IN PERSON, REGISTERED
Eating Well in Waterloo – a view from the belly of the Region’s simmering dining scene
Alex Bielak is an enthusiastic cook, eclectic eater, and a well-respected voice in our culinary community. Join him to hear his pithy, sometimes amusing, reflections on Waterloo Region’s diversely-delicious dining scene. During his talk Alex will also unveil - and seek audience feedback on - two systemic depictions illustrating the evolving roles of diners and critics in a sometimes-chaotic culinary environment.
During the Q&A, ask him anything about, including: his reflections on being the Waterloo Record’s longest serving restaurant reviewer; the expected brickbats and bouquets that come with the gig; how he manages to stay under the radar in the course of his work; pitching the fork rating system; tipping trials; a surprising plague of plagiarism; not to mention the far-reaching effects of COVID.
About Alex Bielak:
Since his so-called retirement a decade ago, Alex has become known as an influential food writer. Now the longest-serving restaurant reviewer for the Waterloo Region Record, he has also authored various pieces for Grand Magazine as well as other publications in Canada and internationally.
A co-founder of the Waterloo Region chapter of Les Marmitons, he’s been instrumental in helping raise significant funding for culinary scholarships at Conestoga College, as well as other causes. In 2022 Alex served as a regular judge during the 2022 Top Chef KW competition.
During a distinguished, award-winning career Dr. Bielak held senior positions with the U.N., Government. Departments, & NGOs. Acclaimed as a pioneering international authority on linking environmental science and policy, Alex was recognized with a Science Alumni of Honour 50th Anniversary Award, by the University of Waterloo, where he undertook his PhD as a NATO Scholar.
Find Alex on Twitter, Instagram and via his verified journalism profile on muckrack.com/alex-bielak. Also follow/like facebook.com/Food4ThoughtArchives a repository for his writing, including restaurant reviews since 2015.
Programmer: Nancy
Located in the heart of Uptown Waterloo, the two-storey building features a separate children’s area, ample study space, the Ellis Little Local History Room and WPL’s largest collection of browsable materials.
