Our mission is simple yet powerful: to foster inclusion and empowerment through the art of cooking, storytelling, community-building, and entrepreneurship. So we're thrilled to introduce you to the incredible women joining our 2024 Dream Cuisines program! Join us in welcoming:

• Chaima Chmale from Morrocco

• Bushra Elias from Syria

• Samira Mohammed from Saudi Arabia

• Zahra Babajanipour from Iran

• Delia Fuentes from Mexico

These talented individuals bring their unique flavors and stories to our table, enriching our community with their presence. From our first gathering in March, where we shared traditional, flavourful dishes prepared by our participants, to our "Meet the Alumni" event, where our newcomers connected with seasoned mentors, the energy has been incredible. Together, we're not just building businesses; we're nurturing friendships, leadership, and a shared sense of purpose.

We can’t wait to see the magic unfold as these women bring their delicious food, share their cultural heritage, and take their entrepreneurial spirit to new heights. Each one has a tale to tell and skills to share, and we're honoured to be a part of their journey.

So, let's raise our glasses (and forks!) to this inspiring group of women – let's savour the journey ahead together! 🎉

Thanks to your incredible generosity and unwavering support, we've not only reached but surpassed our Year-End Fundraiser 2023 goal! Your kindness fills us with immense gratitude. 

This has been a big year for us in celebrating our stories and successes of feminist food businesses in the community.

I feel grateful and honoured to co-create with our amazing team, the cohort of women, mentors, partners, businesses, and funders to increase access, inclusion, and representation of newcomer women entrepreneurs in the food industry. 

I am encouraged and inspired by the power of food in bringing people together across different cultures and building friendships that nourish one another through joys and struggles. We are grateful for all the incredible  mentors, supporters, and community partners in helping us to launch five incredible newcomer women’s food businesses this year! Thank you so much for your love, support, and commitment to our shared vision and dream of making a collective impact in the community.
 

With gratitude and hope,

Trixie Ling, Founder and Executive Director  

Watch 'Flavours of Hope: Nourishing Community, Cultivating Change', an exclusive short documentary film on CBC that delves into our heartwarming journey and our Dream Cuisines Food Business Program! Dream Cuisines is our beacon of empowerment for aspiring newcomer refugee and immigrant women entrepreneurs. This film is a heartfelt tribute to the power of our community and supporters, as we turn culinary passions into successful food businesses! We're proud to have facilitated the launch of 10 remarkable food businesses in our third year alone, each rooted in diverse and authentic dishes with powerful stories, each symbolising the transformation of dreams into reality.

A special thank you to Angeles of Mis Cazuelas Mexican Food for bravely sharing your voice and powerful story and inspiring us with your strength, love and hope. 

We extend a heartfelt thanks to the filmmakers and CBC for capturing the impactful stories of the amazing and talented women we've had the privilege to work with. A special thank you to film crew:

• CBC Executive Producer: Sheila Peacock 

• Director & Producer & Editor: Özgün Gündüz 

• Executive Producer & DOP: Ben Cox

• Cinematographers: Sahil Chawla and Sepehr Samimi

• Location Sound: David Daoud 

• Colourist: So Young Park 

Their support in sharing these narratives means the world to us! 

Get to know the captivating stories of resilience, courage and success within our Dream Cuisines Program and don’t forget to check out this year’s program women’s food businesses below and our alumni’s here!

As the sun sets on another memorable farmers’ market season, we’re filled with gratitude for the journey we’ve all shared through the Dream Cuisines food business program. Each passing year has unfolded as a unique voyage, with its own challenges and successes. Every emerging women entrepreneur brought her own magic and speciality to the program, and our growing amount of customers and supporters makes it even more special. The delicious sweet and savoury treats enjoyed by many, the endless words of encouragement exchanged, new connections that formed and flourished, and the excitement from sold-out days are cherished moments that we will always treasure.

We’re beyond excited to welcome a new chapter as the Dream Cuisines 2023 participants prepare to spread their wings and expand their businesses through becoming independent vendors in and out of the farmers’ markets. We can’t wait to see what they bring to their communities with their incredible skills and delectable creations, especially after seeing the heartwarming response to the traditional treats they’ve handcrafted with love and care throughout the program.

What adds another layer of pride and fulfilment to this journey is the privilege of being able to witness these extraordinary group of women collaborate not only with their family and friends, but also with one another, and foster mutual support with other vendors. Their passion and spirit of collaboration has helped foster a vibrant community that radiates the warmth of togetherness.

