A Book Review ...

I am an avid reader ... in the last few weeks I've gotten back to reading the way I usually do ... (the fire and the follow up lead to a dearth of reading on my part ...)

Recently a friend loaned me a fabulous book about one family's experience running Chinese Food Cafes on the Canadian Prairies.

It's important to remember that almost every Prairie Town of any size had in the past a Chinese Food Cafe and a Chinese run laundry. Many of the workers who helped build the various railway lines stayed on and worked in the two areas left open for them: food and laundry. There is an irony that Chinese Canadians struggled to be, and to feel included in Canadian society, yet our forefathers who wouldn't let them be full citizens, who wouldn't let them join service clubs, who wouldn't let them participate in community events had no qualms about entrusting those same non-citizens to care for the intimate aspects of life like food and clothing ... It's a strange and ironic twist.

Even with a plethora of Chinese Food Cafes and restaurants across the country, the families who ran them lived a challenging existence. Often they were on the very margins of society. Looked to for food and service, but never fully fitting in. Their was a bittersweet existence. Every town had their cafe, but seldom do those who ran them appear in the history of the community.

But thanks to the effort of Janice Wong, the story of her family's journey from the West Coast to Prince Albert Saskatchewan, and the hard work her parents shared in running Wings Cafe and Lotus Cafe in that north town, are now recorded in a delightful book or memories, pictures and recipes.

Chow. From China to Canada: Memories of Food and Family (White Cap Books, North Vancouver 2005) is a delightful memoir of an important chapter in our collective history as told through the eyes of one who was there. Janice shares the story of her family, along with some of her family's favourite recipes in an easily approachable way. She tells of the challenges and the joys of being a Chinese Canadian on the vast Prairies, where they stood out, yet were an integral part of the fabric of each town.

Ms. Wong weaves her story with pictures and recipes that celebrate her heritage, and in today's multi-ethnic Canadian landscape remind us that in the past there were many ethnic groups who helped make this country what it is today.

If you've ever had a meal at a Chinese Cafe on the prairies, or hold memories of place like Minnedosa's Dominion Cafe or Lee's ... then this is a book worth picking up. Even though it is the story of one family's experience running one of those cafes, it has a universal message. It tells the story of a family who danced between many cultures - theirs, ours and the one we built together.

Ms. Wong tells a delightful and poignant tale of people who shared their talents and enthusiasm and most of all the food from their table with neighbours and strangers ... and we all know that when you've eaten together you are forever bound together as friends ...

If you want a good read and some absolutely wonderful recipes (both "Canadian" and traditional Chinese) then search out this book and buy it for yourself - your palate won't be disappointed, though your belt may need some loosening ...