Celebrating Home, Heritage, and the Cookies That Connect Us

Reunited, and it feels so good 🎵🎶🎼🤗

We hadn’t seen some of these incredible women in so long, and gathering together again felt like coming home. There was something especially moving about celebrating in this setting- at One of A Kind’s 50th anniversary- scheduled on the brand-new Flavours Demo stage, a space built for sharing food, culture, and creativity.

Yes, I have been quietly working behind the scenes rebuilding and reimagining a new future at Newcomer Kitchen after a break, and it has not been anything short of exciting with the great little team we have- small but mighty 💪 and our leader who is a masterful storyteller and exudes passion from her heart 💗. Such honour to be part of this together!

Today, we offered something simple yet profoundly meaningful: cookies that carry our stories. Each alumna from Newcomer Kitchen brought forward a favourite cookie- one that reminded her of home, of the people she loves, and of the path that brought her to Canada.

These aren’t just recipes. They are memories held in dough, courage passed down through generations, and community formed one bite at a time. As each woman spoke, the room filled with nostalgia, laughter, and that unmistakable feeling of belonging. Their stories- of arrival, resilience, and renewal- reminded us why food is such a powerful connector.

Our storytellers were extraordinary. They shared their journeys with honesty and heart, and we were honoured to witness how Newcomer Kitchen has woven into their new beginnings.

The cookie map began as a playful idea and quickly became a beautiful way to show how far our flavours travel. We invited guests to share their favourite cookie and where it originated on the map (what a fun "science project" it was for me piecing it together with a panel for cookie hashtags on one side #bakeabetterworld #cookieconversations #thepowerofcookies, and Cookie Wishes on the other- May your cookies bring you connections! 

With Cookie Monster as our mascot 🍪🤗

Together, the map shows a world of traditions, memories, and journeys that now meet here in Canada. It is a reminder that a simple cookie can carry home with it, and when we share these treats, we also share pieces of who we are.

Now we invite you to be part of the Great Canadian Cookie Exchange. Share your cookie stories, your family favourites, and the treats that bring you comfort. Let’s keep these cookie conversations going and pass a little sweetness forward. 🍪🍪🍪

 Stay tuned for more exciting news from Newcomer Kitchen as we break for the holidays and emerge new and improved in 2026 🥳🎊!

Savouring Summer: From Gatherings to Quiet Moments

Recapping the summer that fed my soul spent with friends, family, events and finding me😛. I got to do the things I love but never seemed to have the time such as reading, arts & crafts and yes a little home reorganizing and cleaning (it's truly another therapy second to cooking). 

Magic happened at the start of my summer. When your worlds collide... my two close friends meet for the first time-- sharing a love for food, names of their daughters 😉 and get this ... same birthdate (phhhshh...👊💥) @lisaeats @ninanmurmur.

What an amazing Sunday it was hanging out with these two special gals and their families on such a beautiful day🌞! Kept it cool and refreshing with Chinese shredded chicken and cold noodles (手撕鸡冷面) DIY bar-- hand-shredded chicken (marinated in soy and oyster sauces, black vinegar, garlic, onions, chili oil and sesame oil) served over top your choice of thin wheat noodles or green bean clear noodles and a myriad of sides (cucumber, shredded potato and carrot salad, pickled lettuce stem and 5-spice marinated beancurd), toppings (chopped green onions, cilantro and garlic) and sauces (concocted base- creamy sesame soy and vinegar sauce, and individual sauces to customize to your tastes). Loved it 💓!

DIY is best!

And to top it off, my beautiful friend Lisa brought a yummy spread of classic and popular Chinese soup desserts from @sweetturtledesserts in Time Square, Richmond Hill. It was just the perfect sweet finish!

Look at that gorgeous spread 😍

What a fantastic event in late July- The Proof Block Party #theproofblockparty with my lovely friend @lisa.eats! A great line up of brands were highlighted including Best Buy, Sony, Catelli, Audible, Pace Salsa and some small Canadian businesses selling press on nails, baked goods and scrunchies! Plus cool dance and singing performances from established TikTok stars🌟 

Lots of cool freebies to tote home too! So much fun!

