Margaret's Table

Margaret Dickenson is a world-renowned cookbook author and Canadian TV show host. She has received an impressive 6 international awards for her first cookbook, “From the Ambassador’s Table - Blueprints for Creative Entertaining” (Times Edition Singapore and Random House Canada), and 5 for her self- published second cookbook, “Margaret’s Table - Easy Cooking and Inspiring Entertaining”.

Most recently, in December 2021, Margaret was honored with two prestigious awards in the entertaining category of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held in Paris, France. “From the Ambassador’s Table” was recognized as the best historical first cookbook “Best of the Best - 25 Years”; while, “Margaret’s Table” received one of the very few special ‘Best of the Best - 25 Years” awards as a tribute to her expertise in entertaining.

As a wife of a former Canadian foreign service officer, Larry Dickenson, Margaret has entertained tens of thousands of guests with limited assistance for the most part. During their 28 years in the foreign service, with assignments in eight different countries including ambassador to Kuwait and Indonesia, Margaret has developed her very own unique style for successful entertaining.

Her secret? To “wow” guests with personally developed, tantalizing recipes, mesmerizing food styling, and presentations, served with a true sense of occasion!

Margaret adores Maya Angelou‘s quote: “People will forget what you said but never forget how you made them feel“. Margaret is thrilled to enchant and dazzle her guests, creating sentiments that will remain with them long after they leave her home.

After the immediate success of “From the Ambassador’s Table”, Margaret wrote and hosted her own TV series “Margaret Sense of Occasion”.

Upon Larry’s retirement and with viewers’ enthusiastic requests for a second cookbook, Margaret and Larry worked as a devoted and loving team to self-publish “Margaret‘s Table - Easy Cooking and Inspiring Entertaining”.

Expanding on features laid out in the first book, “Margaret’s Table” offers even more menus including themed ideas, 150 unique personal recipes, brilliant, inspiring, and doable food styling, innovated presentation ideas over 70 captivating photos, dozens of tips (make ahead, shortcuts, alternative ingredients, techniques, etc.) as well as easy strategies and steps on how to make it all come together.

Margaret’s second television series, “Margaret's Table”, has received remarkable appreciation by audiences amazed to see how creative entertaining can be so easy and inspiring!

Indeed, Margaret’s passion and enthusiasm are infectious! You will be inspired to look into your pantry, refrigerator and around your home to find those extra touches of creativity that will make your dishes particularly special.

Margaret realized years ago when she was a child growing up on a farm in Thunder Bay, Ontario, that home entertaining was well appreciated by guests. While some feel too busy or intimidated to entertain, others are eager to expand their entertaining creativity and to make it easier - perhaps less formidable!

Margaret’s books are the gold reference in personal entertaining assisting both experienced and novice cooks to bring culinary magic to their tables with confidence, success and pizzazz.

No doubt, home entertaining is more popular than ever today, and the trend is very likely to continue.

Margaret always assures her audiences that “You can do it too!” However, the important thing is to entertain. She hopes that she will inspire you to do so.

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Margaret Dickenson

Margaret Dickenson, who for 28 years accompanied her Foreign Service spouse to 8 fascinating countries, is a multi-international award winning cookbook author, recipe/menu developer and TV host.

In May 2009, at the Cordon d’Or - Gold Ribbon Academy of International Cookbook & Culinary Arts Awards (2008), Margaret was named "Culinarian of the Year". This reflected her remarkable successes, career development, contributions to charity and community activities as well as being a culinary ambassador for Canada. At the same awards ceremonies, she again received awards for the Best Published and the Best Unpublished recipes (2008).

In Sept 2006, Margaret self-published and released a stunning new cookbook, "Margaret’s Table - Easy Cooking & Inspiring Entertaining". It has won 4 major international awards, including the "Best of the Best Cookbook in the past 12 years" in the entertaining category at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Oct 2008. It also took the gold medal for Best Entertaining Cookbook in the World at the 2006 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in Beijing, China in April 2007. From the thousands of cookbooks entered in the competition, Margaret’s Table won over 16 other finalists from 14 countries in the entertaining category. In June 2007, it won a bronze medal in the cookbook category at the 11th Annual International Independent Publisher Book Awards held in New York City. In January 2008, in St. Petersburg Florida, her book was recognized as the Best Cookbook on Entertaining at the Cordon d’Or - Gold Ribbon International Annual Cookbook and Culinary Arts Awards 2007.

Margaret’s first book, "From the Ambassador’s Table - Blueprints for Creative Entertaining", was named Best Cookbook in the World on Entertaining at the World Cookbook Fair in Périgueux, France (1998). It also has won three other international awards. In addition, Margaret repeatedly wins international culinary competitions for her innovative recipes and creative menus.

Margaret has a regular food and entertaining section in the Diplomat and International Canada and FoodMODE magazines. She (frequently along with her husband) teaches "Business Protocol, Social and Dining Etiquette" courses to corporations and other professional clients in Ottawa and cities across Canada. She is also a presenter of other specialty courses (e.g., culinary arts and team building), demonstrations and keynote speeches for major institutions and organizations.

Margaret’s award winning 26 episode lifestyle and cooking TV series, Margaret’s Sense of Occasion, which she created, wrote and hosted is being loaded on this website, episode by episode. To see the series, please click on the Margaret’s TV Series tab on the home page. All 30 of her "Margaret’s Entertaining Minutes" already can be seen on this site.

Margaret is renowned for her broad range of charity fund raising activities both in Canada and beyond (e.g., various cancer organizations, homeless shelters, community assistance for the needy, home economics scholarships, public library and arts foundations) and her judging of well recognized culinary competitions.

A professional home economist with a degree in foods and nutrition from the University of Guelph, Margaret was recognized in 2003 as one of 76 recipients of the Macdonald Institute’s Centennial Awards. She is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals, Cuisine Canada, Canadian Foreign Service Association as well as the Ontario & Ottawa Home Economics Associations.