The Change

Most people fear change, I have always felt that change is always for the better. Change is a departure from the same old, same old to something new and exciting. The picture of the plate shown here truly represents the change that is happening in our Pakistani/South Asian community as our kids grow up living in Canada. This was the main course of a four-course dinner served sitting-in on a very well decorated table of 8 people during a recent Pakistani wedding reception in Mississauga that we had the honour to attend.  

Traditionally it should have been Biryani, Kormas and all the greasy but tasty Desi Pakistani food, the host however chose Western food instead, serving a well prepared and presented beef steak, stuffed chicken breast and salad as main course, Broccoli soup and tasty pasta as starters and dessert consisted of bakery items. The attendees were traditional very conservative Pakistani/South Asian families probably never expecting to see Western food served at a Pakistani wedding, nevertheless everyone enjoyed the food!

 So, what made the host decide on the Western food? Well I am sure that their children were the major influencers. This shows that the things are changing as our next generation blends into Canadian way of life, which is fantastic! Even in mosques our kids prefer sermons in English rather than in Urdu/Arabic! Most South Asian parents would welcome this change at the same time would like their kids to be able to balance both cultures together and not to forget their roots.    

Thinking like an entrepreneur, I see a lot of opportunity in this change or trend as far as the food and beverage is concerned. Pakistani Biryani is one extreme and Western Steak is another, how about something in the middle, the buzz word is Fusion, which is becoming very popular trend among millennials. Therefore, its time to create new food ideas that blend both cultures together, that’s the future!