Traditions and New Flavors Collide at A Taste of Atlantic Canada Festival
This post is sponsored by Destination New Brunswick but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Maintaining traditions is an essential part of keeping our personal and cultural histories alive, and what might be even more important is sharing them with others. Jenna White knows this truth well.
White is the founder of the A Taste of Atlantic Canada Festival, a major Indigenous culinary event which takes place in August in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She’s also the founder and owner of Jenna’s Nut-Free Dessertery in Fredericton, the provincial capital.
“Last March, I ended up going to the Indigenous Tourism conference in Calgary and it was incredible to see the Indigenous community and culture in the forefront and something that is very much missing here on the East Coast (of Canada). So I thought I would attempt to find a way to bring it to the forefront here,” White states.
After piloting her Traditional Meal Series where White serves three-course meals with items on the menu that change seasonally, she was ready to try something much bigger–a festival where Indigenous chefs could share their culture through their food and celebrate a variety of stories through their art.
This inspiration for a new kind of festival was a success in 2022, and this year, White plans on expanding it to an even larger and more comprehensive event. While food and Indigenous chefs are the highlight of the event, there is much more that can be expected in 2023. All four Atlantic provinces will be represented by those featured at the festival, and attending storytellers, drummers, artists, singers, and more will complement the dishes created by the roster of chefs.
A Taste of Atlantic Canada Festival will be a two-weekend event in Fredericton, New Brunswick and it will surely draw visitors from all over. The first weekend will feature higher-end, fine dining experiences while the second weekend has more of a grassroots focus.
White wanted to ensure that all those who are interested in learning about the Indigenous food and culture of the area would have a chance to attend in one way or another – even if it wasn’t possible to afford a ticket for the first weekend of the festival. Much of the festival is free of charge.
“We want everyone to be able to experience this,” she said. “So even if you can’t attend one of our world-class dining experiences, there are so many other ways for you to immerse yourself in the culture…we even have a pow wow planned during the festival and it’s going to be a very unique experience.”
The festival is taking place in Fredericton, a charming city in New Brunswick, Canada that has an active Indigenous community. Visitors who come for the A Taste of Atlantic Canada Festival will also have many other options for things to do thanks in large part to the city’s world-class outdoors.
There’s walking, cycling and scootering on the outstanding network of trails and bike and scooter rentals are available. There’s kayaking and aqua biking on the picturesque river that goes through the city and rentals are available. There’s great fishing. There are terrific art galleries and a range of boutique restaurants and shops.
Visitors should bring an open mind to the festival and be willing to see things from a new perspective. This event is about learning and growing from hearing and witnessing Indigenous stories. White shares that while the festival has a basis in food, the intent is to be fully immersed in every facet of the experiences in attendance.
“You’re going to fill your cup by immersing yourself in our culture,” she said. “It’s really quite a special experience to be able to share in the way that we do through food, music, art and story. It gives people a very unique insight because you’re not looking at just one facet. You’re looking at a lot of the different aspects that help create the beautiful, vibrant culture that the Indigenous people are known for.”
For more information about Fredericton and its many events and festivals, visit www.tourismfredericton.ca
Want more information on Canada? Check out these articles:
