Taste Canada Awards Soirée

Since its inception in 1998, Taste Canada has emerged as a pivotal event in the celebration of Canadian food literature, bringing together authors, publishers, culinary professionals, and the general public in a unique gathering that honors the written word surrounding food. 

Traditionally held in Toronto, this event offers authors a rare opportunity to engage directly with their audience, selling and signing personalized copies of their works. 

The media has heralded Taste Canada as a celebration of the diverse and rich tapestry of Canadian culinary writing, recognizing how it fosters a deeper appreciation for the intersection of food and literature. 

This annual event explores the history, activities, and cultural impact of Taste Canada’s celebrated authors, illustrating its significance in the Canadian literary and culinary landscape.

The media describes it as:

“...one of the most highly anticipated events in Canada’s culinary world and once again the Taste Canada Awards/Les Lauréats des Saveurs du Canada did not disappoint, recently announcing winners of the country’s only national, bilingual food writing award. Consider it the Oscars of food correspondence.”

Taste Canada has honoured hundreds of Canadian-authored culinary books in both official languages, spanning a variety of categories. 

2024 Taste Canada Awards Soirée

TASTE CANADA AWARDS SOIRÉE: OCTOBER 21st, 2024 | FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK, TORONTO

Taste Canada Awards / Les Lauréats des Saveurs du Canada has announced the 2024 Winners of the country’s only national, bilingual food writing awards. A champion of cookbook authors, Taste Canada inspires readers to discover delicious recipes and diverse food stories written from a Canadian perspective. Taste Canada is a not-for-profit founded in 1998. More than just recipes, cookbooks reveal Canada’s unique history, culture, and diversity.

73 cookbooks entered. 19 Gold & Silver Winners.

This year, 73 cookbooks entered the competition and the shortlist announced earlier in the year narrowed the competition to a maximum of 5 entries per category. The 19 gold and silver award winners were revealed at the Taste Canada Awards Soirée on Monday, October 21st, 2024 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, hosted by Chef Devan Rajkumar.

2024 Hall of Fame Awards

The 2024 Hall of Fame Awards were also presented by the Culinary Historians of Canada. The award goes to authors of a stellar culinary book or body of work that has had a lasting impact on Canadian cuisine. The first inductee is the late Habeeb Salloum (1924–2019). Habeeb Salloum, a Syrian-born Arab-Canadian, became a leading expert on Arab cuisine in Canada, blending Prairie and Middle Eastern food traditions in his award-winning books, including Arab Cooking on a Prairie Homestead and Bison Delights.⁠ The second inductee this year is Barbara Barnes, home economist from Edmonton. Barbara managed the ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen for 33 years, writing practical, budget-friendly cookbooks. She has appeared on TV, contributed to newspapers, and has served on Taste Canada’s committee. Her latest book is a memoir entitled, A Covid Culinary Chronicle.⁠

The annual Soirée brings together culinary writers, publishers, chefs, restaurateurs, farmers, industry, media and cookbook fans to promote a vibrant national conversation about food and the art and culture of culinary writing.

Awards Ceremony

Special thanks to Stephen Chu and Jowel Villa Photography for capturing the photos from the 2024 Taste Canada Awards Soirée.