What a true honour to be in The Fold and close out the CommUNITY Catchup series with Len Senater, Owner + Founder of Toronto's The Depanneur. Nestled in Toronto’s Dufferin Grove neighbourhood, it is not only a stomping ground for local and visitor chefs alike, and of many Diasporas to gather, cook, share recipes, tradition and conversation, but a place to cook up change.

If you don’t know about the Depanneur, they are part of the definition of ‘community’ in Toronto terms and beyond. I have long wanted to have Len on the podcast after reading about The Dep’s incredible initiative, Newcomer Kitchen, many years ago. Len co-founded the initiative, a non-profit that aimed to create social and economic opportunities for newly-arrived Syrian women through food-based projects. From his ever-popular Pick-up Dinners that break barriers beyond borders, pre-pandemic cooking classes, supper clubs, and events, Len’s space is a support system that cooks up knowledge and brings it to your table.

Now, Len is asking the people to be the plate and serve support through a new Kickstarter campaign to help fund The Depanneur Cookbook; Showcasing 100 recipes from 100 cooks that have come through The Dep (as it is affectionately known) kitchen over the last 10 years. It has become the most-funded Canadian cookbook ever on the platform (now at 200% of its goal reached, aiming for $50K by December 21st - Len’s 50th Birthday!)

Equal parts documentary, manifesto and cookbook, it will feature amazing stories, thoughtful contributions from some of Canada’s top people in food, and photography by Ksenija Hotic, who has been involved with The Dep for 7 years.

Len and Ksenija joined me for the last CommUNITY Catchup to discuss bringing people together through food, how small businesses can be a mode of activism, food security and support systems, and how compassion, empathy and dialogue really make for a great recipe.