Out of Old Ontario Kitchens

by Lindy Mechefske

Out of Old Ontario Kitchens is a window into the past, exploring the stories of the First Peoples and settlers. It pays homage to all those who trapped and fished and hunted; to those who cleared the land and planted crops; and most importantly to all those women -- our mothers and aunts, our grandmothers and great-grandmothers and great-great grandmothers -- who got up and lit the fire; who toiled and stirred and cooked and baked and who kept families alive through long hard winters, through plagues and depressions, famines and wars. Work every bit as important as agriculture, commerce, mining, politics, and the development of infrastructure.

With over a hundred historically sourced recipes as well as scores of old photographs, early artworks, botanical prints, and illustrations, Out of Old Ontario Kitchens is both a visual and virtual feast. If you want to know what life was really like in early Ontario, come to the table with us. Food stories are, after all, the real stories of our lives.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Canada, Food

192 pages, Hardcover

Published September 10, 2018

Reviews

[Erika Nerdypants · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a pleasure to read this. Also, this is a great starting point if you want to learn more about settler women in Ontario, about whom very little is written. I'm making Nellie McClung's biscuits with my stew tonight!

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A charming mix of Ontario history and the foods and recipes that predominated at certain times. The origins and forces behind recipes' popularity are tied to important events and people. As a long-time resident and then citizen of Canada, who's originally from the US, I was especially impressed by the amount and importance of Provincial history that I learned, the many innovations that originated here, and the clarity with which it was all written. I would say that a bit more brevity might have been in order regarding the recipes that can be/are no longer made due to unavailable ingredients, or changing storage methods and palates. Otherwise a fine book that would be a valued addition to any cookbook collection.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable.

[Crazy Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable overview of the history of Ontario cuisine with a focus on the women behind the scenes. Not 'academic' in tone but engaging enough for the average reader with pictures of historic advertisements & products & recipes if available. Excerpts of journals & letters give a culinary history of the province.

Highly recommend for history/ food buffs.

[Susan Mclennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book. Part cookbook, part history. The history tells of pioneer women and what they faced to provide food for their families. Culinary stories from our past. The book is beautiful too, presented as a grandmother's well loved cookbook with coffee stains etc. We only hear about the men who made history but thet couldn't have done it without the women.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ontario cuisine is not in my top 5, but this was interesting throughout and gave me some ideas. Wish I liked butter tarts.

[Lola Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the snippets of history, the recipes, and the remarkable collection of art, old advertisements, old photographs, botanical illustrations, etc. A wealth of information here! A pleasure to pick up and leaf through this wonderful treasure trove.

[Claire]

Met her on her Book Tour. Good storyteller. Thorough researcher.