Million Dollar Critic

- Season 1

(2014)

Giles admits that he knows little about Toronto, Ontario, beyond it being a big North American city and that it has a notorious mayor. Beyond quickly learning that it is also a cold city in the winter, he will learn about its diverse food scene narrowed down to Julia's five choices. The first restaurant he visits is Opus, a high end restaurant with an extensive wine collection (some in the tens of thousands of dollars). It has been losing business with a downturn in the economy as it is perceived as being too expensive and outdated with 1990s sensibilities. Giles ...

When thinking about about Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Giles first and foremost thinks of his favorite movie, Rocky (1976), iconic scenes from which he hopes to recreate while in town. In terms of food, he thinks blue collar street food, not the developed restaurant scene which Julia promises exists. The first restaurant he visits is Vedge, a fine dining vegan restaurant which wants to be known as fine dining more than vegan. As Giles is a confirmed omnivore who likes animal protein in his meals, they have an uphill battle to get his review. The second restaurant is Cheu Noodle ...

Because of all it has to offer including a reputation for being home to world class chefs, Giles is looking forward to his stay in Charleston, South Carolina. The first restaurant he visits is Aluette's Cafe, which serves what they call healthy holistic soul food. Although Giles has no issue with soul food, he does question the term holistic and what that implies for what they are serving, and that healthy is generally not used to describe soul food. The second restaurant is The Obstinate Daughter, a beachfront establishment on Sullivan's Island, which wants to bring ...

Giles arrives in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, with the threat of the worst snowstorm the city has ever faced, meaning he isn't sure he will make it out alive let alone eat at the five restaurants for his possible review. Despite the local restaurant scene burgeoning from the city's blue collar roots due to a recent upturn in the economy, Giles still expects to have many meals of simply prepared cod, but he finds two other St. John's trends instead, one which he ends up liking, the other not so much. The first restaurant he visits is Saltwater, serving ...

Giles has a difficult task for his stay in Providence, Rhode Island, as the city is known as a restaurant haven, which may make finding that one special place all the more challenging. He is however not looking forward to eating what looks to be the local specialty, namely snail salad. The first restaurant he visits is North, a hipster Asian fusion joint. Giles is looking forward to the Asian component of the experience as Chinese is his favorite cuisine, but not so much the hipster part as he considers the moniker to mean too cool for the average pompous London ...

Giles is in the unusual position in Québec, Québec, without Julia, the two who are still in telephone contact as they rely largely on the advice of a local food blogger. Giles is hoping that the local food scene is not just French food wannabe, and poutine, which he nonetheless has to eat before he leaves. He does learn that the local food scene is largely French fusion, which is reflected in the five restaurants chosen. The first restaurant he visits is Hosaka-Ya, a ramen noodle house, family owned and operated based on "mom"'s recipes. Although Giles does try the ...