With this, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and everyone who has been an integral part of our 2023 program: our community of supporters and partners, long-standing and newfound customers, and finally, to our incredible newcomer women entrepreneurs for their passion and commitment – here’s to the boundless possibilities on the horizon!

We want to express our deepest appreciation to all those who contributed and attended our event, "From Kitchen to Market: Newcomer Women Food Business Launch." We can’t thank you enough!
 
A special thank you goes out to the talented women entrepreneurs who shared their delicious food with us, bursting with traditional flavours and made with treasured family recipes. Their dedication, passion, and skills are truly inspiring!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Norm Leech, Executive Director of Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House for delivering a powerful land acknowledgment. His presence and words added depth and meaning to our gathering, reminding us of the importance of inclusivity and honouring the Indigenous land we are on.
 
We also want to express our appreciation to the event musicians, Chela and Steven, who played enchanting melodies that filled the air and added an extra layer of magic to the event. 
 
A big thank you to Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House for providing us with the beautiful and welcoming space for our guests!
 
Finally, to all our guests and supporters, THANK YOU! Your presence and support mean the world to us and made our event even more memorable.
 
We couldn't have done it without each and every one of you. Your contributions, presence, and positive energy made this event an unforgettable celebration of community, culture, and entrepreneurship. Thank you once again for being a part of this incredible journey!

It's an exciting time for the Dream Cuisines program as we introduce the new cohort for this year: Rana Alkari, Viviana Rojas, Rehab Khalid Elsayed, Vinaya Waghmode, and Laura Molina! We can't wait to see the impact they will make in the program and in their communities.

These five women come from different parts of the world, representing cultures that are as diverse as they are delicious. From Syrian to Egyptian, Mexican to Colombian, and Indian, each one brings a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the program. We are deeply grateful and honoured to be part of their journey as they take their passion for food to the next level!

We believe that food has the power to bring people together and break down cultural barriers. The Dream Cuisines program provides a platform for these talented women to showcase their culinary skills and give us a glimpse into the traditions, customs, and way of life in different parts of the world. Through their food businesses, they are helping to build bridges and foster connection between people from different backgrounds.

Over the course of the program, we will be celebrating the unique and authentic culinary creations of each participant, as they prepare for the farmers’ markets this summer.

With that, let's raise a toast to this year's Dream Cuisines program and celebrate the diversity and richness of our five amazing cultures through food and community. We're excited to see what the future holds for these talented women and can't wait to try their delicious creations!

Our hearts 💖 are filled with gratitude for this beautiful family of Board members and staff! A special thank you to Angeles from Mis Cazuelas Mexican Food for providing a bountiful table of Mexican food at our holiday dinner celebration! We loved her homemade sopes with all the delicious toppings, pork crackling soup, guacamole, and fresh salsas. We felt very nourished in our body and grateful for the collective care and love in our community. 

Thank you to all our supporters and donors for your generous support for our year end fundraiser to empower more newcomer refugee and immigrant women entrepreneurs to share their love of food and culture! We wish you much joy, hope and light at the start of a new year. May you be surrounded with a loving, caring and supportive community.

NEWCOMER WOMEN’S BUSINESS LAUNCH!

Women of Dream Cuisines (left to right): Rose, Huda, Angelica, Trixie, Angeles, Vijaya and Celine

We are so grateful for all the love and support from our community at the Summer Celebration Market! We launched two incredible newcomer women owned food businesses - Rose Royal Persian Bakery and Super Awesome Eats - at the end of June and celebrated the evening with inspiring stories, nourishing food, and beautiful connections.

As we reflect back on the transformative journey and powerful words shared by our current cohort and alumni, we are filled with gratitude for everyone who believed in our vision to amplify the voices and power of refugee and immigrant women through cooking, storytelling, and entrepreneurship.

💛 Thank you alumni Mis Cazuelas Mexican Food, Tinkerbake, and Super Dishes Egyptian Halal Cuisine for sharing your wisdom and encouragement for Rose and Vijaya as they build their businesses. We are grateful for the circle of care and reciprocity.

💛 Thank you Rose and Vijaya for showing your strength, determination, and courage in launching your businesses and bringing the community together through your delicious desserts and baked goods.

💛 Thank you Coho Commissary for your partnership and ongoing support for our work in championing newcomer women entrepreneurs.

💛 Lastly, thank you to all our supporters, volunteers, and mentors who continue to journey with us to celebrate our collective impact and successes!

