So many of us carry memories of time spent in the kitchen with our grandmothers, mothers, aunties, sisters — and now, perhaps, with our own children. These are the moments where stories are shared and family recipes come to life. Some have been passed down through generations, while others are created on the spot, guided by instinct, memory and a little bit of this and that. Now, Toronto’s much loved AYLA Upstairs Restaurant is asking locals to share those recipes and stories in their latest project.
The Dundas West restaurant has launched AYLA Family Recipes, a community storytelling project inviting people to submit a beloved family recipe alongside the memories, people and traditions that make it meaningful.
But it was not always just about the food. It was about being together. The conversations, the traditions, the lessons learned without even realizing it. The time spent in the kitchen was savoured just as much as whatever was being made — creating memories that, like our favourite recipes, stay with us.
“At AYLA, food has always been a way for us to tell stories about where we’ve been, the people who have shaped us, and the cultures and flavours we carry with us,” says Chef and Co-Owner Kevin Shawcross. “Now we want to turn that around and hear the stories of the people who come through our doors and the community around us.”
“The best family recipes are the ones that have been made a thousand times,” says Chef and Co-Owner Craig Wong. “The page is stained, there are notes in the margins… That’s the good stuff.”
Got a Recipe & Story to Submit? Here’s what you need to know!
AYLA Upstairs is looking for anything with a story! A recipe passed down from a grandparent. Something created by a cousin. A family favourite that has changed with every generation. Even a dish without a formal recipe at all.
AYLA wants the details beyond the ingredient list! Examples…
- Who made it?
- When did you eat it?
- Who was around the table?
- What makes that dish impossible to separate from the person or memory behind it?
Participants can write out their recipe or upload a photograph of an original recipe card, handwritten note or other record.
What happens next?
The AYLA team will select one family recipe and story to inspire an original AYLA riff on the dish.
The chefs will interpret the recipe through AYLA’s culinary lens while celebrating the people, memories and traditions behind the original. The selected story will be shared through AYLA’s social channels, with the finished dish featured at the restaurant for a limited time.
I know what I’ll be submitting!
Here’s where you can submit your recipe to AYLA Upstairs:
Submit your recipe + story: aylaupstairs.com/famrecipe
AYLA Upstairs
794 Dundas St West, 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON
*****
*Lead in Photo of AYLA Upstairs’ char siu (bbq pork) that reminds me of many family meals. I had to take a photo!