Politicians are like cilantro. Constituents often have a love/hate relationship with those who hold a place in public office. I think sometimes it is easy to forget that the politicians leading our cities are people too. It is important to remember this human aspect. After seeing some of this year’s sensationalist headlines and attack articles, it was important to us to invite Mayor Jyoti Gondek (and her husband Todd) over for dinner to share in a meal and conversation. After all, food brings people together. It is an ancient and universal language that we all share. Political views aside, people from different circumstances can “break bread” (or in our case, roll roti) together.
So what do you make when the mayor is coming over for dinner? We wanted to highlight regional dishes from where Mayor Gondek’s family originates, in the North East of India. And while both my husband and I are trained chefs, we didn’t feel we were a genuine authority on authentic Indian cooking. Luckily, we are friends with someone who is; Chef Deepak. Owner of Deepak’s Dhaba, Deepak knows his way around Indian cuisine. He joined us and helped to prepare an impressive menu for our dinner together, from daal, pakoras, and roti, to kheer (sweet rice pudding) for dessert. His extensive experience added an important depth of authenticity to our Indian themed meal, which allowed us to have conversations surrounded by traditional food.
"The adage 'we are what we eat' rings true, as the food we eat and the people we share it with illuminates a lot about our values, ethics, our cultural upbringing, where we have lived, what comforts us, and so much more."
While we worked together, chopping cilantro, rolling roti, and stirring daal, I was able to ask Calgary’s mayor about all things food, as opposed to political topics which she definitely gets asked enough about. While I care about how municipal policies affect me, I would by no means qualify myself as an expert on political matters. I am however, someone who knows about and is deeply passionate about the subject of food. From working in restaurants, to attending cooking school, and sharing my passion with high school foods students and SAIT culinary students alike, food is a subject I feel comfortable speaking on. I wanted to get to know our mayor through food and showcase this perspective of her with fellow Calgarians. I asked Mayor Jyoti to share some of her favourite Calgary restaurants. The adage “we are what we eat” rings true, as the food we eat and the people we share it with illuminates a lot about our values, ethics, our cultural upbringing, where we have lived, what comforts us, and so much more.
Stampede Food As we had just wrapped up another Calgary Stampede, I thought it topical to ask what Jyoti’s go-to Stampede midway food was. Her favourite fair food is a corn dog with mustard. Which condiments you put on a corn dog can be as contentious a topic as differing political views. I am also proudly with “Team Mustard”.
The Evolution of Calgary’s Food Scene
Mayor Gondek has lived in Calgary since 1997. During this time, she has witnessed an evolution of Calgary’s greater food landscape. There have always been small areas of the city with specific ethnic restaurants but for a time, she thinks we transitioned to having more fusion and mainstreamed cuisines. This seems to have evolved and the mayor feels she has seen the city make a shift back to authentic and traditional fare. Calgarians have become more adventurous, eager to explore the city, embrace different cuisines, and try new dishes. Our palate as a city has expanded. This evolution is one of my favourite parts of living in Calgary. Due to Calgary’s incredibly diverse population, you will be able to find traditional cuisine no matter what you are looking for. From deeply spiced Caribbean jerk chicken, to sweet Filipino bakeries, classic British fish & chips, and so much more… And the same can also be said for Calgary’s diverse international markets, allowing shoppers to tour these markets and learn about other cultures through their food. Maybe you’ve just arrived back from a trip and are hoping to recreate that pasta you learned on Italian cooking class, but you need to find a specific imported cheese to make the dish? Calgary really has embraced its diverse food identity. Jyoti made another interesting point about how the homes we build (or renovate) have seen kitchens and countertops expanding and becoming more open-planned. This allows for shared food preparation and entertaining, and bringing generations together, very much like the meal we were preparing together. The evolution of the way we eat in our homes has changed too.
“People are more adventurous now. People are going out to other areas of the city to experience the food scene. I think our ability to enjoy food has matured and we have become more adventurous as people.” ~Mayor Jyoti Gondek
Support Local Restaurants
During COVID-19 there was a huge emphasis placed on supporting local. People were encouraged to continue to order takeout or buy gift cards from their favourite restaurants to help them stay afloat during that most unusual time. The mayor told me that she and her family still tried to order from the restaurants they usually visited to do their part to help keep them in business. She recounts going to Palomino for barbecue and several places in China Town. I also asked, in our post-apocalyptic world, what takeaway they still order. The couple said when they order food to-go, the family doesn’t use the popular delivery platforms, but prefer to go directly to the restaurant to pick up their food. This helps local restaurants maintain full profits by avoiding associated fees collected from delivery apps. Jyoti and her husband, Todd mentioned getting the “deep-fried shrimp” from Jade Palace, and the way they described them has me looking forward to trying this dish too. I also asked if there were any other favourite spots they loved. Todd said the burgers from Leopold’s Tavern. Gate of India came to mind too, reminding Mayor Gondek of her mom. Food, with its accompanying flavours and smells, is one of the most nostalgic ways to reconnect to people we have lost or places we have left behind.
"Food, with its accompanying flavours and smells, is one of the most nostalgic ways to reconnect to people we have lost or places we have left behind."
