This week, we explore and debunk the subject of "White People Food" by looking at the origins, perceptions, and histories of the different factors that form its foundations. We'll talk about:

• The concept of race.
• Factors that may have contributed to building the stereotype of "white people food"
• The Norwegian cultural tradition of Matpakke
• The Chinese social media phenomenon of "Bai Ren Fan" (white people food)

Links:

Kraft Cranberry Crimson Mold Recipe: https://youtu.be/ONoDHL7vzQw?si=rNfkiDPJayIVANNZ

You Way 2 Norway Matpakke video: https://youtu.be/JlNmeVK_zLg?si=scU08MnX-YksRzaV

Thanks for listening! Please rate, review and share if you like this podcast.

Follow me on Instagram: @theaimlesscook

Peace.

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This week, I am continuing our Canadian food feature by looking at some of our favourite Canadian snacks and treats. We will talk about the history of popular snacks like:

Hawkin's Cheezies

Hickory Sticks

Ketchup Chips

Pizza Pops, a Winnipeg invention.

Coffee Crisp

Eat-More

Big Turk

Lucky Elephant Popcorn

Jos Louis

So sit back and listen as I unwrap the stories behind our favourite Canadian snacks and treats.

Please rate and review if you like this show. Share with your friends. Thanks for listening!

You can message me at: @theaimlesscook on Instagram or on Facebook.

Peace.

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This week, I talk about 3 Canadian fast-food brands and their histories, the nostalgia behind these brands, and I ask what it means to be Canadian in this day and age. Also, what happened to Tim Hortons?

Please rate and share. Thanks for listening!

DM me @theaimlesscook on Instagram for episode suggestions, stories, comments, or just to say hello!

Peace.

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This week, we talk about the most beloved of Asian ingredients...Spam. On this episode:

• a brief history of Hormel's innovative pork and ham product that was introduced in 1937
• Spam's growing popularity and it's rise to worldwide fame
• Spam in Asia and the iconic dishes that were born from post-war necessity
• The story of Barb Funamura and the invention of Spam Musubi

Thanks for listening! Please rate, review, and share.

Follow The Aimless Cook on Instagram: @theaimlesscook

Peace.

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This week, I talk about Struggle Food. We often think about it as that starving college student food, but it's so much more. I talk about how a lot of our favourite dishes and even cuisines came from struggle. Thanks for listening!

Please rate, review, and share.

Follow The Aimless Cook on Instagram: @theaimlesscook

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This week on Freestyle Friday, I talk about Bastion Burger, Influencers, and the eye-opening experience of being thrust into a brand new social media platform after hearing about what Americans are seeing on the Chinese platform, Rednote (Xiaohongshu). Join me and thanks for listening!

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Big thanks to my special guest, Alice Lam from Friends Of Chinatown YYC. I will include all her socials on the show notes.

Instagram: @friendsofchinatownyyc

http://www.friendsofchinatownyyc.org

Calgary Chinatown Context Paper

https://www.calgary.ca/content/dam/www/pda/pd/documents/current-studies-and-ongoing-activities/tomorrows-chinatown/chinatown-context-paper.pdf

Interactive Chinatown Map

https://calgary.reflective-urbanisms.com/

And if you still haven’t been to a Chinese New Year Celebration here in this wonderful city, 2025 is your year. You are gonna have an amazing time.

So that’s it from me. Be kind to one another because we’re all we got. Stay Hungry and I’ll see you on the next one.

Peace.

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In this episode, we’re diving into the fascinating world of food trends: Why they pop up, how they shape what we eat, and what they tell us about the world around us. We’ll explore how food trends influence culture, health, economy, and sustainability—and why they matter. Also, our long overdue Calgary small business shout-out of the week. Thanks for listening!

Links:

The Aimless Cook Podcast (Jay) IG @theaimlesscook

Rice Daddy Eats (my Tiktok) @ricedaddyeats

Day With Mei IG @daywithmei - tinned fish reviews and recipes

Good Vibes Cooking IG @good.vibes.cooking - tinned fish recipes

Bastion Burger IG @bastionburger - 501 17 Ave SW (inside Pinbar)

YouTube:

Great Depression Cooking With Clara

https://www.youtube.com/@YouTubes_Original_Grandma

Again, thanks for watching. Please rate, review, and share!

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Summary

This podcast episode explores the powerful connection between food and nostalgia. I talk about the cultural phenomenon of KFC becoming a Christmas tradition in Japan, illustrating how marketing can shape food-related memories and create new traditions. Then, I examines the science of food nostalgia, explaining its multisensory nature and its impact on mood, identity, and well-being. Finally, the episode explores food nostalgia's portrayal in movies and cooking shows, from classic films like Tampopo to contemporary YouTube personalities, highlighting the enduring role of food in shaping personal and cultural identities.

Thanks for listening!

Please rate and share this show if you like it.

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Chef Erin Boukall and I had the opportunity to share a meal with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. It was a good chance to get to know someone we often see behind a podium, or as the subject of some article or another praising or criticizing her work. Whatever the case, I know that being the Mayor of a growing city with as many complexities as Calgary can’t be easy. That being said, I wanted to ask questions about the strategies that are currently in place and give Mayor Gondek a chance to talk about them in a space where her ideas can convey a fair and balanced perspective.

Special thanks to:

Mayor Jyoti Gondek @jyotigondek

Chef Erin Boukall @culinarycalgary

Chef Darcy Lane @cookcanada

Chef Deepak Singh Kalsi @deepaksdhaba

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