Grade 12 student Giuseppe Palermo has taken on a unique project: reviewing local restaurants near St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School in Stoney Creek. Each week, Giuseppe visits a different eatery within close proximity to his school, sampling the food and filming a review along with his friend Daniel Guagliano, who serves as the videographer.
On a recent trip to Zakynthos Restaurant on Centennial Parkway North, Giuseppe gave the establishment a solid score of nine out of ten. He praised the warm, soft pita and well-seasoned meat, noting that the fresh vegetables added a nice touch to the gyro he sampled. "I’m nice and full now," Giuseppe said while filming his review.
This series of reviews began as a project during a service trip to the Dominican Republic, where Giuseppe’s experience with food led him to believe it is a vital way to understand different cultures. He aims to inform his classmates about various dining options while supporting local businesses.
Giuseppe has previously reviewed Maria’s Tortas Jalisco, a Mexican restaurant, and Rony’s, a chicken joint. His videos are shared during morning announcements at school and posted on the student council’s Instagram page, providing exposure for the reviewed restaurants.
As he considers a future in biomedical science, Giuseppe enjoys ending his senior year by sharing his love for food while encouraging fellow students to explore the diverse eateries in their community. "It’s a great experience for me," he stated. "I’ll always take free food."
His next review will feature SimSim, a Lebanese street food restaurant.