The Goan Kitchen itself is the spice rack that reflects the cultures, religions, races, genders, and socio-economic statuses of persons who interact with it. These subsections of society are responsible for the current flare of Goan cuisine. In addition to the infusion into Goan cooking, there is a consistent trend: the eating of rice, curry, and fish or vegetables.3 Focusing on the experience of a particular person does not diminish the experience of other Goans.
Mrs. X, a Roman Catholic Goan woman is one example of how gender, culture and modernity play a vital role in the Goan Diasporic Kitchen. Born in 1950, Mrs. X was the second child of Goan parents who migrated to Tanzania in search of job opportunities. She experienced the Goan life through interaction with her parents while also being exposed to the multicultural atmosphere of Zanzibar Island. At the age of 18 she moved to Goa with her parents and younger brother to live at their parochial residence in Bardez. Her time in Goa reconnected her with the customs and culture, and gave her easier access to ingredients used in the Goan Kitchen. In 1974 together with her mother and younger brother, she moved to Bombay (Mumbai) in search of better job prospects. The city life provided local opportunities for Mrs. X as a teacher at a local school. It is around this time that she had a more active role in assisting with food preparations. In her family, it is generally the women who are responsible for cooking and meal preparation. After marriage, she and her husband were collaborators in the procuring and production of food for the family. Arriving in Toronto in 1997 together with her family, Mrs. X had to learn how to incorporate the local market into the family menu because of the challenge of fitting with the community and the shortage of traditional Goan ingredients.4 The map below shows local shopping areas that Mrs. X visited and the mode of transport she and her family used to procure ingredients for home cooking.
Mrs. X, a Roman Catholic Goan woman is one example of how gender, culture and modernity play a vital role in the Goan Diasporic Kitchen. Born in 1950, Mrs. X was the second child of Goan parents who migrated to Tanzania in search of job opportunities. She experienced the Goan life through interaction with her parents while also being exposed to the multicultural atmosphere of Zanzibar Island. At the age of 18 she moved to Goa with her parents and younger brother to live at their parochial residence in Bardez. Her time in Goa reconnected her with the customs and culture, and gave her easier access to ingredients used in the Goan Kitchen. In 1974 together with her mother and younger brother, she moved to Bombay (Mumbai) in search of better job prospects. The city life provided local opportunities for Mrs. X as a teacher at a local school. It is around this time that she had a more active role in assisting with food preparations. In her family, it is generally the women who are responsible for cooking and meal preparation. After marriage, she and her husband were collaborators in the procuring and production of food for the family. Arriving in Toronto in 1997 together with her family, Mrs. X had to learn how to incorporate the local market into the family menu because of the challenge of fitting with the community and the shortage of traditional Goan ingredients.4 The map below shows local shopping areas that Mrs. X visited and the mode of transport she and her family used to procure ingredients for home cooking.
Shopping Routes in Scarborough