TORONTO RESTAURANTS is the only woman-owned, founded and run company of its kind in the 6ix.
It’s also a one-person operation.
Meet veteran journalist and industry expert STEPHANIE DICKISON, the woman behind the city’s most comprehensive look at
the ever-changing landscape of the restaurant industry.
I have been diligently studying and tracking the Toronto restaurant scene for 15+ years, currently as owner and founder of TORONTO RESTAURANTS - your #1 trusted source for restaurant chef, food + drink news and events in Toronto/GTA.
TRUSTED JOURNALIST
After over a decade on the beat, I’ve become a trusted news source. My iconic OPEN/CLOSED column, for instance, chronicling not just the week’s arrivals and closures but currents trends and forecasting what’s to come, is seen by thousands each week. While diners use the OPEN/CLOSED to help choose their next destination and keep up-to-date on what’s happening, it’s also a leading resource for a myriad of professionals including: industry, real estate agents, recruiters, staffing agencies, and sales teams. It’s one of the most valuable resources in the industry. Other regular features include At The Pass, The Reveal, At The Table, The Dish, in addition to weekly news articles.
As my mission is to inform and entertain, interviewing celebrities including Meghan Markle and Bill Pullman about their love of food was a natural fit. They pair well with my interviews with renowned chefs such as Daniel Boulud, Lynn Crawford, Curtis Stone, and Jonathan Waxman.
LEADING AUTHORITY
Former roles include 10 years as a restaurant critic - sole Toronto restaurant critic for Metro Newspaper circulated throughout Canada and U.S, and restaurant critic for DineTO; Co-Creator & Part-Time Instructor for Food Writing as part of Centennial College School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culinary Arts Food Media Program; restaurant and travel columnist for numerous publications including Poetry of Food based in New York; contributor to award-winning cookbooks.
As one of the top hospitality and restaurant consultants in the province, I’ve been able to transform businesses of every shape and size. I’ve worked with everyone from small independent coffee shops to pizza franchises to fine dining restaurants and high end hotels.
INDUSTRY ADVOCATE
This is not just a job. It’s my passion, my life. Now more than ever.
There has been an unprecedented amount of breaking news, especially concerning the hospitality industry, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, I’ve been working around the clock to report on the news, creating Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides and other resources both for the industry and public at large, doing deeper dives into the issues such as the recent patio relaunch, delivery apps, and investigation into a single misleading stat from TPH largely responsible for the closure of indoor dining, for starters.
Simultaneously, I took my popular monthly series At The Pass weekly to support and promote chefs and the industry during this time, and launched two large initiatives: The #TAKEOUTTORONTO #DELIVERYTORONTO Project and Petition to Cap All Third-Party Delivery App Fees to try and help save restaurants now and in the days ahead.
STRONG FEMALE LEAD
I believe wholeheartedly that everyone matters, no matter your background, economic situation, circumstances, heritage, or skin colour. That highlighting people and businesses outside of the downtown core and trendy top ‘best’ lists is key. That amplifying diverse, unique voices including Black, Indigenous, Asian, People of Colour, Queer, Trans, and Women is paramount. That supporting local reigns supreme.
ORIGINAL, UNIQUE CONTENT
I create unique articles and content in addition to a weekly newsletter, social media and initiatives and events that support and advocate for everyone connected to the industry. I’ve worked hard to create an exciting, engaging, one-of-a-kind platform for a passionate, savvy, modern audience that’s always hungry for more.
TREND FORECASTER
As taste maker, trend setter, forecaster and social media consultant for top hospitality groups, high-end brands, local businesses and food stores,
I’ve successfully forecasted trends in both retail and hospitality sectors.
SOCIAL MEDIA EXPERT
I was technology writer for AdWeek, PCWorld Canada, MacWorld as well as social media lead at
a top advertising agency. For the last two decades, I’ve taught leaders in all fields and taken companies of every size to new heights.
I have created solutions and systems specific to hospitality businesses to help gain more customers, increase profits and save money, eliminating the need for ads or agencies.
VETERAN REPORTER
Before focusing solely on restaurant reporting, I spent years as a lifestyle writer and editor writing thousands of articles covering everything from home and travel to entertainment and health for publications including The Washington Asia Press, National Post and The Toronto Star.
Notably, I was a music critic for many publications including Paste, and long-time contributing editor & book critic for esteemed magazine The Writer and Toronto’s own Write magazine. I was a radio host on CKLN as part of “In Other Words,” a show about writing. My show “Portraits on Paper” showcased memoir and biography authors.
My book The 30 Second Commute: A Non-Fiction Comedy About Writing From Home is available in print, ebook and audio editions.
I’ve interviewed many celebrities including actors such as Bill Pullman and X-Men’s Carolina Bartczak; internationally renowned chefs Daniel Boulud, Curtis Stone, and Jonathan Waxman to name a few; award-winning singer-songwriters including Jann Arden and Jully Black; seven-time WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus, Top Chef hosts Gail Simmons and Graham Elliot, best-selling authors Jodi Picoult, Laurie Woolever and Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan to name just a few; and The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.
BOOK AN INDUSTRY EXPERT
A go-to expert on TV, radio, podcasts and in print for years, recently I spoke with BNN Bloomberg, CP24 - Toronto’s Breaking News, The Toronto Star, and numerous podcasts including The 4AM Report and Post Service, regarding the state of restaurants in Toronto and the GTA and hospitality at large during and post pandemic.
A speaker at numerous panels, events, conferences and conventions on a variety of subjects including restaurant and menu trends, traversing the hospitality landscape for both consumer and industry, social media tips and training, and much more.
A featured guest at fine food and wine tastings and go-to judge for food + drink events both here and abroad, for everything from poutine and chicken wings to coffee and cocktail competitions.
Follow my TORONTO RESTAURANTS on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter,
delivered to your inbox on the regular.