011: Joshna Maharaj - Chef, Food Activist & Author

Joshna Maharaj is a chef, a two-time TEDx speaker and activist who wants to help everyone have a better relationship with their food. She believes strongly in the power of chefs & social gastronomy to bring values of hospitality, sustainability, and social justice to the table. Joshna works with hospitals and schools in Canada to build new models for institutional food service. Her first book entitled Take Back the Tray (May 2020), captures the lessons and experience from her work in changing institutional food systems around the globe. She is an enthusiastic instructor of both culinary and academic students, constantly finding ways to make food stories come alive. Joshna hosts Kitchen Helpdesk, a weekly call-in food show on CBC Radio, and she co-hosts a food & drink podcast called Hot Plate, currently in its 4th season. On this episode of What's Burning, Joshna Maharaj’s chat with Host Mitchell Davis includes conversation around changing menus in public institutions, prioritizing food in a post-pandemic world, and spending less time jumping through other people's hoops.