For most pre-med students, just getting through school is enough. The hours are long, the days are tough, and as anyone studying sciences will tell you, sleep is scarce at best. But for Romina Moradi, the day doesn’t end when her books close. Aside from her studies, she is an avid food blogger and has now garnered international recognition through Richmond’s 365 days of Dining Competition.
Romina’s blog, SmallGirlBigPlate, has been chosen as one of the top 12 finalists for Richmond’s 365 Days of Dining Campaign. But it doesn’t stop there for her; She still has to survive an interview with a panel of judges and win over the voting contingent. The competition is fierce as the winner is compensated by a full year of meals paid for by the city of Richmond and provided housing in the city as well. Needless to say, everyone left in the top 12 wants to be the new resident foodie for the town.
What seperates Romina’s blog from the rest of the pack (which consisted of 1507 applicants) is her unique ability to tell a story, the fact she is a student and deals with the rigors of everyday life just like everyone else, and how she weaves the things she learns in class into her writing. Everything from easy recipes, sit down meals, food on the go, and just simple sandwiches can be found on the site – it speaks to the age group to which she belongs. Romina makes it clear through her blog that she, much like everyone else in their early twenties, isn’t concerned about what the most expensive restaurant in Vancouver has to offer because quite frankly we just can’t afford it.
SmallGirlBigPlate is a compilation of the immense amount of nutrition and food knowledge Romina has already accumulated and provides a unique perspective that cannot be found at just any blog. Instead of reading the constant drivel of how either a restaurant is spectacular or falls short of expectations, Romina chooses to provide a different insight into food, cooking, and how meals both bring us together and give a distinct purpose to at least three different times of the day.
I had a chance to speak with Romina in person as part of a story I put together for BCIT’s Broadcast Journalism program:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-pzfSJZSKc
If you want to check out the competition or are just looking for a bunch of high quality food blogs in your home town, take a look at the 365 days of dining website. Today is the last day of open voting, so check it out on Facebook and cast your poll.
And may the best foodie eat!
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