As we countdown the days to our Summer Celebration Market on Friday, June 24, we’re pleased to reveal our detailed market menu! Five phenomenal women will be offering delicious dishes for sale, all of whom are newcomer food entrepreneurs who launched their businesses through the Dream Cuisines program.

Introducing Rose Royal Persian Bakery, by Rose Minachi

Rose is a gifted baker, whose traditional Persian cookies and tarts are already well loved by friends and family. Rose Royal Persian Bakery represents Rose's meticulous craft and passion for Persian treats, offering such delights as traditional chickpea cookies and Malake Badam, an almond tart with rosewater, cardamom, and saffron. Together with her daughter Ariana, Rose is excited to bring the sweet tastes of Iran to a wider audience.

Featured item:

Malake Badam (Almond Tart)

One of Rose's favourite traditional Persian treats is Malake Badam (pictured bottom right), a delicate tart in a rich yellow hue, flavoured with cardamom and saffron and topped with crunchy almonds. She loves to make Malake Badam for special celebrations as well as for everyday enjoyment, accompanied with Persian black tea. It is truly a labour of love for Rose to make these tarts from scratch, and we can't wait for you to try their exquisite, quintessentially Iranian taste!

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Introducing Super Awesome Eats, by Vijaya Bhat

Vijaya Bhat is passionate about sustainability, plant-based foods, and vegan sourdough, a pursuit she fell into wholeheartedly in the past few years. Super Awesome Eats, her vegan baking business, was born from a desire for delicious sweets that bring a smile to your face while still remaining light and easy on the stomach. One day, she hopes to run a cafe! For now, she's fulfilling the dream of sharing her vegan baking with the world, graced by Asian-inspired flavours.

Photo: Jasmine Noble

Featured item:

Mango Cardamom Yoghurt Cinnamon Bun (vegan)

Vijaya's vegan sourdough cinnamon buns are soft and chewy, designed to fulfill that sweet craving without being overly rich or heavy. Asian-inspired flavours add a special element and serve as an homage to her heritage. Her mango cardamom yoghurt cinnamon bun has been the most popular so far at the Farmers Market! A gorgeous golden colour, these cinnamon buns are a wonderful combination of unique flavour and satisfying texture.

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Dolmas (vegan, GF)

Dolmas, grape leaf wraps, are made throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean. Huda's famous dolmas have a creamy rice filling, spiced to perfection with coriander, parsley, dill, and tomatoes. We love the their luscious texture and serving them warmed or at room temperature to friends and family - or gobbling them all down ourselves!

Mezze Plate with Falafel, Hummus & Pickles (vegan, GF)

Huda's falafel is that perfect combination of crisp on the outside and soft in the inside, with a delectable flavour from garlic, herbs and spices. Her mezze plate also comes with homemade velvety hummus and crunchy pickled cabbage - the perfect accompaniment to falafel as well as dolmas!

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Photo: Sophia Hsin

Photo: Sophia Hsin

Cauliflower Ceviche (vegan, GF)

Ceviche is a dish with origins dating all the way back to the Incas, and comes from the Quechuan word siwichi, which means fresh or tender fish. Angeles' vegan version, made with cauliflower, makes for the ideal summer snack! Fresh pineapple, tomato, jalapeño and lime make this ceviche light, refreshing, and satisfying. Angeles serves her ceviche with tostadas, but we also love them with tortilla chips, or as an accompaniment to avocado toast. Take some home with you, and it will still taste great after a few days in the fridge (but it likely won't last that long!).

Pastel Azteca (GF)

A beloved traditional dish, Pastel Azteca is Mexican comfort food: an oven-baked tortilla casserole with layers of corn tortillas, tomatoes, onions, soft shredded chicken, poblano chile, and cheese, seasoned with garlic, oregano, cilantro, and black pepper. Angeles describes it as the Mexican version of lasagne!

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Photo: Rich Won

Buñuelos

A delicious Mexican treat, buñuelos are a fried dough dessert, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Angelica's buñuelos have a beautiful cut-out design with the perfect amount of crisp. If you like churros, you'll love these! Try eating just one, a feat we have so far found impossible.

Conchas

Conchas are a kind of Mexican sweet bread, soft with a crusty top, which Angelica colours in various delightful hues. She made these rainbow conchas for Pride month! When we first tried them, conchas reminded us of pineapple buns from Hong Kong style bakeries. We like them best on the day of, with coffee or tea.

