I have always loved having new experiences with food, events, museums and travel. In Toronto, there is always so much going on. There are so many events and new places to try. I feel so fortunate to have something like a Local Guides program to help share the experience I have had in order to push others to try out all the terrific things we have here in Toronto or anywhere I have had the chance to visit.
It’s also a great way to help get independent businesses more on the map or in the minds of people. I found this great popup called Grandmama’s Waffles and they have these homemade waffles with coconut cream toppings or a crispy chicken skin waffle that was out of this world. I posted reviews, I let the people of google know when that location closed and then posted a new one with the new location was up and running. I’ve become friends with the owners and always look forward to seeing what new menu items they have created and how they are growing. Just this month they got their waffles on the shelves at a grocery store. How exciting!
The other side of Local Guides that I Iove is helping people. Many people are tentative about new experiences, maybe they don’t go out that often so they want to make sure they are making the right choice with where they spend their time or money or where they bring someone special. I’m known in my friend group and in every workplace as “the foodie”. I’ve been giving people recommendations for years!
I love putting up reviews to explain great places to go to have a wonderful experience. We have so many special places here. We have a Tiki Bar called The Shameful Tiki that had a voodoo bowl cocktail that when brought out a thick fog covers the bar. We have the AGO with unique and different exhibitions multiple times a year (the Dots are Forever by Yayoi Kusama was so neat to get to see in person. I could have lived in one of those rooms). We have Allen Gardens, a free greenhouse with many connected rooms that is great to help your mood when you’re having the winter blues. We have the best tasting menu in the city with Richmond Station coming up with new dishes at such a reasonable price**.** The list goes on and on.
I just want to shout from the rooftops about how fantastic these places are but being part of this community gives me a great outlet to share my stories and make me feel like I’m helping others. I love the emails showing numbers of how many people have read the reviews or looked at the pictures. It’s a special feeling.
