Picture of me behind the scenes at Barcola Bistro in Montreal, Canada.
Hi there,
I love restaurants.
Restaurants are where I go to when I’m in a hurry–they have saved me many a time from skipping a meal while out of the house! They are where I go for a good time or a celebration; to make new acquaintances and friendships. They can also be a place of relaxation when I’m with my (big) family (yes, it is where we go to get to skip the hours of food preparation, cooking and cleaning)! They are a source of inspiration for the next meal at home, for insight into human interactions and the evolution of mankind (!) and much more.
My first job (actually, second) was in a restaurants. And for close to 10 years after, I kept to the “weekend hustle and bustle” of restaurant life while completing my studies. Fast forward to a few years ago, I used to own and operate a live music show bar in the Ottawa-Gatineau region (in Canada). And, did we ever draw huge crowds on many occasions! Although I am officially “out of the game” now, although I still get to work with Montreal restaurateurs on their marketing and operations when called upon.
Reasons expressed at the beginning of this post that continue draw me to staple food joints and new restaurants today and the experience I have acquired in the industry over the past few years make being a Local Guide a pleasant experience for me. Before reviewing a restaurant or venue, I like to put myself in the owner’s, waiter’s, busboy’s shoes for a moment. This pause usually gives me the distance to both, for example, get over the uncleanliness of the washrooms after the noon hour rush, and the distance and objectivity to be truthful when I write my review.
I believe in the good that a well-written, objective and constructive review can do for not only restaurants to allow for improvements where possible, but also for people using Google Search or Google Maps and looking for something to meet their needs (cuisine and staple dishes ambiance, budget, group size, etc).
I am an ex-restaurateur and now a proud Local Guide.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I look forward to reading your comments and your posts on Local Guides Connect!
Cheers,
Ben (from Montreal, Canada)