'There's no taste like home' - International students in Canada use maple syrup in traditional dishes

Centennial College students re-create their favourite dishes with Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup during COVID-19

TORONTO, July 30, 2020 /CNW/ - Centennial College public relations students have partnered with Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup through Storyworks, a program that allows them to gain industry experience while completing their studies. The students were tasked with developing a unique campaign using that oh-so-Canadian staple, maple syrup.

The students, many of whom have been unable to return home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, represent more than 12 countries including India, Ukraine, Russia and Jamaica. They were thrilled to participate in this project by creating their favourite hometown dish using Ontario-made Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup instead of traditional sweeteners.

Recipes and images have been published in an e-cookbook format now available on Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup's website to invite everyone to try out these international recipes using the premium quality syrup provided by Muskoka Lodge.

"The students were able to analyze the maple syrup industry and put an international twist on traditional recipes to come up with a fresh and delicious way to promote maple syrup," says Landon French, owner and founder of Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup. "I hope people the world over look at this e-cookbook and see how maple syrup can be used in daily cooking by any culture."

Despite the pandemic, Centennial students were able to collaborate with fellow public relations students at the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in Spain, further expanding their international reach. The Spanish students provided insights into the maple syrup market in their country and suggested some traditional recipes for the campaign, such as Spanish chorizo corn cakes.

On social media, Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup @muskokalodge is posting these international recipes on Instagram and TikTok. The team also coordinated an Instagram Live cooking demonstration with Chef Paolo Zinatelli, a Centennial College instructor @paolothinksaboutfood. He skilfully demonstrated how to prepare a maple mint vodka spritzer and a maple coconut curry using Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup products.

Maple syrup is a natural sweetener that offers many health benefits including antioxidants, manganese, calcium, riboflavin and potassium, and can be a substitute for sugar where ¾ of a cup of maple syrup can be used in place of one cup of sugar.

About Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup

Muskoka Lodge Maple Syrup is a small-batch production company located in Muskoka, Ontario. Muskoka Lodge uses all organic ingredients and produces 100% pure maple syrup. Production is limited, and Muskoka Lodge works with other select Muskoka maple syrup producers to ensure we supply the highest quality made-in-Muskoka maple syrup. The Muskoka Lodge brand is a registered property of The French Lodge Company Inc. www.muskokalodge.ca.

About Centennial College

Centennial College is Ontario's first community college. It was established in 1966 and primarily serves the eastern portion of the Greater Toronto Area through five campuses and seven satellite locations. The college is best known for its record of exemplary teaching, innovative programming and extensive partnership building. www.centennialcollege.ca.

SOURCE Centennial College

Media contact: Natasha Stephens, [email protected]