TS
EAST OF THE SIX
COOKING AND LIFE EAST OF TORONTO
by Tara Salonius
introducing
TARA SALONIUS
:EAST OF THE SIX
Digital Creator
I was born in Kingston Jamaica but grew up just east of Toronto, referred from this point on as The Six (paying homage to the once one-and-only area code of the city 416). My whole life I have spent in this city. My father drove the subway for 35 years and out of all my parents friends and family we were the only ones who didn’t live in Toronto. Dated boys, had best friends, went to University, night clubs shopping, eating, concerts all in this city. So it’s been quite a love affair. And all these years, I feel like it’s always been me somehow going west, from east of The Six.
Now I have lots of passions. My family. Cooking. Music. Books. Movies. Basketball. Laughter. All of which were birthed out of what I would consider a lonely childhood, but happy nonetheless. No tears to shed. Certainly possible to have both as I did. But that’s a story for another day.
I started this cooking as an escape during my maternity leave and later during the many lockdowns. As I documented my adventures in the kitchen on Instagram, it began to turn into so much more. A community. A creative outlet. Source of inspiration. Friendships. A new passion. And down the rabbit hole I go.
Now I have lots of passions. My family. Cooking. Music. Books. Movies. Basketball. Laughter. All of which were birthed out of what I would consider a lonely childhood, but happy nonetheless. No tears to shed. Certainly possible to have both as I did. But that’s a story for another day.
I started this cooking as an escape during my maternity leave and later during the many lockdowns. As I documented my adventures in the kitchen on Instagram, it began to turn into so much more. A community. A creative outlet. Source of inspiration. Friendships. A new passion. And down the rabbit hole I go.
Whether she's sharing a family picnic at the beach, gushing over an omelette in The Bear, or whipping up a healthy vegetable entrée, we are there for Tara's candid confessions and inspirational food prep. Her Kingston roots often permeate her plates: spicy, sweet, savory, tart. Whether she employs any or all of these flavors, she always makes our tummies rumble.
— the team at Selefina
DISCOVER MORE BY TARA SALONIUS
Tara Salonius's
SPICE BLEND COLLABORATION
1.5 OZ JAR
$11.00
A Likkle More
Memories of Jamaica
Working on this spice blend has been a journey. A journey that took me back home to Kingston Jamaica where I found myself immersed in the all the smells and foods that I grew up with.
I have never considered myself much of a cook although perhaps others would disagree. I started off this path afraid to be in the kitchen without a clue where to begin. So when I resolved to turn myself into what I would consider a "home cook," the first place I turned was to my childhood. And this is where I found myself again when I started to develop my own spice blend.
Memories of being in the kitchen with my grandmother watching her as she happily laboured at the stove. The smell and aromas rising in waves from the bubbling pots and pans. Memories of driving through the city as the street vendors would be preparing food to be sold later in the day smoking meats in hollowed out barrels. Memories of afternoons at the beach watching as the fisherman would pull that day's catch into the sandy kitchens of the food huts that lined the nooks along the shore.
In this spice blend are all memories of those smells and aromas of my childhood. Even the name of this spice blend is something my grandmother would often say in the kitchen.
In Jamaican patois, a "likkle more" translates into a "little more." Although often used as a salutation, for this blend I use it as a way to describe the versatility of these flavours. You can use a little more or a little less to reach that perfect flavour.
I have never considered myself much of a cook although perhaps others would disagree. I started off this path afraid to be in the kitchen without a clue where to begin. So when I resolved to turn myself into what I would consider a "home cook," the first place I turned was to my childhood. And this is where I found myself again when I started to develop my own spice blend.
Memories of being in the kitchen with my grandmother watching her as she happily laboured at the stove. The smell and aromas rising in waves from the bubbling pots and pans. Memories of driving through the city as the street vendors would be preparing food to be sold later in the day smoking meats in hollowed out barrels. Memories of afternoons at the beach watching as the fisherman would pull that day's catch into the sandy kitchens of the food huts that lined the nooks along the shore.
In this spice blend are all memories of those smells and aromas of my childhood. Even the name of this spice blend is something my grandmother would often say in the kitchen.
In Jamaican patois, a "likkle more" translates into a "little more." Although often used as a salutation, for this blend I use it as a way to describe the versatility of these flavours. You can use a little more or a little less to reach that perfect flavour.
ingredients in this spice blend
all recipes by
TARA SALONIUS
a dinner recipe using:
by Tara Salonius