This is the story of two best friends who met in grade one, became inseparable, and then spent the rest of their lives proving that distance means nothing when the connection is real. After that first year together, Melissa moved away, but the friendship stayed strong through years of letters, visits, and late-night calls from different cities.

Years later, while studying urban planning in Italy, Joanna dove into the slow food movement and fell in love with the idea of connecting people through local cuisine. One day, while trying to book a food tour, she realized she didn’t want to be stuck in a group with a guide for hours; she wanted freedom, discovery, and connection on her own terms. That lightbulb moment became the spark for Taste the City.

When Melissa came to visit Calgary, Joanna knew she needed a marketing powerhouse to bring the vision to life, and Melissa was the perfect fit. Together, they built a company that uses technology to bring people back to the table, to celebrate local restaurants, and to strengthen the communities that make cities feel like home.

Their dream is to bring Taste the City to food lovers around the world, so that no matter where you go, you’ll always have a local bestie guiding you to the very best bites in town.