Nostalgic Eating
Mayor Jyoti has lived in many places, and I asked her if there were any dishes or Calgarian restaurants that helped spark some of these memories through food. She was born in England and her parents were from India, so Indian food and flavours have always held a special place in her heart. She said “there is no cooking like your mom’s cooking” and I couldn’t agree more. You get used to the ways your family members prepare the food from their upbringing. It is difficult to recreate that, but she did say that Moti Mahal hit the spot. The mayor also said that an emblematic food from her childhood were peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, which she remembers finding in her school lunch kit. Ingredient wise, she said things like turmeric or the smell of preparing a masala of sautéed ginger, garlic, onion, and spices, building layers of flavour into the base of a dish. She said the smell of our kitchen even as we were chatting was taking her back to her childhood. One of the focal points of our menu were the roti; buttery Indian flat bread. Jyoti said rolling roti with her mom is a vivid memory from her childhood. You could tell there was a certain inherent muscle-memory in the way she worked with the dough, carefully rolling it into even thin circles, and how she knew just the right time to flip them by hand on the tawa (roti pan).
Food Insecurities for Calgarians
Food insecurity has become increasingly more common with rising food costs. I asked the mayor what the city of Calgary was doing or could do to try and alleviate the strain on families. She mentioned that the city has a great opportunity to make better use of unused land for urban agriculture, like the successful projects downtown where vacant spaces have been transformed into productive food enterprises. She emphasized the importance of community gardens. Jyoti said “we are rekindling our understanding of where food comes from and what it means to be able to grow it ourselves.”. And, while many of us may not have the time or space to garden, I would also encourage supporting CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). These collectives offer food subscriptions varying in frequency, bringing consumers local food at reduced rates directly from the producer.
Cooking at Home
Coming home after a long day at work and scrounging up the ingredients and energy to prepare a meal the entire family will all enjoy is a challenge for any households. I couldn’t imagine doing this as the mayor of a large city like Calgary. Jyoti said she used to be largely responsible for the family’s meal planning and grocery shopping. She said that although there is a joy that comes with cooking when you have the time for it, it can be hard to find that joy when it is a daily chore, a point which I am sure we can all agree on. So, with the mayor of Calgary’s ever busy schedule, she admitted there has been a role reversal at home and Todd has taken over most of the cooking. Jyoti says he gets joy out of making meals, trying new recipes, and describing what he has created. I asked what some of their favourite family meals are and they mentioned internationally influenced dishes like Korean and Vietnamese dishes, Indian, even curry wurst and handmade pasta. The mayor really emphasized how grateful she was that Todd was the cook at home. He said he often eats alone due to her schedule, but that he always puts packed up meals in the fridge for her when she does get home. She said everything he makes is really good. High praise! If only we all had a “Todd” at home.
Something else Jyoti touched on, which has stayed with me, is how through the universal language of food people can find success. She mentioned how at-risk youth, students, and immigrants can find a sense of accomplishment in preparing a meal from start to finish and sharing this with others. I had never thought of that in this way, which makes so much sense to me as a High School Foods teacher. This will absolutely stick with me as I continue to work and cook with students.
We also discussed the challenges she’s faced, especially when engaging with those who hold different views. Jyoti spoke about the importance of honest conversations, even when they’re tough. She mentioned that sometimes people tell her she “knew what [she] was getting into” by becoming mayor and that criticism “comes with the territory”, but she offers a thoughtful perspective. Jyoti said “if we make it acceptable for people to rude to each other, and we say that everyone who’s an elected official knew what they were ‘in for’, and we normalize hatred and vitriol, then we are not doing ourselves any service.” She seemed more disappointed than upset. It’s obvious that she’s here for the tough feedback but she emphasizes the importance of maintaining civility and respect. “Say whatever you need to me, but do you have to do it in front of my family?” said Jyoti. Family meals at a restaurant are not the appropriate venue for heated political debates, let alone inflammatory comments. This gave me a greater appreciation of what elected officials navigate, even whilst they are out for a family meal and exploring their city’s dining scene.
So, regardless of your political opinions, I hope you have gained a greater perspective of Calgary’s mayor through the lens of food. What we eat, what we cook, and who we share our meals with says a lot about who we are. We are grateful Mayor Jyoti Gondek took the time out of her very busy schedule to come and prepare a meal with us and have a conversation. After we finished putting together our feast, we held a community table dinner outside and invited friends, family, and neighbours to come and eat with the mayor. I was really impressed with her willingness to try something out of the ordinary, like going over to someone’s house and cooking with them, and how eloquently she answered the questions asked to her. After a whirlwind of interviewing, prepping, cooking, serving, and eating, she was whisked away by her team to attend yet another event. Thank you to Mayor Gondek and her husband Todd, for sharing your perspectives and joining us for an evening of all things food.
Special thanks to...
Deepak of Deepak’s Dhaba (@deepaksdhaba) for preparing a traditional Indian feast.
Jay del Corro (@theaimlesscook) for recording and putting together a podcast of our evening together. Find the full podcast episode here.
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