Screen handle: @jylui

Website: www.luckypennydaily.com

Where are you based? Toronto

Why did you start your site? Lucky Penny Daily was started by two best friends in the fall of 2009. I become a regular contributor late 2010.

How long have you been blogging?

I have personally been blogging for about six years. I didn’t realize this until I recently found a link to my high school blog! If I look back on my life, I have been a part of a variety of different social networks, have commented on numerous blog posts and been connecting with people online for most of my life without even thinking it was “social.”On a more professional level, I started blogging about a year ago; first with different clients in the fashion and beauty industries, and now with Lucky Penny Daily.

What kind of impact do you think bloggers have made in restaurant reviews/cooking/dining in general, if at all?

I believe bloggers have made the rating and review process of restaurants more casual and down-to-earth. What I mean by this is that it’s not as formal as reading a review by a “critic” or someone who is seen to have an expert palette in a notable publication. Sometimes the way certain “foodies” describe dishes, tastes, and textures can be intimidating.

In my experience, bloggers generally have a lot more fun with their reviews. Rather than viewing the experience and the following review as a job, bloggers really just want to share their foodscapades with readers for the simple pleasure of it.

I think “official” food writers for widely known publications also have to take into context the publications their reviews will go into. This might therefore influence writers towards a certain bias. However, in writing a personal blog, you are allowed the freedom to review as you see fit without the pressures of additional editors or financial worries. While there certainly are bloggers who are paid for their reviews, for the most part (and nearly every food blogger that I know), reviews and restaurant visits stem from a pure love of food.

The thing with blogs is that anyone and everyone can be a blogger. The tricky part is to differentiate yourself and to have a unique voice. Overall, I think bloggers have widened the scope of restaurant recommendations which, in my opinion, is a positive thing.

What’s your definition of a “foodie”? Do you consider yourself to be one?

I don’t consider myself a foodie. I consider a foodie to be someone who enjoys all aspects of food: from soucing the food, to cooking it and finally to eating it! Foodies to me are also people who can define flavours after an initial taste. My palette isn’t refined enough to be able to pick out every flavour from a spoonful of something. I definitely love food and eating and I know what I like and don’t like though. I used to be a far pickier eater and not adventurous, but with all the great restaurants we have in Toronto now I’m more willing to try new dishes.

Favourite type of cuisine?

Either Italian or Chinese (for the variety)

Restaurant?

I have so many but a few of my staples are: Bar Mercurio, The Harbord Room, Tati, Guu (Church St. location), L’Unita, Le Select, Grand Chinese Cuisine, Spring Villa Restaurant and (the late) Lai Toh Heen.

Do you make that kind of cuisine or do you prefer to go to restaurants?

I enjoy cooking at home when I get the chance. Knowing everything that goes into my food also makes me feel slightly healthier! Chinese food is difficult to prepare at home so I often go out. Western food is easier to prepare at home, but depending on what I’m craving, I might have to go out to get what I want.

Do you take pictures of food with a camera-camera or your phone? Do people think it’s weird?

I have gotten into a bad habit of taking pictures of nearly everything I eat on my iPhone. I’ve got nearly 1,000 foodie pics on my phone from this year alone. Friends of mine who are not active on social media find it strange, but those who are on Instagram, Twitter, Foodspotting, etc. get equally as excited as I do once a dish arrives at the table. It’s like an unspoken rule that no one digs in until we’ve all gotten pictures of the food. I know restaurants are starting to embrace tweetups as well with twitter signs, handles and hashtags visible on walls and doors.