Menuism Featured Reviewer: trav
Menuism reviewers are truly awesome! Whether they found an unexpected tasty gem of a restaurant or took it for the team after having a terrible meal, we truly applaud all their efforts in giving us the scoop on where we should be spending our hard-earned money on. On that note, I’d love to introduce you to those reviewers who we feel really contribute quality content to the site as well as quality information to fellow Menuism’ers. Our Featured Reviewer today is Travis, better known as trav. So let’s learn more about Travis originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I am a grad student in Computer Engineering stuck in the frozen wasteland that is Winnipeg, Manitoba. To make up for our cold climes, we seem to like building restaurants a great deal; I don’t know if this is true, but we tell ourselves that we have 30% more restaurants per capita then just about anywhere else.
Unfortunately, we seem to like to hide our best dining places away from prying eyes, and too often the tastiest joints go unknown and unappreciated. This is why I love telling my friends about places I’ve eaten and in turn, having them tell me about their favourite dives and diners.
1. How did you find out about Menuism?
I had been lamenting the lack of a good, Wikipedia-style approach to restaurants on the Internet, to the point where I was considering starting my own. I had some ideas, but was looking for more. In my search, I stumbled across Menuism, and realized it had pretty much everything I wanted in a community-driven restaurant database.
2. What about Menuism first appealed to you?
The community-driven ability to add details about restaurants, and the tight integration with other web tools, such as Google maps.
3. What restaurant did you write your first review about?
It would seem I first wrote about The LineUp, one of my favourite downtown haunts in the summer. Beer-battered chicken fingers; need I say more?
4. What is your food philosophy?
I think an important aspect about food that a lot of people disregard is the texture. Texture is an important part of the experience of a dish. For instance, texture is why I can’t stand tomatoes, though I have nothing against their flavour.
5. What are your favorite restaurants?
Tough call. There’s a lot of good ones to be found in my city, and it all depends on what I want out of my dining experience. Personally, I’ve always been impressed with Joey’s – though a chain, it offers good food in a good atmosphere with good service. If it’s a pint I want, The Toad in the Hole or the King’s Head are great places, if one goes when it’s not too busy (the curse of a really good joint is it ends up being excessively popular). Lately, I’ve been finding myself at The University Club with some of my professors, which is one of those rare places where the manager and cook actually -enjoy- coming out and talking to the patrons, and will take the recommendations of their membership seriously. Lastly, the Laxalune Gastropub has amazing and underrated food for pub/bar, and great drink selection to boot.
6. What are your favorite cuisines?
I would probably say Italian is my top pick, but I enjoy almost all types. I’ve had some really mind-blowing Thai, but it varies a lot from place to place. Italian, by comparison, is hard to screw up.
7. What are your favorite comfort foods?
Chocolate. Preferably with almonds.
8. What is the best meal you ever ate and why?
Another tough call. To be perfectly honest, though, one simply cannot beat Mom’s home cooking. Savoury casseroles and stews that just are second to none, fresh honey ham and still-warm cookies and pastries. Sorry Menuism users, but Le Chateau Mom is number one, and has a very select guest list…
9. Do you have any favorite cookbooks (if any)?
My favourite cookbook is my own imagination. What can I add to this dish? How about some paprika? Or some cinnamon?
10. What words of encouragement would you give to first time Menuism reviewers?
Don’t be afraid to get into details about what you do and do not like about a place, and don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Telling us -why- something is bad is even more important as telling us -what- is bad.
If you’d like to be able to keep up with Travis reviews, click here to check out his profile!
If there is a Menuism reviewer who has rea’lly helped you make great dining choices and you’d like to see him or her be a Featured Reviewer, than be sure to message me or send me an email at abby@menuism.com.
By Abby C. Abanes
Menuism Community Manager
