Tsewang Chodon

Doris Fin’s Medovik, a Russian honey cake

Tunisian Couscous by Fatima Khlifi & Zeyneb Rejeb

Seville Orange Marmalade by Christine Manning

Sana Mahmoud and her partner

Karahi Aloo – Pakistani Curried Potatoes by Nasir Zuberi

Filipino Arroz Caldo by Hanna Grace Medalia

Granola by Laura Repo

Bajan Crop Over Conkies by Shem Barker

Tibetan Momos by Tsewang Chodon & Lhundup Gyatso

The inimitable Chef Greg Couillard

Alissa Kondogiannis & her mom preparing latkes

Salatet Shmandar (Lebanese Beet & Chickpea Salad) by Sana Mahmoud

Camilla Wynne preparing her Fall Vegetable Pickles

Christine Manning preparing marmalade

Ginger Dean hosted brunch and many, many Drop-In Dinners in the early days of The Dep; occasionally her twin sister Yvonne would pop in to help, and it was always a bit trippy to watch them cook in sync.

Danielle Mitrovic was one of the loveliest people to ever work FOH at The Dep, and not to shabby in the kitchen either, especially when preparing

Sara Lapell of Nice Buns was a tremendously talented baker, and neighbour

Dougie Kerr painting The Dep window. Dougie was one of the sign painters for Honest Ed’s, whose iconic signage was a cherished bit of Toronto heritage.

Lisa Kates (left) was a mentor and inspiration from the very outset of The Dep. She went on to co-found an amazing food charity, Building Roots, which aims to address food insecurity in some of Toronto’s most underserved neighbourhoods. Her whole family is into food; here her two daughters joined her in the kitchen.

My nieces, Lucy & Grace, enjoying an ice cream out front

Maria Rozynska was a school teacher with a love of food. Here’s she’s making sausage from scratch for a night of Berlin-style curry wurst with her chum Agata. Maria eventual left teaching to start her own cooking school, Just Be Cooking.

The early days of the Rusholme Park Supper Club ©Geoff-Fitzgerald

Margret Hefner, an expert in Mexican fruits & vegetables, goofing around.

Lesley & Sara embracing the classic diner waitress vibe

Quinn Cruise, with her mom. Quinn went on to represent Canada at the International Deaf Culinary Olympics.

Jonna Pederson was not only our ace brunchatrix for a while, but was also a Korean food wiz, having lived there for many years. Here she is going full Dexter on a batch of kimchi

My dear friends Abel & Nicky cooking up a Cuban feast

Sidney Littleton hitching a ride in Celine, The Dep’s late Montrealaise Depanneur delivery bike.

One of the Newcomer Kitchen kids celebrating his first Canada Day

A traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony

My sister, Stephanie, pretending to cook at her birthday

Celebrity Chef Eddie Huang of Huang’s World visited The Dep for his episode on Toronto’s food scene.