Nadia L. Hohn in Conversation at Workhaus: Recipes, Resistance, and Cultural Connection

“Recipes are like love letters from your ancestors,” a quote which strongly resonated with the audience at Wednesday night’s event, An Evening with Nadia L. Hohn in Conversation with Takara Small. In celebration of Black History Month, Workhaus partnered with The Toronto International Festival of Authors to present an evening recognizing multicultural cuisine.

Moderated by award winning CBC Radio host Takara Small, we were given an insightful look into racism around culinary heritage. We were joined by Nadia L. Hohn, an award winning author, artivist, playwright, music teacher, volunteer, and educator who, in 2023, released the critically acclaimed The Antiracist Kitchen, our prime topic of discussion.

Origins of The Antiracist Kitchen

Nadia reflected on the creation of The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes), which she developed between 2020–2022 and published in 2023. Sparked by the events of 2020, the book was intended as a tool for teachers and young readers, blending storytelling and recipes to explore culture, identity, and social justice. Rather than a conventional cookbook, the anthology follows thematic chapters: Reclaim, Resist, Restore, and Rejoice, emphasizing cultural resilience, celebration, and empowerment. Nadia described the book as a “baby” that grew legs and feelings once published, highlighting the care taken to nurture each contributor’s story and ensure it was shared with the world in an honest and meaningful way.

Furthermore, Nadia also discussed the importance of choosing a publisher aligned with the book’s mission. Partnering with ORCA, a Canadian independent press known for social justice work and children’s literature, ensured that the book would maintain its integrity while reaching shelves despite potential bans. On this topic, one of the attendees offered a bold perspective: “The greatest honor is to have a book banned, it means you’re doing something right.”

In response, the attendees and speakers chuckled at this. Nadia responded by saying that it did make her feel “uneasy” to have it banned, but that “it wouldn’t change how I approach my work in the future. I wear the ban as a badge of honour.”

Reflecting on the ban, Nadia shared the complex emotions she experienced, fear, confusion, and what she later recognized as trauma. However, she noted, “It is now banned to the audience it’s most needed by, which is the real tragedy.”

Recipes as Resistance

One of the most compelling themes of the night was the role of recipes as a form of cultural and political resistance. Nadia explained that many recipes contain Indigenous ingredients, carry ancestral knowledge, and act as living records of survival and migration.

“A lot of recipes are history; they come from a place of survival,” one audience member noted. Recipes, she emphasized, are inherently political: rejoicing through food is a way to resist injustice, honour ancestry, and build community across cultures.

Flipping through the pages feels like being welcomed to each author’s table, invited to listen, reflect, and connect over a home cooked meal. Each story offers not just a recipe, but insight, encouraging readers to see culture, identity, and history through a more personal lens. You might find yourself with Susan Yoon in “Sharing Meals Is Sharing a Piece of Who We Are,” preparing her Dosirak for One or Two or Three, a traditional Korean lunchbox layered with rice, stir fried kimchi, eggs, and protein, a simple meal that speaks to memory and belonging.

Or turning to Natasha Deen’s “A Cake for My Bully,” where baking becomes an unexpected pathway to empathy and transformation.

The Pride & Prejudice of International Food

“Cooking food in the kitchen is giving back to yourself. Food is love; it nourishes you.”

The author offered examples of the shame that can surround international food, particularly for children. One audience member reflected on her Indian heritage and the discomfort she experienced growing up, aware of the stereotypes attached to bringing “curry smelling” lunches to school. The discussion in the room was raw, open, and deeply honest, a reminder of how something as intimate as food can carry both pride and prejudice.

The anthology blends these real stories and recipes in a way that allows children, particularly middle graders, to explore complex ideas about racism and identity in an accessible way. Nadia stressed that submissions were never rejected based on personal opinion, ensuring each story and recipe retained its authenticity and integrity. As well, the language used throughout the book was accurate and objective, and with the help of the glossary printed toward the end, it empowers young readers to recognize, discuss, and challenge racism, discrimination, and exclusion in their own communities.

When asked what she wanted to leave readers with, Nadia said, “To take away hope with them. I would just hope it touches their heart.”

A Workhaus Experience

Events like this show that Workhaus is more than a workspace. Beyond desks, it’s a place to engage with ideas and conversations that last beyond the evening. We were honoured to be joined by our guests for this meaningful reflection during Black History Month. The evening was both enriching and reflective, and the Workhaus team is grateful to be connected with such insightful creatives.

Where can you buy the book?

As Nadia emphasized, it’s important to champion and support local and small businesses — without them, many up and coming authors wouldn’t have a platform. Here are a few Toronto shops that carry The Antiracist Kitchen and continue to champion diverse voices in our community.

• A Different Booklist – 779 Bathurst St
  An African Canadian owned bookstore that specializes in the rich literature of the African and Caribbean Diaspora and the Global South. They also showcase catalogues from all the major publishers and small presses.

• Another Story Bookshop – 315 Roncesvalles Ave
  Another Story Bookshop opened in 1987 with a clear vision from founder Sheila Koffman: to champion books by and about diverse communities, especially 2SLGBTQ+ and BIPOC writers. She was one of the first booksellers in Toronto to consistently stock and promote diverse books for children and young adults.

• Ben McNally – 108 Queen St E
  A family run independent bookstore in the heart of Toronto, founded in 2007 by Ben McNally, who has since semi-retired and handed over the next chapter to his two children, Rupert and Danielle McNally.

• Queen Books  – 914 Queen Street E
  A local and well known bookshop in Leslieville, this spot is the quintessential neighborhood bookstore, describing itself as a general interest community bookstore “with something for everyone.

A Special Thank You To

NADIA L. HOHN, B.A. (Hon.), B.Ed., M.Ed., M.F.A. is an educator, artivist, playwright, and award winning author of several books for children including A Likkle Miss Lou and the Malaika series. Malaika’s Costume (2016) was the 2021 TD Grade One Book Giveaway. Her books Malaika, Carnival Queen (Groundwood Books) and The Antiracist Kitchen: 21 Stories (and Recipes) (Orca) were released in 2023. Nadia’s latest books are Getting Us to Grandma’s (Groundwood Books, 2024) and Patty Dreams (Owlkids, 2025) which was nominated for a 2026 Blue Spruce Award (Forest of Reading). Her twelfth book, STOP ANTIBLACK RACISM: 8 Ways to Act Now, will be released on October 13, 2026. She is a music teacher and librarian at an elementary school and creative writing instructor at post secondary

TAKARA SMALL is a Toronto based technology journalist, entrepreneur, and developer. She serves as the tech columnist for Metro Morning, hosts and produces The Globe and Mail’s startup podcast I’ll Go First, and appears as an on air tech expert for CBC and CTV. Her work has been featured globally, including in the BBC, Toronto Star, Refinery29, Flare, Mic, and Fortune. She is also a sought after speaker on entrepreneurship and innovation at major international conferences.

THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS (TIFA) is one of Canada’s leading literary organizations, connecting readers with celebrated authors from around the world. For over 40 years, TIFA has presented its annual fall festival alongside year round programming, including book launches, genre festivals, and events for young readers.

SUGAR KANE RESTAURANTbrings a bold fusion of Caribbean flavor and Cajun influence to Toronto’s food scene. What began in 2013 as a catering venture, Spiked Punch, has grown into a full service restaurant known for its vibrant dishes, live music, and warm hospitality. SugarKane delivers an experience rooted in family, culture, and unforgettable flavor.

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