The three creators of the new docuseries Eating Edmonton used food, the people who make it, and their experiences as second-generation immigrants to tell richer stories about Edmonton communities.
Co-hosts and producers Jessica Truong, Salvador Garcia (a.k.a. food reviewer Fat Sal), and Cynthia Lo received $10,000 from TELUS's STORYHIVE Voices division to make the show. In the 10 episodes, the hosts interview restaurant operators, diners, and advocates about food and its relationship to their lives in Edmonton. The series explores food stories in Chinatown, southeast Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Old Strathcona, Garneau, west Edmonton, the north side of the city, downtown, and Alberta Avenue. It premieres in full on TELUS Optik TV on Sept. 24, though the episodes will be staggered for release on STORYHIVE's YouTube page starting the same day. The first three episodes will screen at an event the creators will host on Sept. 23 at Double Dragon.
"We all grew up in different areas — Jess grew up on the north side, Cyn grew up in Sherwood Park, and I grew up in Mill Woods in southeast Edmonton, so it was kind of a no-brainer that we'd have to feature those places," Garcia told Taproot. "For some of the other communities, I think we decided more on featuring a different kind of cuisine, so we branched out to include other places."
The co-hosts feature restaurants and interview people about them in the episodes. Notable appearances include Irie Foods (where butter chicken adventurer Ramneek Singh makes a cameo); reinvigorated bánh mì shop Van Loc; Pei Pei Chei Ow, which closed shortly before its owners started a new restaurant called Bernadette's; and Little Wolf Restaurant, the newest occupant of the former Three Boars space. A few more are Hanjan, Roasti Coffee Co., Aloha Hawaiian Poke and Grill, Coliseum Steak & Pizza, and Dynasty Century Palace Restaurant.
The spots have family links for the co-hosts. "Before I started school I spent every day (at Dynasty Century) with my grandparents enjoying dim sum," Lo told Taproot. "When I got older, it was every Sunday with my family, so it became ritualistic. I have very, very fond memories of spending time with my family there, and I got to interview my mom there."
Family memories were a source of inspiration for all three hosts. For Truong, memories of food and places were part of processing grief that led to inspiration.
"After my dad passed away I found myself reflecting on my memories with him whenever I was in a certain part of the city — whether (in the) north, or in Chinatown, or even the southside," she told Taproot in an email. "Posting about these memories opened up conversations with others about their stories of their loved ones and experiences of being in different Edmonton neighbourhoods; this led to the idea for Eating Edmonton."
Each of the hosts is a second-generation immigrant to Canada. Each used their unique experiences to examine food and community.
"Being second generation, you are kind of fiddling throughout your youth and childhood as to what your identity is, because you're brought up a certain way," Lo said. "Your parents have different influences and have a different upbringing. When you listen to different interviews across the episodes, it'll vary. We have first-generation, second-generation (guests), and guests who speak differently to their experiences."
From left: Salvador Garcia, Jessica Truong, and Cynthia Lo, the three hosts of the docuseries Eating Edmonton, examined food to tell stories about Edmonton communities. They also used stylistic elements from popular film directors. Their look here is inspired by Wes Anderson. (Supplied)
Some of the 35 featured guests include MLA Janis Irwin, Yonathan Sumamo, and artist Emily Chu (who made a storytelling map of Chinatown recently). More are listed in the Wes Anderson-inspired teaser trailer.
The team drew on directors and films they admire and paid tribute to their styles. For example, the episode that includes Mill Woods recreates elements of Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. Viewers will see different styles in two episodes about Chinatown. Lo's episode takes inspiration from Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation, while Truong's is influenced by the films of Wong Kar-wai.
"We had two Chinatown episodes, just because Cynthia being Chinese and Jess being Vietnamese, they both appreciated Chinatown in two different ways," Garcia said. "It was really cool to see."
The Lingnan has its own episode, of sorts. It's the season finale where the hosts talk to its owners from the Quon family (one of whom closed her other venture, Chicken for Lunch, in February) and also reflect on their experiences making the series.
"I've known the owners from The Lingnan for a while, so it was really nice to have it there and have this mini-celebration of just getting to talk with Miles and Amy (Quon)," Garcia said. "It has a lot of rich history about Edmonton."