FoodMODE Gastronomical

We all need a mentor.

In my business, that's difficult, because most of the people in the wine and food world here, keep their stuff pretty tight to their chest.

I've met someone and we're trying to change all of that.

Meet Ron Eade. (He's the one on the right), Most of you know him as the Food Editor of the Ottawa Citizen, but I am learning that he's more than that to me.

The more I interact with him, the more I like the guy. He's quite the funny guy and not nearly the stuffed shirt you would expect. He has been doing his job at the Citizen for more than 10 years now, and knows everyone. We have great chats about what's going on in and around the food scene here and I think it's a riot to listen to him.

I have a fairly good idea that he doesn't really know what to do with me, but is intrigued enough in what we're up to with Food Mode Magazine to at least stay engaged. I say that with a bit of humour, but really - if you knew me, you'd know what I mean.

We meet up regulalry at various events, (photo at left was taken at Brooksteet's Lumier event last week). Often times, he has his lovely wife Nancy with him and I always enjoy spending time with them. Nancy is a scientist with a very interesting job and I am willing to bet that most people don't have a clue what she does. I'll even bet that she's smarter than he is.

Anyway - enough of the intro. For a couple of weeks now, while I have been busy putting the finishing touches on our magazine, (it'll be out Friday-God of the printing press willing), Ron has been reminding me that he has a link to our website on his blog and wondering why I haven't returned the favour as promised.

I've asked Doug, (my business partner who doesn't get half the recognition he deserves), to post Ron's blog on the site. Doug's been busy.

Doug's been busy, I've been busy, and Ron has been sending me emails daily pretending to be various members of his family, questioning why we have overlooked a significant resource for information about food and restaurants in Ottawa.

Here it is folks. I've stopped everything I am doing so that I can tell you to go visit Ron's blog - Omnivore's Ottawa.

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/omnivore/default.aspx

Go there. Now. Please. You'll be glad you did.

You get to see a side of Ron that you miss in the Citizen. In the paper, he is limited to word count and editors. He needs to make his point, carry as much information as possible within the constraints of a newspaper article. In his blog he is free to show who he really is and it's delightful. You get to witness his wonderful sense of humor and he shares things that wouldn't normally see a printing press. We cover alot of the same things, but I hope you appreciate the difference and recognize that it fits well. We're both trying to promote something in the same industry - Ron does it with more focus on the technical aspects, I generally focus more on the social side. Hopefully it works, because I have a feeling that I am the one that will be looking for something else to do if I am wrong.

Ron = if you are reading this, I hope you'll forgive me for being busy.