BY MEGAN ROBERTS

Have you ever met someone who just radiates positivity and inspires you to chase your dreams? That’s exactly how I felt when I met Christine, the owner of Savoury’s Sweets

Our friendship began while at Centennial College. I needed a few sheets of parchment paper, so I timidly approached the bakers’ section of the kitchen, knowing full well how particular bakers can be about their workspace. I raised my white flag in the form of a greeting and said “Hi my baking friends,” to let them know I come in peace. That is where everything started.

Christine’s passion for baking began with her grandparents. Her grandfather was a pastry chef at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, but it was her grandmother, Odessa, who was the active baker at home. She would be excited to take the four-hour long trips with her dad to visit knowing that she would always be greeted with traditional Bajan cuisine and her favourite treats freshly baked by her grandmother. She remembers seeing her grandfather grating coconut and cassava into a big silver bowl in preparation for pastries, but one of her fondest food memories is that of Odessa’s cinnamon rolls. “It didn’t matter what day you dropped in on Grandma, there was bread, there were cinnamon rolls, cassava, there was something,” Christine recalls with emotion.

After graduating from the baking program, she started her business, Savoury’s Sweets. Starting a business is no easy feat, especially when you’re putting yourself out there so I asked her why she chose this path. “Well, it’s the fact that I have $15,000 in student debt,” she responded while laughing. “I am qualified for baking. I’m a graduate of Baking and Pastry Arts Management. I could manage a bakery, but I learned that wasn’t for me. I wanted to be self-reliant”

She continued to say that it was important for her to set an example for her children. “I want to create experiences for them. I want to create inspiration for them. I don’t want them to see that just because it got hard, or it was slow that it means that you give up or stop. I want them to see that I continue pushing despite any obstacles”

Since the start of Savoury’s Sweets, Christine has been making herself known at various popups around the city. Her most recent event was located in Kensington Market where she had the absolute pleasure of purchasing the infamous Dessa Roll, a most decadent cinnamon roll aptly named after her grandmother. “I just want to make people happy with my food,” she stated so humbly “And set an example for my children. I’m just doing the best that I can with what I have and I’ve done too much to give up at this point.”

Christine’s story is a true inspiration for anyone who has a dream and is afraid to pursue it. She took a risk on herself and her passion for baking and it’s paying off. I hope this serves as a reminder that no matter how daunting a task may seem if it’s your calling, nothing can stop you.

BY SEAN SEURATTAN

A few short years ago, thinking that cannabis would become a legal and booming industry seemed like sheer fantasy but here we are. So, thinking that cannabis can be a regular resident of the virtual space known as the metaverse does not have to be science fiction.

The cannabis industry being born near the pinnacle of the technological revolution has ensured that an online presence is part of its DNA. Currently to most this is simply constituted by having a website and some social media accounts. However this is only the smallest fraction of what is possible. Here we will discuss some important components of the Metaverse, and how these could be applied to the cannabis community.

The biggest thing to understand about WEB3 (the metaverse’s proper name) is that it is a place where things can exist indefinitely in a virtual form.  In some cases, these are things that exist purely virtually, or in other cases they are virtual representations of real-world things. The simple fact that there is an online space that entire communities can exist in is an incredible leap forward, but is also familiar territory for the cannabis enthusiasts. Being able to virtually share information, ask questions and engage with others in real time are time-honoured traditions practiced by the cannabis community. . This has led to the creation of online marketplaces and forums about cannabis, which are pushing towards the creation of apps and other resources. This makes the entire cannabis experience easier and more informed.

While NFTs have been a heavy tech buzzword surrounding the Metaverse for the last few years, they actually comprise a small aspect of it: ownership. A non-fungible token is used to designate a digital asset as undeniably official and impossible to recreate. The ridiculously superficial bubble market of selling juvenile cartoon animal images will give way to the true purpose for this technology.

