The Current Canada's food scene a story of immigration and community
Dec 31, 2025
Suresh Doss, a CBC food communicator and the creative mind behind Locals Welcome, dives deep into Canada's vibrant food scene shaped by immigration. He shares how diaspora restaurants reflect families' journeys and explore community connections. Suresh passionately argues that these ‘hidden gems’ are well-known to locals. He discusses the importance of food in storytelling and highlights the communal nature of sharing meals outdoors. With anecdotes of personal culinary experiences and insights on supporting local eateries, Suresh showcases food's unique power to unite people.
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Food As A Window Into Migration
- Food acts as a conduit to people's migration stories and identities in Canada.
- Suresh Doss says visiting local eateries opens perspectives you won't get online.
Hood-Of-Car Meals From Childhood
- Suresh Doss recalls eating on the hood of a car as a child in Sri Lanka and Nigeria when restaurants weren't always available.
- He says that intimacy carried into his Toronto food tours and explains why he still eats that way.
Canada's Layered Culinary Identity
- Canada's food culture is a layered product of many immigration waves over 200 years.
- Suresh Doss argues this creates uniquely regional cuisines across the country.