Even if you haven’t been keeping up with Canadian food news this week, it’s likely that at some point, you came across OpenTable’s annual Best Restaurants list. And while such lists can have a positive impact on diners as well as the featured restaurants themselves, some have suggested that the accompanying media coverage can often be problematic and misleading.
Elsewhere in food news, a recent Canadian poll revealed that a majority of Canadians are now concerned about the issue of climate change, and according to one Globe and Mail writer, a potential solution is to implement a rationing policy.
Finally, the latest addition to Beyond Meat’s growing plant-based empire entered the Canadian market this week. Beyond Beef is designed to look, cook, and taste like ground beef, and compared to regular ground beef, it has more iron, 35 per cent less saturated fat and no cholesterol, antibiotics or hormones.
Here are five stories you might have missed in food news this week.
OpenTable’s controversial best restaurant list
Multiple publications covered the release of OpenTable’s annual Best Restaurants list earlier this week, and while the list includes a number of great eateries, many publications neglected to mention that only OpenTable-partnered restaurants were eligible for consideration. Some have suggested that the process of reporting on such lists without properly defining the parameters can be problematic, since a large percentage of restaurants are omitted.
Find out more at Eater Montreal.
Rationing could be a solution to climate crisis
A recent Canadian poll revealed that three-quarters of respondents are worried about climate change and that 42 per cent believe it is now an emergency. In response, many Canadians are looking for ways to combat the crisis. One potential solution suggested by Globe and Mail columnist Eleanor Boyle is to create rationing policies to reduce consumption of products that negatively impact the environment.
Find the full breakdown at the Globe and Mail.
Calgary property development company places 50 properties under creditor protection
Earlier this week, Strategic Group announced that they’d be putting 50 of their Calgary properties under credit protection. The property development and management company said in the last year, 21 of their tenants had to close their doors for good, including highly reputable businesses such as Starbucks, Five Guys, and Boston Pizza. Calgary’s vacancy rate is currently the highest in Canada among major cities, and the Strategic Group says the problem is compounded by rising property taxes.
Head to CBC News for the full story.
Ottawa artist and restaurateur pays tribute to Chinese culinary community
An Ottawa artist and restaurateur has been collecting the menus from local Chinese restaurants and combining them with family photos from his own businesses to create clothing. Don Kwan, whose family opened Shanghai Restaurant in 1971, calls the project “Invisible Identities” and says the work is a tribute to Chinese immigrants whose stories were often untold.
Get the full story from CBC News.
Beyond Meat launches Beyond Beef in Canada
This week Beyond Meat released its newest product, Beyond Beef, into the Canadian market. Beyond Beef has 18 grams of protein for every serving of 100 grams, and compared to regular ground beef it has more iron, 35 per cent less saturated fat and no cholesterol, antibiotics or hormones. The plant-based product is certified kosher, and is designed to look, cook, and taste like ground beef.
Find out more at Narcity.
