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Open Home: Canada's Culinary Passport--Eat, Connect, and Sustain
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Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, November 18th 2025 at 13:51 GMT by Travel + Leisure- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Open Home: A Taste of Canada Through Real‑Life Dinners
Travel & Leisure’s feature on “Open Home” spotlights an innovative hospitality trend that lets globetrotters step beyond the usual tourist fare and into the kitchens of everyday Canadians. The program, which launched in 2023, pairs travelers with local hosts who invite them to share a meal prepared from scratch, offering an intimate glimpse into the country’s diverse food culture.
What Is Open Home?
Open Home is a partnership between the travel‑tech company HomeAway and the Canadian culinary collective “Taste of Canada.” The core idea is simple: travelers book a stay that includes a home‑cooked dinner, and in exchange they pay a modest fee that goes toward supporting the host and their local community. The program is designed to be inclusive, allowing hosts ranging from solo cooks in Toronto to family chefs in Newfoundland to welcome guests for a single meal or an extended stay.
According to the Travel & Leisure article, the platform is built on three pillars:
- Community Connection – Guests and hosts form meaningful interactions, breaking down cultural barriers through shared food.
- Authenticity – Meals are prepared with locally sourced ingredients, allowing travelers to experience regional flavors in their truest form.
- Sustainability – By encouraging home‑based dining, the program reduces the carbon footprint of conventional restaurants and hotel kitchens.
How It Works
The booking process begins on the Open Home website, where travelers can filter hosts by cuisine, dietary preference, and geographic location. Once a host is chosen, the traveler receives a curated itinerary that outlines:
- The menu for the dinner (often a multi‑course spread featuring signature dishes such as “Maple‑glazed salmon” or “Kelp‑infused lentil stew”).
- The expected cost (which covers the meal, a portion of the host’s lodging fee, and a small service charge).
- Any additional local activities the host may suggest, such as a walk to a nearby farmers’ market or a visit to a regional craft brewery.
When guests arrive, they are welcomed by the host for a quick “cheer” and an explanation of the meal’s preparation process. The dinner itself is usually served in the host’s dining room or backyard, complete with home‑grown table settings and, in many cases, a live music element like a local folk guitar player.
The Host Experience
Open Home gives hosts a platform to showcase their culinary talents while earning extra income. The article quotes host Sarah Laframboise, who lives in Vancouver’s Eastside. “I love cooking for people, and I’ve always wanted to share my grandmother’s pea soup recipe with someone who appreciates the taste of the Pacific Northwest,” she says. “Open Home lets me do that while also supporting my family and community.”
Hosts receive training from the program’s culinary team, covering everything from food safety to the etiquette of hosting travelers. They are also provided with a “Community Handbook” that includes guidelines on dietary restrictions, guest etiquette, and emergency protocols.
Traveler Testimonials
Travel & Leisure interviewed several guests to understand the impact of the experience. One traveler, Marco Bianchi from Milan, describes his stay in Toronto: “Eating at a local’s kitchen is so different from a high‑end restaurant. The conversations were deeper, the food was fresher, and I left with a whole new appreciation for the city’s culinary diversity.” Another guest, Emily Kwan, highlights the cultural exchange: “I brought a traditional Chinese dessert to share, and we swapped recipes that have stayed with us ever since.”
Community Impact and Sustainability
Beyond individual experiences, Open Home claims to have a positive social impact. The article notes that the program partners with local food banks and community kitchens, ensuring that surplus ingredients are redirected rather than wasted. For instance, in Quebec, a host donated leftover roasted potatoes to the local food bank, an initiative that was highlighted in the article’s sidebar.
From an environmental standpoint, the program encourages the use of locally sourced produce, which reduces transportation emissions. Hosts are encouraged to adopt “farm‑to‑table” practices and the Travel & Leisure piece cites a study from the Canadian Food Policy Institute that found a 30 % reduction in carbon footprint when meals are prepared in a home kitchen versus a commercial setting.
Looking Ahead
Travel & Leisure’s article concludes by noting that Open Home has plans to expand beyond Canada’s borders. The program has already expressed interest in partnering with culinary festivals in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the meantime, the team is working on a mobile app that will allow travelers to book “quick‑meal” experiences on the go, making it easier for tourists to spontaneously find a host for a dinner in a city they’re exploring.
Takeaway
Open Home offers a compelling alternative to the standard tourist itinerary. By marrying authentic cuisine with genuine human connection, the program provides travelers with an immersive window into Canadian culture. For hosts, it opens a new revenue stream and an opportunity to celebrate local traditions. And for the wider community, it presents a sustainable, food‑centric model that promotes environmental responsibility and social cohesion.
Whether you’re a seasoned food traveler or simply looking for a unique dinner experience, Open Home invites you to step into a Canadian home and taste the stories that simmer behind every dish.
Read the Full Travel + Leisure Article at:
[ https://www.travelandleisure.com/openhome-lets-travelers-dine-in-real-canadian-homes-11851517 ]
