Have you ever heard about the Patty wars in Canada?
Patty vs. Patty tells the story of how in 1985 Toronto government officials attempted a “patty wars,” when Jamaican-Canadian bakers went head-to-head with the federal government over the name of their beloved beef patty. At the time, the Meat Inspection Act determined a beef patty to be what goes in a hamburger.
Patty Wars… A Short Documentary
For Afro Mundo’s Recipe Month, we’re featuring a special “hot pocket” known as the Empanada. While the information above relates to a Jamaican patty, it highlights a cultural connection to the empanada. This story reveals how something as seemingly simple and delicious as a “pocket” can cause trouble for immigrants in places like North America. Fortunately, despite the racially charged conflict and institutionalized racism, a compromise was reached. However, it raises questions about the ways cultures have been forced to erase parts of their heritage due to arbitrary capitalist and colonial rules.
A part of our monthly offers is to showcase interesting stories and facts about the food we love and share. We love empanadas, love patties (excuse me, Jamaican patties) and we love to point out these foodway connections with every recipe given in our memberships.
If you enjoy these, think about all the other goodies you may be missing by not getting our monthly recipes.
Here’s more examples of cultural “hot Pockets”
Gyoza: Japanese. They’re essentially wonton wrappers that are stuffed with pork and cabbage before they’re pan-fried and often served with a sweet-spicy dipping sauce.
Pierogi: Polish. It’s unleavened dough around a soft filling of meat, fruit, or potato and cheese. Originally a peasant food, it’s like a dumpling—cooked in boiling water—and oh-so-delicious.
Panzerotti: Italian. It’s a deep-fried pocket of dough usually filled with cheese. Deep-fried and eaten hot, it’s what a Hot Pocket aspires to.