Margaret Dickenson is a world-renowned cookbook author and Canadian TV show host. She has received more than a dozen international awards for her cookbooks, “From the Ambassador’s Table” (Blueprints for Creative Entertaining) and “Margaret’s Table” (Easy Cooking and Inspiring Entertaining).
She graduated from the University of Guelph with a degree in Foods and Nutrition. In recognition of her notable contribution to society and her ability to inspire others, she received the prestigious designation as the University of Guelph’s “Alumna of Honour 2013”.
Growing up as a child on a farm in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Margaret realized years ago that inviting people into their home for a meal or even coffee, was well appreciated by guests. Indeed, her busy mother, a widow, running a rather large dairy operation, never claimed to be too busy or intimidated to entertain. Margaret continues to enthusiastically demonstrate that same philosophy!
As wife of a former Canadian foreign service officer/ambassador, Larry Dickenson, Margaret has entertained tens of thousands of guests with limited assistance for the most part. During their 28 years in Canada’s diplomatic service with assignments in 8 different countries, Margaret developed her own very unique style of successful entertaining.
Her secret? To “Wow” guests with personally-developed tantalizing recipes, mesmerizing food styling and presentations, served with a true sense of occasion. Indeed, she creates sentiments that remain with her guests long after leaving her home. As Maya Angelou would say “People will forget what you said but never forget how they made them feel!”
After the immediate success of “From the Ambassador’s Table”, Margaret wrote and hosted her own 26 episode television series titled “Margaret Sense of Occasion”.
Upon Larry’s retirement and with avid 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”.
Her second television series, “Margaret’s Table”, has received remarkable appreciation by audiences amazed to see how creative entertaining can be so easy and inspiring.
To view her series, click on: Margaret’s TV Series tab on the homepage.
“Margaret’s Entertaining Minutes” already can be seen on this site.
Margaret enjoys having a strong and loving work ethic as well as a balanced life. During those 28 years abroad as diplomats, Margaret not only entertained thousands of guests, but she also worked professionally from teaching (primarily culinary courses and English as a second language), administering a business college (Kuwaiti), initiating the Canadian Museum of Nature’s Membership Program, to heading the largest non-governmental charity in Egypt.
Since returning to Canada in the late 90’s, Margaret has created and has been teaching a concise, very popular, one-day course on “Social Protocol, Networking, Cocktail and Dining Etiquette” and has been the food columnist for “Diplomat International Canada” magazine. She also offers a “Mind Your Manners” course for children.
Margaret is renowned for her broad range of charity and fundraising activities. She is a passionate supporter of organizations and institutions dealing with food insecurity, homelessness, medical concerns, education, victims of war and disasters, as well as community activities and the arts.
Occasionally, she offers a house tour and a multi-course cocktail dinatoire as a “live auction” item for charity events - or a private course given in her home on “Social Protocol, Networking, Cocktail and Dining Etiquette”. Every year, a graduate student at the University of Guelph in Global Development and International Affairs, is the recipient of scholarship established by her and her late husband.
