Food Stories

Read about UVic community members experiences and connections with food and culture in Victoria.

Pedro Barros

Pedro Barros

“Hi my name is Pedro, I am an international student from Brazil. I have been volunteering with the global community for almost a year now. The thing I enjoy doing the most, when I am not studying or volunteering with GC, is going to all the different food places in Victoria.

I make sure to go eat a new place every weekend. Recently I found this Brazilian caffe that just opened up downtown Victoria. I love the fact that even though I am really far from home I still get to enjoy some food from my home country. When it comes to food, Victoria has it all!”

Muskan Lonial

Muskan Lonial

“Dal Makhani is a comforting, creamy and buttery lentil dish. The lentils and beans are cooked until tender, then we build up with layers of aromatic flavour. It makes the perfect side dish to go with any curry, or serve it as a main with some pilau rice and/or chapati.

Hailing from the Norther parts of India, there’s a dish that speaks the language of comfort and nostalgia with every bite: Dal Makhani. It’s a simple yet profound concoction of black lentils and beans, simmered to perfection with a medley of spices that warm you from the inside out. The dish is modest, unassuming, and yet, it holds within it the power to transport me back to simpler times.

Back home, It was more than just food; it was a ritual that brought the family together, a tradition that we held dear.

It’s my treat after a long week, my way of pampering myself when I need a pick-me-up. I like to order dal makhni at Royal Spice as they have a pretty authentic version of the dish, doing justice to it.

Paired with a side of steamed rice or warm naan, it’s a meal that satisfies not just hunger but the soul. It’s amazing how a dish so simple can evoke such a strong sense of place and belonging. No matter where life takes me, a bowl of Dal Makhani is all it takes to feel like I’m home again.”

Ana Paula Bertho

Ana Paula Bertho

“I’m Ana, originally from Brazil. Since 2021, I’ve volunteered for the Global Community and had the opportunity to cook brigadeiro in two Baking Extravaganzas. Think about a mouth-watering, easy recipe (condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder): That’s brigadeiro! Besides being delicious, sharing brigadeiro’s story and seeing everybody excited about the smell and taste that mean home was lovely. You should also try it!

On the other hand, moving to Canada has allowed me to explore different cuisines. I couldn’t imagine that a dish called phở from the other side of the planet would steal my heart and stomach! Every time I have phở, somehow I feel like I am in Vietnam, exploring new ingredients and ways of cooking.

Now, my comfort meal consists of a dessert I’ve known for my whole life and a soup that warmly reminds me how food has the power to nourish bodies and souls.”

Pedro Barros

“Hi my name is Pedro, I am an international student from Brazil. I have been volunteering with the global community for almost a year now. The thing I enjoy doing the most, when I am not studying or volunteering with GC, is going to all the different food places in...

read more

Muskan Lonial

"Dal Makhani is a comforting, creamy and buttery lentil dish. The lentils and beans are cooked until tender, then we build up with layers of aromatic flavour. It makes the perfect side dish to go with any curry, or serve it as a main with some pilau...

read more

Ana Paula Bertho

"I'm Ana, originally from Brazil. Since 2021, I've volunteered for the Global Community and had the opportunity to cook brigadeiro in two Baking Extravaganzas. Think about a mouth-watering, easy recipe (condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder): That’s brigadeiro!...

read more

Aman Palod

Half a world away in Victoria, I find comfort in a humble dish that always makes me nostalgic for home: poha. These flattened rice flakes, mixed with robust Indian spices, diced onions, a dash of lime, and a sprinkle of coriander, bring back memories of lazy mornings...

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