Bio:

Margaret H. Dickenson

Margaret, a professional home economist, is author of two stunning cookbooks, "Margaret’s Table - Easy Cooking & Inspiring Entertaining" and "From the Ambassador’s Table - Blueprints for Creative Entertaining". Each book has won 4 major international awards. Most recently, Margaret’s Table was recognized as 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 January 2008, this book was recognized as the Best Cookbook on Entertaining at the Cordon d’Or - Gold Ribbon International Annual Cookbook and Culinary Arts Awards 2007. 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 and a bronze medal at the Independent Book Publisher Awards in the "cookbook" category in New York City in June 2007. In addition, Margaret repeatedly wins international culinary competitions for her particularly innovative recipes and creative menus.

After Margaret’s successful TV series, "Margaret’s Sense of Occasion", viewers are now enjoying "Margaret’s Entertaining Minutes" (which can be seen on her website: www.margaretstable.ca )

Margaret is a frequent and popular guest on national and local TV shows across Canada. As well, she has regular food and entertaining sections in both the Diplomat and International Canada and FoodMODE magazines. She teaches cooking classes in the USA and Canada, and "Business Protocol, Social and Dining Etiquette" courses to corporations and other professional clients across the country, e.g., national security agencies, members’ only clubs, Carleton University, etc. She is a presenter of other specialty courses (e.g., culinary arts and team building), demonstrations and keynote speeches for major institutions and organizations.

Margaret is renowned for her abundant and 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 for her judging of well recognized culinary competitions.

Margaret was recognized, in 2003 by the University of Guelph, 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.

Lawrence (Larry) T. Dickenson

With Margaret supporting his career, Larry spent 28 years in Canada's foreign service including 20 years on overseas postings in 8 countries. On the last two assignments, he was Canada's Ambassador to Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman (1988-1992) and then Indonesia (1992-1996). Shortly after returning to Canada from Indonesia, Larry entered the Privy Council Office which provides support to the Prime Minister and the Canadian Cabinet. His last position, as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Security and Intelligence, coincided with the "9-11" terrorist attacks in the USA. Thus, Larry was closely associated with developing the Canadian government’s response (budget, legislation, policy/programs) to the new international security environment.

Currently, he is a member of the Audit Committee of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Chair of the Directing Group for the Retired Heads of Mission Association (RHOMA), a member of the Board of the Ottawa Branch of the Federal Superannuates National Association (FSNA) and a Distinguished Senior Fellow in the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University.

Since retirement, Larry has turned his attention to his great love of excellent food and his interest in photography. Always a team, Larry now supports Margaret combining her cooking and entertaining activities with his photographic talents on her culinary projects - books, magazine articles, etc. His photography is appearing in major newspapers and magazines.