The Paisley Notebook: Telling Stories With Food & Supporting Local Farmers
“Put simply: I tell stories with food.”
Aman Dosanj is inspiring curiosity and change in our relationship to food while building an inclusive community through unique stories and experiences. After moving to Canada from England in 2008, Aman owned and operated Poppadoms Restaurant in Kelowna, BC, together with her family. Now, she is revolutionizing the food industry with The Paisley Notebook, showcasing Canada's abundance and turning locals into tourists.
inspiring change
During her pop-up dinners, Aman creates "Edible Adventures" for guests with an ever-changing array of flavours and stories inspired by local, seasonal ingredients as much as the farmers who grow them. Her staff also happen to be her family - if you get the chance to attend one of her events, you'll likely find Aman's Mum helping out and brother Harry serving up delicious handcrafted Cocktails. Every dinner is different, beautifully imperfect and authentic to its intention. Though food is the unifying thread through her work, Aman's mission goes far beyond.
“The project has always been about building a bigger, more inclusive table, encouraging people to be open-minded, ask questions and get excited and curious about the place we live in. It also highlights great people who deserve the recognition, levelling up the playing field - I know how to spot an underdog. ”
Supporting local farmers
Locations for pop-up dinners are always changing and never fail to amaze. Honest Food Farm in Cawston, part of the "Sourced Dinner Series," is named after their nature - Organic fruits, vegetables and flowers grown in the heart of sunny Similkameen Valley by people who genuinely care to do what feels right over what's fast or easy. Brandie and Yuri work hard to provide only the highest quality, nourishing, and flavourful food to their families and communities. By sourcing from local farmers and taking guests behind the scenes on a farm tour, Aman opens local's eyes to the abundance of produce available right in our backyard.
Supporting local will increase the quality of food on your plate, but it also means supporting small family businesses who put great emphasis on promoting sustainability within our region and beyond.
Yuri & Brandie - Honest Food Farm
Cultivating Community - apart but together
Pre-Pandemic, The Paisley Notebook was hosting events on one long table, inspiring connections through a family dining experience. Aman has re-thought how to cultivate community at "six feet together," prioritizing guests' health and safety without compromising the essence and magic of the collective experience. Guests have been feeling safe and well taken care of, thanks to Aman's attention to detail and dedication to going above and beyond in everything she does.
“It has been a rollercoaster, but it’s all about redirecting your energy. The guests I cook for are the most amazing people, it’s truly a values-based group, and I’m so grateful to share these experiences with them. ”
To learn more about Aman's story, projects and passions visit the Paisley Notebook Website & Follow along on Instagram @PaisleyNotebook. (Pro tip: to be one of the first to know about upcoming events and for a chance to buy tickets before they sell out - sign up for The Paisley Notebook newsletter.)
Read more about how Aman and her business have adjusted to the changes brought on by COVID-19 on the Tourism Resiliency Network Website as part of the “Stories of Resilience” series.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lucie has been calling the Okanagan home since 2011, after moving overseas from a tiny town with a high cow population in southern Germany. She has a serious love for travel, music and languages - seeking to continuously grow and broaden her perspective. As a writer and Yoga teacher, Lucie hopes to inspire community, compassion, and a conscious way of living.