eat make share Speaker Series: My Cypriot Table by Irene Matys

Join us at Joseph Brant Museum for our eat make share speaker series, featuring acclaimed Canadian cookbook authors. Each month, a new speaker will discuss their publication and how their family’s cultural background has influenced their culinary journey. Attendees will also enjoy a recipe demonstration and have the opportunity to view the special exhibit eat make share: a taste of immigration from the Canadian Museums of Immigration at Pier 21. Featured titles will also be available for purchase directly from the author and in the Museum’s gift shop.

Tickets are $25, includes admission to Joseph Brant Museum, speaker presentation (7pm), and light refreshments. The Museum will open 1-hour prior to the presentation at 6pm for those who wish to view the special exhibit eat make share: a taste of immigration. This event is recommended for ages 12 .

Irene Matys is a World Gourmand Award winning and Globe and Mail bestselling cookbook author, television food expert, and farm-to-table advocate. She is the author of My Cypriot Table: Mediterranean Recipes for Gathering, Sharing, and Savouring, a celebrated debut cookbook featuring over 100 vibrant recipes inspired by her Greek Cypriot heritage and Canada’s seasonal bounty.

Born in Cyprus, Irene immigrated to Canada in 1976 as a refugee, bringing with her a deep rooted connection to food, family, and tradition. Her culinary journey began early, spending much of her childhood in her parents’ restaurant, Ciccio’s Pizza, which they purchased in Sarnia in 1980. Alongside this experience, it was her mama, her yiayia ( grandmother), and the family garden that truly nurtured her love of cooking, instilling in her the importance of fresh, seasonal ingredients and the joy of sharing meals. A committed advocate for community-focused food education, Irene designs culinary experiences that celebrate sustainability, cultural heritage, and connection.