Ottawa's Favourite Food Account Is Going IRL
If you live in Ottawa and love food, there's a solid chance thebesteats613 has already influenced where you've eaten. The social media account has quietly become one of the city's most trusted guides for sniffing out great local restaurants — and it's all run by one guy: Henry Monkhouse.
Now, after years of reviewing and championing Ottawa's culinary scene online, Monkhouse is stepping out from behind the screen. In a recent interview with CBC Ottawa's Rachelle Elsiufi, he shared how running thebesteats613 led him to organize his own food festival — Best Fest Ottawa.
From Social Media to Festival Organizer
Monkhouse built thebesteats613 as a platform to put local restaurants in the spotlight, giving Ottawa's independent food businesses the kind of visibility that's hard to come by without a big marketing budget. Over time, the account grew into something much larger than a hobby — a genuine community resource for anyone who wants to eat well in the capital.
That deep connection to the local food scene is exactly what gave Monkhouse the confidence to take the next step. Best Fest Ottawa is the natural extension of everything he's been doing online: a festival that brings together the restaurants, chefs, and food creators he's spent years championing.
Why This Matters for Ottawa's Food Community
Ottawa's dining scene has been on a quiet but steady rise. From Little Italy to Hintonburg, the Glebe to Vanier, the city is home to a growing roster of independent spots that deserve more attention than they often get. Food festivals are one of the best ways to change that — they give locals a reason to venture beyond their usual haunts and give small businesses a shot at reaching new customers in a single afternoon.
A festival born from a community-driven social media account feels different from a corporate production. Monkhouse knows which Ottawa restaurants are worth talking about because he's been talking about them for years. That credibility matters when you're asking people to show up.
Keep Best Fest Ottawa on Your Radar
Details on dates, vendors, and tickets for Best Fest Ottawa are still emerging, so your best bet is to follow thebesteats613 for updates as they drop. If the account's track record is any indication, the festival lineup will be worth the wait.
Ottawa's food scene has always had passionate locals behind it. Now one of them is throwing a party — and the whole city's invited.
Source: CBC Ottawa
