What is a community Table?
The purpose of The Community Table is to bring people together, connect with others through food, and share stories of our culture and traditions. Community Table provides space to share recipes that we grew up eating, recipes that we may have inherited from our grandparents, or something we like to cook and eat for ourselves. provides an inclusive space for everyone, regardless of their identity, background, or colour and religion.
In today’s world, our lives are fast-paced, busy, filled with stress and anxiety, dealing with all the problems we face daily.
This is my attempt to bring people closer, provide a safe space to connect through food.
Why did I start the Community Table?
As an immigrant, I have always felt a sense of loss. I lost a connection with myself, the food I grew up eating, language, my ability to speak with confidence, and the most importantly, I lost that connection with my community. I found that sense of belonging through food, by relearning to cook with new seasonal ingredients. It took a long time to find that space for myself. I have been in the food industry for more than 2 decades.
Food has always been an Integral part of my life since I was a young girl, growing up in our Pind/Village. I grew up cooking on a wood-fired chulla/outdoor stove. Food tastes so much different with that smoky flavour. That is one of the reasons I love cooking in the outdoor cob oven at The Sharing Farm. I have done community events for the farm for the last 10 years.
The easiest way to bring people together is through food.
Did I achieve what I set out to do?
I did. It was heartwarming, also an acknowledgement that this was needed in the community. Everyone brought a dish with a recipe to the event. All these people were from different backgrounds: students, cooks, teachers, and writers, all with different levels of cooking skill. Some were cooking since they were kids, and a few are just starting to learn.
I wanted this table to be engaging, with total strangers having a conversation at the table. I learned it is challenging for people to go outside their comfort zone, put themselves out. I know that feeling myself. I wanted to provide a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment. I provided cue cards so everyone feels comfortable talking and sharing. Here is an example of a conversation opener. This went well, everyone participated, and conversations were deep and intimate. When I was listening to these conversations, that was the moment I felt that I had accomplished what I wanted to achieve through the community table.
Here is an example of a conversation opener.
- As we eat, we can share a little bit about ourselves, our best memories of food, and why we chose this dish.
- What’s your favourite food to cook?
- Do you cook what you like to eat, or is it based on your family’s likes and dislikes?
- What is your favourite childhood food memory?
I also did a cookbook draw and best dish draw for both of my events. This was so exciting, and everyone really enjoyed this part. I wanted to support a local business, so I bought the books and gift cards from Village Books and Coffeehouse in Steveston. It’s a small family business. This is what community is about: where we all support each other and build connections.
Were there any surprises?
I faced a few challenges, one of which was people not showing up for the event. Additionally, random individuals or bots were purchasing 5 to 6 tickets, which I had to cancel. I had a conversation about this with other organizations, and they also mentioned it’s a big challenge for FREE events. I opened it out to the public to have a conversation about this topic. What is the solution for this? A lot of people mentioned charging a small refundable fee or something that could go towards the event. I am aware that for grants, you can’t charge. It was very frustrating as it takes a lot of effort to put together these events.
What did you learn from the process?
I had already made an interest form before I did these events. I think that would be the best way to contact people and let them know about the community table. I will have to figure out another way to post about the event other than Eventbrite.
The biggest lesson I learned was quality over quantity. For the best outcome, these events need to be small, so everyone has time and opportunity to share their story.
Share a memorable moment?
One of them is the alarm beeping, but I got it under control. Jokes aside, I think it was when everyone was sharing their childhood memories around food, cooking with their mom, or how they were overcoming the cooking challenges. It was the moments when everyone was sharing about how important these types of events are. All the challenges I was facing felt so small because after listening to all these people, it was worth all the work I put it the event.