The neck fan from JisuLife was my best friend all summer!

Loved that we were just around the corner from Little Portugal, for a nice stroll and window shopping!

The internationally renowned street artist Vhils (Alexandre Farto) has created a mural in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighbourhood – on 1628 Dundas St. West (just west of Brock Ave.) – honouring Portuguese “cleaning ladies” and their labour activism through the Cleaners’ Action movement in the 1970s-80s.

Mural honouring Cleaners’ Action

So fresh, it's so fresh... exciting 🎜🎶🌿Thoroughly enjoyed a homecooked Vietnamese dinner at our family's friends' place with a spread of crispy spring rolls cha gio, Viet jambon garden salad with shrimps and quail eggs served with honey mustard vinaigrette and the main attraction- pho🍜with the usual suspects as DIY! The best part was knowing all their fresh herbs🌿and some produce came straight from their beloved backyard garden!

The colours and freshness- WOW!

Eggplants, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, chives and herbs, and less usual crops such as white bittermelon, okra and high fiber sweet potato leaves (they recommend blanching and mix with two mashed boiled eggs slightly dressed with fish sauce-- a poor man's village food that is nutritious as it is delicious😋👍)... so inspired by their extensive pick-out-of-your-own-garden I may try my hand on potting a few faves next spring and have my own fresh bounty!

Eggplants, white bitter melon, okra and cheery tomatoes, oh my!

A cool space, a cool summer social event connecting fellow innovators, and meeting the YSpace and SmartTO community with founders, mentors, and change-makers! And seeing some of the cool products to market that came from here. Thank you for the invite Judy Wong, YSpace Program Advisor with @ninanmurmur 👐

YSpace in Markham is an innovation hub and business incubator located at York University in Toronto. It supports entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators by providing resources, mentorship, and a collaborative environment with programs that spans across scaling innovative technologies, agri-food businesses into mass retail to diversity-focused initiatives like ELLA powered by Desjardins for women-led businesses and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses💥.

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As Toronto’s newest transportation and mobility hub led by York University in partnership with Centennial College, SmartTO empowers startups and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs to develop, test and prototype advanced automotive technologies and smart mobility solutions through accessing state-of-the-art equipment, and world-renowned expertise.

York Region who has been instrumental in the initial phases of the YSpace food entrepreneur program has developed their own- a new Agri-Food Start-Up Program. I have been in touch with program organizers to support this initiative by sharing. Are you or anyone you know an aspiring food entrepreneur from an equity-deserving (Member of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGTBQI+) or Indigenous community? The York Region Agri-Food Start-Up Program is here to help you build or grow your food business!

This FREE program offers:
☑️ Mentorship, training & business planning
☑️ Subsidized commercial kitchen access
☑️ Indigenous-led support & community engagement

The program runs from September 2025 to March 2026 and entrepreneurs must meet all of the following criteria to apply:

· Identify as Indigenous of a member of an equity-deserving group (e.g., Member of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, women, 2SLGTBQI+)
· Be a Canadian or Permanent Resident
· Be an Ontario resident
· Be 18 years or older
· Have a food product concept or early-stage product
· Be in the pre-revenue or early-revenue stage (less than $25,000 annual sales)
· Commit to completing the full 14-week program (4 to 6 hours per week)
· Demonstrate readiness to learn through coaching, workshops, and peer mentorship

🔗 Apply by 11:59 p.m. on September 17th, 2025: yorklink.ca/FoodStartup

yorklink.ca/FoodStartup

Susan's Savour-It!... Susan's Favourites😄... in my neighbouring Willowdale hood. It was such a pleasure curating a neighbourhood walk with a food crawl of diverse cheap eat treasures for someone unfamiliar with this north end of the subway line #finchandyonge. Each armed with $20, how far did it go?

Sang Ji Bao for their signature Shanghai pan fried pork soup bao $7.99 for 4 at 5461 Yonge Street.

Maki Mart for $2.95 vegetarian and $3.95 sushi hand rolls at 5371 Yonge Street.

Kim A La Carte, the only surviving food cart from the defunct decade old City A La Carte street food vendor project for Korean snacks such as rice cake skewers in both teriyaki and spicy sauce $2 each, fried seaweed rolls kim-mari 3 pcs $3 and custard filled waffle fish 2 pcs $4.50. 5323 Yonge Street.

