Interesting, but I can’t help but feel One2Snack and Guru Lukshmi are kinda token thrown ins.
iamacheezit
I have no issue with these lists in general, they’re all good spots + some artificial variety like someone else mentioned with Guru Lakshmi & One2Snacks.
But the challenge for something like this is that spots with a PR machine, brand, money, industry connections form the shortlist for spots that are visited, aka even in the running. So all of these lists fundamentally become the writer’s perception of favourites amongst the SAME masterlist of spots, chosen not solely because of merit. The research required to do this any other way Canada-wide would be monumental, but ultimately I don’t know how incrementally valuable it is for us to highlight a different group of 10-100 restaurants amongst the same ~500 options.
Part of my philosophy in my work (very much inspired by Suresh’s approach) is to narrow my geographic focus so I do have the ability to create my own shortlist vs adopt the ones that get passed around the industry. And to be very intentional about sourcing the shortlist from independent research/non industry sources. Just my 2 cents 🤷🏾♂️
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While there’s a shortlist at the top describing his best 20 restaurant experiences, many many other places get shout-outs in the accompanying essay past the bottom of the list: https://macleans.ca/culture/food/the-best-places-to-eat-in-canada/#essay
Interesting, but I can’t help but feel One2Snack and Guru Lukshmi are kinda token thrown ins.
I have no issue with these lists in general, they’re all good spots + some artificial variety like someone else mentioned with Guru Lakshmi & One2Snacks.
But the challenge for something like this is that spots with a PR machine, brand, money, industry connections form the shortlist for spots that are visited, aka even in the running. So all of these lists fundamentally become the writer’s perception of favourites amongst the SAME masterlist of spots, chosen not solely because of merit. The research required to do this any other way Canada-wide would be monumental, but ultimately I don’t know how incrementally valuable it is for us to highlight a different group of 10-100 restaurants amongst the same ~500 options.
Part of my philosophy in my work (very much inspired by Suresh’s approach) is to narrow my geographic focus so I do have the ability to create my own shortlist vs adopt the ones that get passed around the industry. And to be very intentional about sourcing the shortlist from independent research/non industry sources. Just my 2 cents 🤷🏾♂️