The Joy of Food
Eight Delicious Dishes that Shaped the Modern World
The LIFE Institute (April–June 2026)
Take a delightful journey through the history of eight mouthwatering foods that have become staples of the modern table. We’ll learn about bagels and lox and its lip-smacking journey into the heart (and stomachs) of the Jewish diaspora. We’ll examine the role of ice cream in bringing the concept of luxury from the royal courts of Europe to your neighborhood ice cream parlour. We’ll explore the lessons that pizza, curry and the Canadian butter tart can teach us about immigration, globalization and national identity.
Below you can find PDFs of each lecture’s slides as well as additional resources for reading and even cooking a few of these dishes at home!
Slides and resources will be posted the day after each week’s class (Friday).
What is Canadian Food?
I invite everyone to fill out the following form before our final class (Thursday, June 18) where we will be discussing what is “Canadian food.” Feel free to be creative and dig deep about what you think our national foods or dishes are.
I’ll also share any recipes submitted, along with the recipes I mention during the lecture, as a PDF for everyone to enjoy after our class wraps up.
Week 1
Chocolate: How Cacao Re-Wired the World’s Taste Buds
We begin our series with the story of one of the most lucrative ingredients in the world: chocolate.
We’ll explore the history and cultural importance of cacao within the Americas before tracing its journey to Europe, Asia, and beyond because of Spanish colonialism. Discover how chocolate financed European empires, as well as how entrepreneurs such as John Cadbury, Milton Hershey, and Franklin Mars remade the confectionary industry through chocolate bars.
Week 2
Curry: How a Complex Dish Combatted Colonialism
Curry may be among the most difficult to define terms in cooking: applicable to tree leaves, spice blends, sauces, and, of course, complex dishes.
This week, we dive deep into the term’s colonial origins in South Asia and its spread to global cuisines, conjuring discussions of immigration, globalization, and cultural appropriation. We’ll explore the history of curry’s impressively wide range in style and form: from its roots in early Indian cuisine to Britain’s chicken tikka masala, Japan’s katsu curry, and even Germany’s currywurst.
Week 3
Hamburger & Fries: How a Simple German Sandwich Launched Fast Food
Discover the history of the iconic dish at the heart of a multi-billion-dollar fast food industry. We’ll trace the burger’s humble street food origins that led to the famous Golden Arches and other fast-food chains.
We’ll explore how a newly mobile and car-friendly North America helped make the “burger and fries” the symbol of consumerism around the world in the mid-20th century.
Week 4
Pizza: How Italian Food Conquered the World
From award-winning Neapolitan pizzerias to your neighbourhood Pizza Hut franchise, pizza may be the most recognized Italian food in the world.
We’ll dig deep into the story of pizza and its connections to the Columbian exchange, Italian emigration, and the rise of fast food. We’ll also explore pizza as a modern culinary chameleon, with beloved global styles ranging from Sicily to Greece to California.
Week 5
Bagels & Lox:
How Smoked Salmon & Schmear
Defined the Jewish Diaspora
Whether you’re a devotee of Montreal bagels, or insist that only New York style will do, bagels and lox are a culinary calling card of the Jewish diaspora.
This week, we dig into the thousand-year history of how this iconic dish came to be, stretching from Poland to the Lower East Side. We’ll explore the mélange of cuisines that provided the components of this beloved dish: from the Scandinavian tradition of smoked fish to the British influence that created cream cheese.
Week 6
Ice Cream: How a Cool Treat Democratized Dessert
The perennial treat of summer, ice cream may seem like a marvel of modern refrigeration. But as you enjoy your Rocky Road, consider how everyone from the Emperor Nero to Catherine de Medici indulged in frozen treats such as sherbets, sorbets, and even icy beverages.
This week, we’ll explore the surprisingly long history of ice cream, and how frosty desserts were the ultimate status symbol until the invention of modern refrigeration.
Ramen:
How Instant Noodles Saved a Nation
This week, we take a dive into the history of this slurpable soup: from the ancient noodle traditions of East Asia to the budget-friendly cup-o-noodles beloved by university students all over the world.
Learn how instant noodles connect to American expansionism in Japan following the Second World War and the growth of ready-made meals in the 20th century. We’ll also explore the other side of the ramen coin: with diners forking over big dollars for big artisanal bowls of broth.
Culinary Canadiana:
How Food Built Canada’s Identity
Coming Soon