WPZ Sweet Lab for $2.99 grape and hawthorn tanghulu which are skewered fruits coated in heated sugar syrup, and hardens in the cold. Since it was super hot out 🥵, we had a short window to eat. Tanghulu has been made since the Song dynasty and remains popular throughout northern China. 5418 Yonge Street #5.

Aitaiker for Taiwanese popular street snack popcorn chicken in salt and pepper flavour $8.49 at 5418 Yonge Street #21.

So how did we fare?-- $40.86 before taxes which is not bad considering the many and varied cuisine hot spots we hit for little eats. It was filling and so much fun this way, nibbling, talking, walking and digesting!

The blue JisuLife fan was a saviour this summer on my many hot walks 🥵

Note: This Tolman sweet apple tree 🍎🌿on Yonge near North York Centre (sturdy and long living) with the huge sit-inside cavity is the last remaining from the orchard that Gibson established in 1832 and is found in a parkette just to the east of Gibson House, which is a designated heritage site. First time I noticed it in my 20 years living in the community😄!

Did you know Aug 22nd is National Bao Day? I have been honoured to be Taiwanese pop up street vendor Jian Dan Kitchen's mentor and menu consultant throughout in the planning of their many major food festival attendance this summer. @jiandankitchen2023 got a spot last minute at the Toronto 2025 TAIWANfest and started featuring their delicious Taiwanese gua bao with a twist at Harbourfront Centre.

Here are some shots from @torontodragonfestival @nathanphillipssquare. Their signature Popcorn Chicken, 3 must-try Gua Bao and cool refreshing drinks have been big hits 💢.

12-Hour Maple Braised Pork Belly Bao and Wintermelon Aiyu 😋

The too cool crew Jian Dan Kitchen

Having time to read was such a treat this summer... lounging in the backyard under clear blue skies :)

Scored yuuuge after 4 years of endless searching for a rustic terracotta pot (no can do with the common planters sold at big box stores) to fill a big empty spot on my front veranda (and cover an unwashable calcite on our flatstones), and one that won't break the bank. My dilemma compounded when it became clear I could not get a real plant or tree under full shade.

Loving the old world, countryside and European decor, I had ordered a faux 6ft olive tree for my living room last year (Bed & Beyond) and it's fab (I got countless compliments on how real it looks)! Two weeks ago, an Amazon search yielded a lovely 7ft artificial olive tree on sale that would be perfect on the porch 😍. It came, I assembled and fluffed it and then blaringly, two planters were in tall order!

I am a pottery enthusiast💗. I remember in Greece last summer thinking why can't we find these urns and planters here, and why the ones we can are so boring!! Well, imagine my excitement when I came across Pottery Land on FB, and seeing the copious selection of gorgeous handcrafted terracotta and clay pots to choose from just a short distance into Woodbridge and produced with traditional methods by local artisans #100%ontariomade! Each one unique and full of character! The two ringed pot outdoors (DxH- 16"x18.5") and smaller 3 handled pot indoors (12"x14") were $140 total with 20% off at the time, which is a steal of a deal😇! 

Pottery Barn sells their large pots from $600 to 1K+, and Pottery Land's friendly owner says a nearby shop has theirs going for $1K. Who can afford that??? They opened just 2 months ago, and are looking forward to a busy season. I was like a girl in the candy store. So very happy!! Check them out for the perfect pot for your plants indoors or out!

🌿 Terracotta Plant Pots | Clay Planters 🌿
Visit Pottery Land at: 6751 Hwy 7 W, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A5

Miniature building is on a level of it's own #respect #thedevilisinthedetails

A proud moment Haha! 

Taa Daaaaaa...... !

Will have to find more time for my next set- Garden Life :D

So grateful for the many savourable moments of summer sunshine, smiles and self-care. As we head into cooler weather ahead-- think big batch cooking, comfort foods and pantry cooking, stay tuned with my next post on Hong Kong style Russian Borscht soup- the perfect fall weather friend in a bowl with a fusion Chinese twist🥣!