Introducing Recipe Revival – Celebrating our Heritage Through Food

Kawartha Lakes has a rich history influenced by the region’s Indigenous heritage, immigration patterns, agricultural and industrial heritage, and natural assets. Around these themes, there are many unique and memorable food stories worth sharing with locals and visitors alike.

Through the Recipe Revival project, recipes will be collected from community submissions and the City of Kawartha Lakes archives. By bringing these recipes back to life, the program ensures that the flavours and stories of the past continue to inspire present and future generations.

The program's mission is to collect, document, and celebrate these time-honoured recipes, ensuring they remain an integral part of the region's cultural fabric. We can all play an active role in preserving Kawartha Lakes' culinary heritage, and have a new tasty treat to try.

Recipe Revival has launched with three recipes in its collection:

-       Tea Biscuits from Abbott Sister’s Recipe Book, Maryboro Lodge Collection

-       Nana’s Fudge from Barbara Hooey

-       Coleslaw from The Lady Hughes Chapter, I.O.D.E Coronation Cook Book

How to get involved

Kawartha Lakes invites all residents, food enthusiasts, and history buffs to participate in the Recipe Revival project. Together, we can honour the past, celebrate the present, and savour the future of Kawartha Lakes' rich and diverse culinary heritage.

All are encouraged to submit their family's favorite recipes, along with any anecdotes, memories, stories, and photos associated with these culinary treasures. Submissions will be curated and available to the public on www.kawarthalakes.ca/recipes.

About Kawartha Lakes Curatorial Services

Curatorial Services seeks to celebrate the heritage of Kawartha Lakes by documenting, preserving and promoting the City’s three-Dimensional (3D) artifact collection, and by exploring and showcasing our unique stories. Administered through the Economic Development Office, in partnership with the Fenelon Museum Committee of Council, the City holds in public trust for the people of Kawartha Lakes a fascinating collection that is comprised of 8,000 to 10,000 artifacts. These holdings are not only material expressions of a community’s history, but act as tangible witnesses to the past and present ways of living.

Through initiatives like "Recipe Revival," we aim to celebrate and share the diverse history, traditions, and stories that make Kawartha Lakes a truly unique community.