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Come get your food, and celebrate with us!

Buy tickets on Eventbrite for our Summer Celebration Market, Friday, June 24 from 5-7 pm. We can’t wait to see you there!

Our Flavours of Hope family wishes you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Read more about us here.

Dear Flavours of Hope supporters,

As I reflect back on a challenging and isolating year of 2021, I find myself feeling a deep sense of gratitude, purpose, and hope in building a diverse, resilient, and caring community with newcomer refugee women. There were many uncertainties, tears, laughter, and celebrations in this collective journey together of co-creating the Dream Cuisines food business pilot program.

I feel truly grateful for all the partners, businesses, mentors, and supporters like yourself, who believe in our dreams of empowering and equipping newcomer refugee women to be entrepreneurs and leaders in the community through sharing their food, culture, and stories.

I remember many special moments this past year: the cohort of women proudly selling their food at the farmers market; sharing struggles and triumphs through our weekly video dairies and group meetings; making our first Dream Cuisines video with Angeles, Huda, Angelica and the mentors; doing media interviews on Global TV and CBC; and hosting a virtual celebration for the launch of three food businesses with people joining across Canada, U.S. and Mexico!

As we start a new year in 2022, I hope to build on the things that we have learned in the past and develop deeper relationships and stronger partnerships. I look forward to exploring new opportunities and spaces to host workshops and food events, and finding creative ways of engaging and connecting with newcomer refugee women in the community. 

Thank you so much for your ongoing support, cheers, and encouragement as we continue to make a powerful and meaningful impact! You can learn more about our work in the 2021 Dream Cuisines Impact Report, and follow us as we support a new cohort of newcomer women entrepreneurs in 2022. In the parting words of our Dream Cuisines manifesto: "We do this together!" 

With deep gratitude and hope,

Trixie Ling

Founder and Executive Director

Our Flavours of Hope family wishes you Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Read more about us here.

Dream Cuisines was highlighted on Global’s 6 pm news on May 20! We are so proud to see Trixie and Angeles representing the Dream Cuisines team and sharing stories of how the program has helped launch the food businesses of our amazing cohort.

Vancouver, B.C., / Coast Salish Territories, April 20, 2021 – On May 19, 2021, Join Coho Collective and Flavours of Hope in nurturing dreams and supercharging small food businesses with the inaugural launch of Dream Cuisines: A Newcomer Women’s Food Business Pilot Program. The kick-off, virtual event features cooking demos from three women entrepreneurs hailing from Mexico and Egypt, and talks from special guests Jackie Kai Ellis and Sharon Bond-Hogg. Ticket proceeds support Flavours of Hope in growing and sustaining the Dream Cuisines program.

“We wanted to create a digital forum for anyone passionate about culture, food, language, and migration. And also for those who believe in the strength, resilience, and creativity of refugee women,” explains Trixie Ling, founder of Flavours of Hope. “Through this event, we will show the community how food can bring a sense of home and belonging to their lives.” 

Attendees will get to meet: Angelica Davalos Ramirez, a baker incorporating Mexican flavours in her cookies, cupcakes, and donuts; Huda Abd Elhamid, an Egyptian cook representing her culture through food and her mother’s recipes; and Angeles Canedo, a Mexican cook using traditional clay pots (cazuelas) and natural ingredients to prepare authentic dishes.

The three women comprise Dream Cuisines: A Newcomer Women’s Food Business Pilot Program’s first cohort, created by Flavours of Hope in March. The program aims to help refugee women develop their food ventures through collaborative leadership and peer-based knowledge sharing, with Coho Collective providing kitchen space, mentorship, and access to resources.

“When Trixie first approached us with the idea, we knew Coho had to be part of these women’s journeys in Canada,” says Jennifer Chan, spokesperson for Coho Collective.  “Food can play a pivotal role in creating a sense of belonging in a new country. We are happy to offer a space for them to work and be part of our tight-knit collaborative and entrepreneurial community, as well as provide mentorship while they grow their businesses.”

The event also feature talks from special guests Kai Ellis, a designer, entrepreneur, founder of Beaucoup Bakery, and author of bestselling memoir The Measure of My Powers; and Bond-Hogg, a Nooaitch First Nation member and CEO/founder of Kekuli Cafe, an Indigenous cuisine restaurant with province-wide franchise locations.  

Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase online now via Eventbrite. Those interested in a more interactive experience can purchase limited, deluxe tickets at $60, which includes a Dream Box featuring an entree, starter, dessert, and a drink crafted by Davalos Ramirez, Abd Elhamid, and Canedo. For more information on Flavours of Hope, please visit www.flavoursofhope.com. For more information about Coho Collective, please visit www.cohocommissary.com.

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ABOUT COHO COLLECTIVE

Founded in 2017, Coho Collective aims to build lasting communities in the food and beverage industry through shared kitchen space. It currently has three commissaries in Greater Vancouver: North Vancouver (375 Lynn Avenue), Powell (1507 Powell Street), and Strathcona (1370 East Georgia Street). Coho Collective recently launched Coho Market, an online store delivering goods from many small business members. Its Strathcona location features the first Coho Coffee and event space.

Instagram: @cohocommissary  |  Facebook: cohocommissary  |  cohocommissary.com 

ABOUT FLAVOURS OF HOPE

Flavours of Hope is a non-profit social enterprise that supports and empowers refugee newcomer women to earn livable income and build social connections in communities. Through peer programming, cooking, and pop-up dinners and events that share culinary traditions and stories, Flavours of Hope sets the table for refugee women to build strong relationships and experience connection, belonging, and opportunity.

Instagram: @flavoursofhope I  Facebook: flavoursofhope I  www.flavoursofhope.com 

ABOUT DREAM CUISINES

Dream Cuisines: A Newcomer Women’s Food Business Pilot Program is an imaginative new program by Flavours of Hope, in partnership with Coho Commissary, The Women’s Economic Council, Vancity Credit Union, and The Vancouver Farmers Market. Built and led by women of colour and centred on collaboration and reciprocity, Dream Cuisines works with a cohort of newcomer refugee women to provide access to mentorship, kitchen space, and peer-based knowledge-sharing to propel women’s food businesses into the mainstream.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Sophia Cheng
Coho Collective
sophia@sophiachengpr.com
604-828-3102
@chengsophia

Trixie Ling
Flavours of Hope
trixie@flavoursofhope.com
604-773-7511

Originally posted February 2021

In isolating pandemic times, we are building meaningful connections and creating inclusive spaces and engaging opportunities for intercultural learning with newcomer women.  We are hosting weekly online activities to share stories, learn new skills, build relationships in the community through Intercultural Tea Time, Creative Coffee, and Healthy Cooking Together. Connect, meet new friends, and learn together! For more information email trixie@flavoursofhope.com.

Originally posted December 2020

Flavours of Hope recently attained charitable status (#731981916 RR0001) which means that all donations towards our work are now tax-deductible in Canada!

When you support refugee newcomer women through Flavours of Hope, you help to build strong relationships, connection, belonging, and opportunity. All this unfolds through cooking, storytelling, and training to equip for food entrepreneurship.

Your gift celebrates the lives and potential of these incredible newcomer women. Let your gift be a toast to their resilience, courage, and hard work - and in celebration of our new charitable status!

Originally posted January 2020

Wow we feel honoured and humbled to be nominated as on the Top 40 food innovators in Western Canada! Thank you Western Living Magazine for naming Flavours of Hope as one of the Foodies of the Year 2020! We are thankful to stand among amazing chefs, tastemakers, and owners in the food industry, and be recognized for our work in sharing diverse food, culture and stories of refugee newcomer women. Stay tuned for announcement of Top 10 Foodies of the Year winners on March 7, 2020!

Originally posted October 2019

We are honoured and excited to be part of an amazing story from The Guardian news highlighting women-led social enterprises around the world that empower refugee women through food and cooking! We are thankful for the opportunity to share our story with other strong and resilient women entrepreneurs from Australia, England and Sweden. We are proud to represent Canada and work together globally to nourish our diverse communities.

Originally posted June 2019

It has been an exciting and engaging summer as we venture out as food business vendors selling our popular food products, Venezuelan Salsa Guasacaca (herb-based salsa) and Tequeños (cheesy sticks), at different locations in the Vancouver Farmers Market across the city!

We are grateful for amazing and humbling experiences in meeting other farmers, producers, food hustlers, and connecting with customers over food and stories. Thank you all the support, encouragement and love for our products and having meaningful conversations with us over cultural dishes, food memories, and migration stories. Follow up on Instagram to hear about upcoming markets and food events!

Originally posted September 2018

Our first exciting TV appearance sharing the vision of Flavours of Hope while making delicious Venezuelan tequenos with Chef Maria on Global Morning News!