In an article published in Montecristo Magazine, writer Gail Johnson explores the ways in which eating and preparing traditional foods as a way of celebrating Indigenous cultures has helped bolster a revival of neglected culinary traditions and provide momentum to a movement aimed at securing Indigenous food sovereignty across the country.

National Indigenous Peoples Day was first declared in 1996 as a way for all Canadians to recognize the culture, history and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. It not only coincides with summer solstice — the start of fishing and berry-picking season — but also calls attention to the entire month of June being designated as National Indigenous History Month in Canada.

Show your support not just today and this month but throughout the year by supporting Indigenous culinary enterprises around the country that include Kekuli Cafe, Kiju’s Restaurant, Tea N Bannock, Feast Café Bistro, Native Delights, Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro, lelem’ Arts & Cultural Cafe, Mr Bannock Food, One Arrow, Kitchens of Distinction, Red Fox Club and Quaaout Lodge.

As Nicole Taylor writes in a NYT Cooking piece entitled ‘A Juneteenth of Joy and Resistance’: “For observers and participants alike, Juneteenth is nourishment for the community; it’s fried green tomatoes, okra rice, peach pies, hot peppers and a moment to exhale. It’s an occasion to tease cousins about who makes the best potato salad, and for an unbroken circle of belly laughs, which are a balm while the storm clouds loom over every aspect of black Americans’ lives.

In the article, Taylor writes about about how she and other chefs are observing this particularly poignant Juneteenth in isolation. One of those chefs is Danielle Bell, an operator of de Porres and catering company in Los Angeles.

As Chef Bell says: “The holiday is a starting point for embracing the best parts of the past.”

They’re the best of the best, and we proudly salute the amazing restaurants from coast to coast that were singled out for praise today in the 2020 edition of the prestigious annual compilation of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants!

The ranking is based on a poll of a national panel of 103 judges who each submitted a ranked list of their top-10 dining experiences of 2019.

To quote the magazine’s editorial team: ‘We are releasing [the 2020 list] now, as Canada’s restaurants slowly begin to reopen, as a reminder of where we were, and a thank you to everyone who got us there. Canada’s 100 Best wishes all of you good luck and good health negotiating the difficult road ahead, and we dearly hope to dine again with you soon.’