Chefs Feed: great recommendations, drool-worthy design.

By: Brittany Nicole La Hue

Today’s tech scene is changing so much – from how we interact with friends to how we get around, shop and work out. Now technology is also influencing how we eat! From discovering new restaurants to giving our two cents on the food afterwards, new tech is literally at every step of the eating-out process. In this 2-part blog series, Press Kitchener Brittany Nicole fills her brain with knowledge and her stomach with delicious food to bring you the latest must-download apps for foodies.

“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” from Food Network. Photo courtesy Google Play

When you’re tired of the same old places, tech can help you find your new favorite place. If you’ve been taking advice from the crowd on Yelp!,try taking recommendations from professional chefs instead in the Chefs Feed app (iOS and Android). These experts truly know what’s up, and the app operates in 23 cities. Or download Food Network on the Road (iOS and Android) to locate every dish and restaurant featured on the Food Network channel! You can browse by show, chef, city, cuisine or nearby locations.

LocalEats. Photo courtesy Apple Store

Apps are also a great way to find the perfect place when you have any kind of dietary guideline. The VegOut app (iOS only) helps vegetarians and vegans find the perfect meatless eatery. It can also track restaurants that serve meat, but offer vegetarian options, to find a place the entire party will enjoy. In a new city and don’t want to eat somewhere you could visit literally anywhere? Or want to explore cool places in your own city? LocalEats (iOS and Android) has a strict “no chain restaurant” policy, so you won’t end up at yet another Applebee’s or Chipotle. If you prefer your food on wheels, the Eat St. app (iOS and Android) can help you locate food trucks near you – after all, driving to mobile food makes no sense. Finally, for all the wine aficionados who think a restaurant’s wine selection can make or break the dining experience, try Hello Vino (iOS and Android). The app helps you find the perfect wine to pair with what you are eating, can recognize labels and also features search and review options.

Food trucks galore! Photo courtesy Google Play

Picking the perfect wine. Photo courtesy Google Play

In a decision loop, or playing “no, YOU decide?” Try the Urbanspoon app (iOS, Android and desktop), which is literally roulette for restaurants, and let it choose for you! Or input the day of the week, what you are looking for and where you are into the Urban Daddy app (iOS and Android), and it will find you places based on your parameters.

UrbanDaddy. Photo courtesy Apple Store

Stay tuned for part II of this series on September 2: Food Porn 2.0!