‘A tavola non s’invecchia’: At the table, one does not grow old

There is a famous Italian proverb, ‘A tavola non s’invecchia,’ which translates to, ‘At the table, one does not grow old.’

For Carmela Carrara, who lost her mother to Alzheimer’s disease in 2020, preserving her family favourite recipes is a way to honour her life and her memories. Recipes that trace a family’s story from southern Italy to Canada.

“My mother [Caterina] was the heart of our family, always cooking, always caring, always finding ways to make everyone feel loved through her food,” shares Carmela.

In many Italian homes, food is a love language, and dinner is a ritual inviting everyone to slow down and spend time together around a table—a place where lifelong memories are created.

“After she passed, I realized that none of her recipes had ever been written down,” explains Carmela. “I became determined to create a place where my own recipes, those I remembered from my mother and a few from my mother-in-law could live. It became a way to preserve and remember at the same time.”

This deeply personal project eventually turned into Carm’s Family Table, a 250-page hardcover cookbook. Every recipe tells a story and serves as a way to preserve her most beloved memories and create new ones—ones spent ‘a tavola’ (at the table) with her loved ones.

Inspired to go one step further, Carmela decided to donate the profits to the MUHC Foundation in support of Alzheimer’s research.

“Carm’s Family Table is also a way to give back. Through the MUHC Foundation, we are raising funds for Alzheimer’s research and patient care at the MUHC’s Glen Site and at Lachine Hospital. When you lose someone from Alzheimer’s, you lose them more than once. Our hope is to prevent another family from going through that,” explains Carmela.

Beyond the proceeds from her cookbook, the Tino and Carmela Carrara Family Foundation has already raised more than $200,000 to support two innovative Alzheimer’s disease research projects at the MUHC. One of these projects is led by Dr. Irah King and Dr. Lisa Munter, and it explores how the gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria, viruses or fungi that live inside of us—can be manipulated to prevent the development of the disease.

“We are studying whether we can harness bacteria to eat a certain kind of cholesterol that circulates in the blood. High levels of this “bad” cholesterol is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease as well as cardiovascular disease. We’re hoping that if we can identify bacteria that decrease the body’s absorption of bad cholesterol, we can increase these bacteria in our microbiome to prevent these diseases,” says Dr. King

Funds are also supporting Dr. Louis Collins’ exciting research, which uses MRI to explore the link between heart health and Alzheimer’s, and why it affects men and women differently.

“100,000 Canadians are diagnosed with dementia each year, and Alzheimer’s disease makes up approximately 70% of these cases. With this number projected to rise steeply in coming years, it is more important than ever to invest in the research that is leading to greater understanding, prevention, and care,” says Dr. Collins.

Carmela is also supporting a new initiative at the Pavillon Camille-Lefebvre at Lachine Hospital, which focuses on enhancing daily life for people living with dementia through virtual reality experiences and artistic workshops. Research shows that these activities reduce anxiety, spark memories, and create moments of comfort and connection. This is a beautiful initiative that Carmela feels strongly about—and one she knows would have meant a great deal to her mother.

“We lost the sweetest, most selfless, most patient mom who was always there we needed her. But somewhere along the way, we learned how to direct that sense of loss into something purposeful. Seeing it turn into something this big is more meaningful than you could ever imagine. It’s a beautiful tribute to her and everything she stood for,” adds Carmela.

As long-time supporters of the MUHC Foundation, the Tino and Carmela Carrara Family Foundation has made a meaningful impact across the MUHC and Lachine Hospital, supporting initiatives that improve the lives of patients and families while advancing research, care, and innovation.

“What began as a tribute to a beloved mother has become something that will help countless other families. The Tino and Carmela Carrara Family Foundation is advancing promising Alzheimer’s research, enhancing patient care, and bringing hope to a disease that touches so many lives. It is a beautiful example of how one family’s legacy can create lasting impact for generations to come," says Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation.

For Carmela, preserving her family favourite recipes was just one of the many ways to ensure that a lifetime of family traditions and memories would never be forgotten. Today, that same desire to honour her mother's legacy is helping advance Alzheimer’s research and care at the MUHC.

Join us in honouring the legacy of loved ones like Caterina. Every donation helps advance research, improve care, and bring us closer to a future where fewer families experience the heartbreak of Alzheimer’s disease. 

Donate and receive a copy of Carm’s Family Table.