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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, N ov em be r 1, 20 18 | 28 Growing up, GTA wood- worker and chef Hendrik Varju spent a lot of time in the kitchen with his mother. "Cooking was always a massive part of our life and really the most pleasurable part of life," he said. "You did your homework in the kitchen, you talked in the kitchen, the kitchen was the main room of the house." Varju's mother was born in Mexico and his father was born in Hungary. As a child, he grew up eating a variety of dishes from both cultures and became familiar with his family recipes, taught to him at a young age. 12 years ago, Varju began to seriously get involved in cooking, and in 2011, he be- gan offering cooking semi- nars at woodworking shows, which he attended for his business, Passion for Wood. He soon opened up a sec- ond business, Passion for Food, where he offers one- on-one cooking instruction, either at his location in Er- in, Ontario (not far from Ac- ton), or the home of the stu- dent, as well as group semi- nars and dinner parties. He also teaches classes at Lon- go's and PC Cooking School. Varju recently published his first cookbook, titled Mexican Dinner Parties, where he provides six com- plete menus for readers to choose from to host their very own festive dinner par- ty for family and friends, based on their food prefer- ences and skill level, as well as the season. "It's called Mexican Din- ner Parties, so it's meant to allow the reader to invite friends and family over and have an actual formal din- ner party," he said. Each menu has an aver- age of ten recipes, but read- ers will be able to alter them to their preferred conve- nience level. For example, Varju said that rather than a cook making the tortilla chips from scratch, they may want to substitute that portion of the menu for a store-bought alternative. "But if you are going to buy the salsa, at least make sure it comes from Mexico," he laughed. "To keep it au- thentic." In the cookbook, Varju has added 50 pages of in- struction on Mexican cook- ing techniques that are re- quired for a variety of reci- pes. He has also included photographs to go with vir- tually every menu item. "To me, the picture is in- spiration, and tells the cook who's making it, what it is supposed to look like and how to plate it, so that it's beautiful when it comes to the table," he said. Varju added that when it comes to his cooking, his cookbook, and the classes he teaches, he aims to show people the importance of sharing a meal together. "To me, it's really all about the family connec- tion. I mean the food is obvi- ously important, but it's the fact that you're eating to- gether." For further information on Mexican Dinner Parties, or to purchase the cookbook (available both in paper- back and hardcover), visit www.mexicandinnerpar- ties.com. Mexican Dinner Parties can also be purchased through Amazon.ca, Ama- zon.com, Barnes & Noble and Chapters/Indigo (in store and online). An ebook version is available for Am- azon Kindle, iBooks (Apple) and Kobo (Chapters/Indi- go). To learn more about Pas- sion for Food, visit www.passionforfood.ca. FOOD AND DRINK EAT THIS: 'MEXICAN DINNER PARTIES' ALL ABOUT GOOD FOOD AND FAMILY VERONICA APPIA vappia@metroland.com "Cooking was always a massive part of our life and really the most pleasurable part of life," Varju said. Veronica Appia/Metroland ABOUT MEXICAN DINNER PARTIES Business type: Cooking instruction Website: www.passionforfood.ca Email: info@passionforfood.ca Phone: 519-853-2027 ON NOW AT THE BRICK! SAVING YOU MORE For more details go instore or online @thebrick.com. 905-877-5279 Free Estimates • Fully Insured • Tree Pruning • Removals • Storm Damage • Small Shrub & HedgeTrimming • Tree Cabling & Bracing • Stump Grinding It's Lonely at theTop! Cell: 416-996-9338jay@hilltoptreecare.cawww.hilltoptreecare.ca LEATHERTOWN LUMBER Limited quantity on saLe items. WhiLe suppLies Last. $49.99 WAS: $69.99 $134.99 $29.99 7-1/4-in. Circular saw Spindle lock for easy blade change. Includes 7-1/4" carbide tipped blade, arbor wrench and rip fence. 4413282 5,000 Btu air Conditioner Frigidaire model, 4-way air direction, and anti-bacterial mesh filter. Includes remote and window mounting kit. 4331732 table top Charcoal Grill 186 square inch cooking area. Hinged lid lock and foldable legs for easier storage. Top and front vents. 8825309 dRop in the stoRe to enteR HOT BUY! www. .ca 264 Main St. N., Acton 519-853-1970 416-601-1259 end oF season BLoWout!! CHANCE TO WIN $5000.00