NFTs can give real world value to digital items. This is beneficial to cannabis in a multitude of ways. Beyond using them just to create digital trading cards of cannabis imagery, they can be used to unite decentralized individuals towards a common goal. For instance, a company could offer NFTs as a way to crowdfund a new experimental strain and NFT holders would get free samples or early access to reward their initial purchase. Experience based NFTs gained by attending specific events are another way cannabis could find value in this technology. A person’s virtual avatar could easily display an NFT confirming their attendance to a special conference, convention or seminar validating them for specific tasks. For example, owning a special NFT could designate someone as certified to grow an exotic cannabis strain.

Crypto currency is a much more complicated concept for WEB3, but can ultimately be liberation for the entire cannabis market. In the most obscenely simple terms, crypto currency is digital money independent of any centralized banking construct. It is created online, stored online, and spent online without ever materializing in the physical world. Its strength is solely based on the amount of users willing to accept, and use it.

Cannabis still holds a negative stigma, and many banks that still refuse to accept funds from this previously illegal industry perpetuate this. Crypto is a way to bypass this and future gatekeeping. In essence, anyone with the knowledge could create a currency that could be used solely for cannabis. With enough confidence from the community, it would be safe, secure and infallible. It could also provide financial equity within this new industry while simultaneously keeping it free from the current stagnant group holding most of the world’s capital.

It is truly a wonder to witness a community originating from the most analog place ascend to unimaginable heights through the strength of technology. While it is always wise to be cautious in unfamiliar territory, the benefits possible far outweigh the fear of risks. Cannabis can use the metaverse as a way to cement itself into the foundation of the future.

BY MEGAN ROBERTS

I remember waking up on a serene Sunday morning, where I am greeted by the harmonious sounds of The Grace Thrillers filling the air, alongside the rhythmic clanging of dishes in the kitchen. The scents that follow, a tantalizing concoction of garlic, onions, and thyme, fill my nostrils with an air of contentment.

However, the true star of the show is my father’s magnificently crafted fried dumplings, coupled with perfectly fried slices of plantain. I would be mesmerized as I watched my father’s hands seamlessly form the simple dough by adding water in small increments. He would masterfully break off pieces of the dough, moulding and rounding each one into the most symmetrical discs, completing each with a thumbprint in the middle.

Next, he would slice plantains horizontally, patiently pan-frying each piece to perfection. I could hardly wait until I could pick up a piece and not burn my fingers so I could enjoy the sweet, buttery taste of greatness. This cherished memory with my father in the kitchen marked the beginning of my love for food, which unknowingly set me on a path toward culinary excellence.

During my time at Centennial, I seized every opportunity to participate in off-campus events. My conscious effort was to work with Black chefs as much as possible, as it was important for me to connect with them and be aware of their invaluable contributions to the industry. The more I connected with chefs, the more I realized the importance of creating a platform where they could express their stories freely.

Although I loved food, I knew that working in kitchens for the rest of my life wasn’t for me. I was certain, however, that I wanted to speak with multiple Black chefs and give them the recognition they deserved for their hard work. I recorded a few podcast episodes after taking Food Media, but graduating amidst the height of the Covid pandemic plunged me into depression. I constantly questioned my choices and wondered if I was supposed to be in the culinary industry at all. But no matter how many times I tried to leave, something always drew me back to the kitchen, reaffirming my calling.

As a firm believer in the notion that everything happens for a reason, I attended a concert celebrating the life of Bob Marley in February, despite my desire to stay at home. There, I met Simone, and our beautiful conversation led me to confide in her about my aspirations of entering the media side of food. Without hesitation, she encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and I knew that our meeting was divinely orchestrated, marking the beginning of my journey into food journalism.

Being acknowledged and appreciated for whom you are and the magic you bring to the table is nothing short of phenomenal and inspiring. It revitalizes your confidence, reminding you of your worth. Simone, my culinary and food media teachers, helped reignite my passion for food, and it’s time for me to be proud of my accomplishments and stop second-guessing myself. It’s challenging to believe in your worth when you’ve spent much of your life being made to feel the opposite. But at some point, you have to learn to value your own opinion and make use of the resources at your disposal to carve your own path.

My love for food, travel, people, and learning has led me to find my sweet spot, and I am excited to embark on this new chapter in my life. My goal is to showcase the multifaceted world of culinary through the lens of a Black chef while being in a White, male-dominated industry. Culinary is an art, and for me, it’s the medium of my expression.

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