Once upon a time ago, not even a year, a couple of Twitter users passionate for food and some journalistic experience in that area (Spotlight Toronto) organized a food-related activity for Twitter users. A one-off. What started as one activity with few people grew and grew quickly, as happens with social media (you know, this “Web 2.0” thing). A hashtag was created and “foodiemeets” began to happen regularly, bringing together people who like food in a change to bond, share, build experiences together and network. I have some friends that I’ve met through these and businesses that I’m now a fan of. Meeting people online and then offline has been a regular occurrence for me for the last 15 years but food makes the experience special in a whole other way.

I’ve been to and blogged about two FoodieMeets that I’ve been to: A big patio meet up last spring at which I met some great people and a wine tasting at Cafe Taste.

They now have a website and email newsletter as well as more volunteers and participants. Coming up this Sunday is a very special foodiemeet: The Bake Off Edition, with all proceeds going to charity.

Check their website for more information.

I won’t be baking – when the call for bakers went out I couldn’t think of anything to bake – but I will be there buying extra tasting tickets ($2 each) and bringing non-perishable food items for The Stop, which holds a special place in my heart now that I’ve moved into The Stop’s neighbourhood and I’m big on the concept of community. I’ll show up full from a chanukah celebration but there’s always room for baked goods, especially when they’re for a good cause.

At the last FoodieMeet I went to I won a door prize. I’ll be thrilled if this happens again. I suspect that there will be some awesome prizes as there always are.

For all the inanity of Twitter, for all the drivel that gets posted (of which I’m an offender) and for all those who criticize it, I’ve seen Twitter mobilize people for great causes. HoHoTO and Twestival come to mind, the former which has their second annual winter event next week (forgive me for jumping to a secondary topic here). My favourite uses for Twitter include social bonds/networking and philanthropy.

Come to Sunday’s FoodieMeet and help The Stop.

Update: As I’ve been composing this post they’ve put up a list of who’s baking what. Awesome.