I never wanted to be one of those guys. You know, the ones you see taking pictures of their food out in public? Paid to photograph and review restaurants and dishes while us common folk have to pay for our meals. Then it happened. I started blogging on the blockchain where photography and food are celebrated and upvoted! It doesn't hurt that I live in a town with an inordinate number of unique restaurants and bistros, fueled by a renowned chef school.

Working with a number of restaurant clients in town with @town-crier / https://www.towncriermarketing.ca, and attending a few parties last month, I found it was time to share some of the local eats I had the chance to enjoy.

Indian!

One of our favourite restaurant clients is well known to followers here as Raja Fine Indian Cuisine as we visit there regularly. This occasion was a wonderful lunch team meeting and the opportunity to take some photos for social media posts.

As I recall, their take-out is equally photogenic and delicious.



The snacks and appetizers in this place are unbelievable. Samosas of the perfect size and texture, pakoras and mixed salads with zesty sauces. Man I often skip dinner for the apps.



Lunch is something special because they serve slightly smaller portions along with rice, salad & chana masala and delicious naan bread. When you couple that with a beer, I end up taking most of the main course home for lunch the next day.



Wonderful, hard-working people who also happen to serve some of my favourite food in town, and anywhere else for that matter.

Thai!

It is quite possible I came to love international food when living in the big city. Before that, Chinese food might have been considered exotic and I had JUST discovered Indian food. Given my appreciation for spicy food, Thai was an easy favourite. While the Thai food in this small town is not as great as I remember in Toronto, there are a few exceptions. One of my preferred restaurants just closed and is being replaced by a Taco Bell and I am not sure how to feel about that. Still a few options and I suspect more will arrive as smaller towns become better choices for newly landed chefs who want to start their own restaurant.



The way they make simple ingredients look and taste so special is truly and art form and so easy to photograph.

Snacks!

Speaking of the big city, a new restaurant has opened in town and its owners are fellow transplants from Toronto. The Starlight Stratford is a neat new bistro that boasts Drinks, Snacks and Events. Who doesn't love those?

This neat snack is Arancini which are "Arborio Rice Croquettes, Parmigiano, Mozzarella, Tomato Sauce" and go for $15. A little steep for an appetizer but makes up for it as they are absolutely delicious and a wonderful indulgence of a treat.

As for the drinks, 4 local taps, one from each local brewery is a nice touch. My hope is that I can land them as a client as spending time helping this place get noticed and supported would be fun. Besides that, our first experience here was solid and I will be returning.

Drinks!

I never really considered drinks as #foodie material before and I wonder why. They go along with every meal, are delicious on their own, and are simply liquid food just like Guinness is breakfast in a glass. Now I know!

While enjoying vinyl night at one of the more special venues in this town, Revival House, I had to snap a picture of this tray of drinks headed to the lounge. Martinis and beers and highballs and mixed drinks oh my! Definitely not something I would enjoy every night but I sure will love when Hive reaches $10 and is accepted currency at these establishments. Next round will be on me.

It is not often that I discover a new IPA at a restaurant in town. Being a #beerologist determined to research and source all of the new beers right when they hit the stores, I usually know of them before they hit the bars. Brch & Wyn surprised me with this one! I had sampled Fairweather Brewing Co. before but was pleased to find this available before I even knew it existed. Trendy labeling and definitely delicious. Haven't seen it on the shelves yet so I may have to return soon.

Be a Hive Foodie!

Whether you are a food critic, foodie or photographer, a blog where support from across the world translates to getting paid for it, you are a professional. Take pics. Enjoy meals you normally wouldn't. Support local businesses like restaurants and bars with your endorsement, content and business. Bake yourself a cake and snap a picture of it because a few bucks in Crypto means you are getting paid for it!

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Are you a professional foodie?