Food Writer

I am a writer living in Toronto, Ontario. Most of my current work focuses on the local food and restaurant scene. I trained in culinary arts at George Brown College and have worked in various aspects of the restaurant industry over the years. I have written for a variety of local and international publications on topics ranging from food production and nutrition, to restaurant news, reviews and profiles.

Curmudgeon

I am the first to admit to being a bit of a crank. Misanthropic, slightly agoraphobic, allergic to damn near everything, and never really having found a way to fit into mainstream society (see “Misfit”, below), I have a low tolerance for crowds, ignorance, group-think, self-entitlement, or anything that reeks of the status quo.

I am straight-up terrified of many things that most people find enjoyable or entertaining, such as: manicures, hospital dramas, sports of any kind, wedding blogs, celebrities, office parties, photos of babies dressed up as flowers, or crock-pot recipes posted to Pinterest.

On my “who would you kill if murder was legal?” list, you’ll find people who use cell phones while driving, sidewalk cyclists, people who wear too much perfume, and anyone who stands outside a film screening during TIFF and screeches at movie stars.

Misfit

Despite the fact that I am now in my forties, I have never felt comfortable in mainstream society, doing the things that “normal” people do. A child of Halifax’s punk scene of the 1980s, I’ve always looked at the world from a different angle than everybody else, and tend to be sarcastic and cynical – and rebellious – when presented with how I’m “supposed” to live my life as determined by others.

For years I worked in Toronto’s goth/industrial music scene as a writer, concert promoter, and record label owner. My writing background comes from the punk-inspired DIY aesthetic of zines and indie record labels, and that now carries over to my recently-created imprint, Stained Pages Press, where I’ve chosen indie and DIY over a more traditional publishing route.

“Traditional” is more of a dirty word to me than “fuck” or “shit” could ever be to anybody else.

Speaking of curse words – I use ‘em. A lot. Not because I don’t know any better, fancier words, but because I like to curse. Those with sensitive temperaments should proceed with caution.