There truly is a difference between being “cheap” over being savvy, and Tiffany Mealia is so the latter! In what we like to sometimes deny, the urban playground of Toronto is expensive. From the restaurants we dine at to the taxi cabs we flag down, everyone is looking to save a penny or two.
This was the case for Tiffany, too, but after many friends repeatedly asking her how to control one’s purse strings, she decided to launch a site devoted to just that. Covering food, fashion and beauty, her money saving advice (which started out to benefit close friends), now serves a community of online users looking for a budget-fix. She’s So Savvy was developed with one thing in mind: figure out what you want to buy, and how to spend less getting it!
The dining portion of the site has cast her in the role of in-the-know foodie, with reliable reviews and locations of, for instance, that $5 cocktail special. Tiff has that savvy advice you want ready and waiting along with how to look good on a budget. She’s So Savvy is one resource that we just love… and Tiff is too cute to boot!
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Let’s hear this savvy gal tell her story…
When and why did you start writing about food?
I started writing about food on the blog She’s So Savvy because I was interested in where to find 1/2 price wings outside of my King West neighbourhood.
What do you love most about food?
How it brings people together!
What do you do when you aren’t writing about or eating food?
I’m working on She’s So Savvy, a site dedicated for ways to live large on a budget. That means checking out everything from food to fashion, to design and decor. Along with trying to figure out how I can fit my champagne tastes into my beer budget!
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Do you cook? If so, what’s your speciality? If not, why?
I love to cook and I like cooking everything and anything. I don’t operate from a recipe but rather I like to take a recipe and build off it. I’ll start with a recipe for chicken, see what ingredients I have in my cupboard that are relatively similar to the ingredients in the recipe, and I’ll go from there. I never make the same thing twice!
What’s your favourite type of food(s) and where do you go to get it!
I absolutely love 1/2 price wings and beer! It’s my favourite way to catch up with friends or family or just de-stress. My favourite place to indulge is The Wheat Sheaf on King West. If you stop by, be sure to say hello to owner George!
What’s your hidden gem?
My hidden gem is pretty far fetched. It’s called Agincourt Bakery and is in this tiny plaza at Pharmacy and Finch. It looks like a non-descript bakery right between an insurance company and DMV, but you will get the best veal or chicken Parmesan sandwich… I repeat… the best veal or chicken Parmesan sandwich you have ever had in your life. It’s only $4.99, weighing five pounds with all the mushrooms, onions, peppers put together. Honestly, it’s heaven, but I can only go there when I have time to go into a food coma.
What’s your go-to restaurant?
I’m a steak and potatoes kind of girl, so if I’m going to go out I prefer Canyon Creek or The Keg.
What’s the most memorable meal you’ve ever had?
The most memorable meal I’ve ever had was in Amsterdam this past summer. It was a mushroom risotto in a truffle sauce with sun dried tomatoes, Parmesan, and arugula… absolutely incredible. I also got engaged after that meal, so that could be why it ranks pretty high as a favourite. *winks*
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What’s the one restaurant you have to try before you die?
I don’t have one particular restaurant I need to try, instead I wait for the recommendations of proper foodies like View The Vibe! (Editor’s note: That’s us!)
What’s your biggest restaurant pet peeve? (play nice)
I despise inattentive wait staff. Seriously, I don’t care if the food isn’t that good, it was my choice to go to that restaurant, but it’s the server’s job to ensure the patrons in the restaurant have the best possible experience. When I have to get my own menus or call my server over to order a drink, that’s just in-excusable!
