are eight episodes with food innovators we think CSI members will love:

  1. Joshna Maharaj Creates an Institutional Food Revolution: Joshna is driven by a passion for social change. She rejects the processed, dreary and bland food served in most institutions.
  2. Shawn Adler Taps into Native Roots at Pow Wow Café: Shawn’s father is Jewish; his mother is Ojibway. His restaurant features Indian tacos: fried bannock crowned with a selection of toppings.
  3. Olivia Chow at Home – A Message of Hope: Olivia and Marion share a wish for a Canadian national program offering nutritious food for all school children. Like her late husband Jack, she has a message of hope.
  4. From Patriarchy to Pâté, Restaurateur Jen Agg Tells All: Jen named her memoir “I Hear She’s a Real Bitch”. Hear her thoughts on being a successful woman in a food industry rife with sexism, misogyny and the bro culture.
  5. Street Nurse Cathy Crowe: A Fearless, Passionate Activist: Cathy has been on the front lines of Toronto’s housing emergency for decades. Her memoir recounts her lifelong commitment to social justice.
  6. Marlene Benedicto Is Tasting Toronto on Wheels: Marlene has been in a wheelchair since she was three years old. She writes a blog called ‘Tasting Toronto on Wheels’.
  7. Men Who Have Known Homelessness Cook Up a Taste of Home: Street nurse Roxanne Danielson and health promoter Kristen Ireland lead cooking workshops for men who are or have been homeless.
  8. Dynamic Chef Jagger Gordon Wages War on Wasted Food: Jagger has declared war on food waste. His non-profit Feed It Forward recycles food that would be wasted by the food industry.

Added bonus: If you are looking for cooking challenges right now, here are some of Marion’s favourite recipes. You can try them out while you listen!

Keep Reading
Cocktails from ZERO Cocktail Bar
We spoke with Regent Park entrepreneur Gail Lynch, CEO and Experience Designer of ZERO Cocktail Bar, about building a non-alcoholic bar and her experience as a Black woman entrepreneur. 
A graphic of multiple face silhouettes, made of crinkled paper, in various skin tones.
As we celebrate Black History Month, we’re continuing our learning, and we thought an update to our Black history reading lists (see our lists from 2018 and 2020) was in order! This year, we turned to our CSI community to crowdsource their recommendations. We asked our members and staff to share with us a favourite book, essay, movie, show, or podcast that they found impactful about the Black experience.
Guests cheer at CSI's 2022 Holiday Gathering
Every year, we honour a member or members with the Bow Tie Award during our famously festive Holiday Gathering. And no, it’s not for the best dressed attendee!
Become A Member