How a Campbell River, B.C. senior built a global and massively loyal Instant Pot fandom without a single TV appearance, media interview or YouTube channel.
Remembering Rootitoot, Canada s Instant Pot Queen
How a Campbell River, B.C. senior built a global and massively loyal Instant Pot fandom without a single TV appearance, media interview or YouTube channel. Isabel Slone Updated Illustration by Chantal Bennett.
Offline, Ruth “Rootitoot” McCusker was a quiet woman who lived in a small studio apartment in downtown Campbell River, B.C. A stroke in 2007 had compromised her balance and resulted in a rare vision disability, leaving her unable to work; her only source of income was a government disability cheque. But unbeknownst to her neighbours, this doting grandmother of three led an invisible double life as an online Instant Pot guru, doling out recipes and advice to a loyal Facebook following nearly 100,000 strong. McCusker named the group “Rootitoot,” after a childhood nickname, and spent multiple hours each day tending to what she called her “secret garden”: responding to recipe questions and offeri
News3 February 2021
By Darren Lum
Bringing together the Highlands East community through food is at the foundation of a new cook book being led by the Central Food Network.
This cook book is expected to be a celebration of the community and will include a collection of recipes that reflect the Highlands East community and the people that live, work and play there.
For this to work CFN, whose mission statement is “to assist the community and partners share food resources and create opportunities to help those living in poverty,” is asking for recipes from individuals, who are year-round and seasonal residents, businesses such as restaurants, and local groups such as lake associations, or recreational clubs.