Boise Yelp Ambassador StaciLei T has brought her love of all things food to her position as Yelp’s Boise Ambassador. As Yelp’s Community Ambassador, she arranges events for the Yelp Elites, keeps an eye on current food trends, monitors changes in Yelp posts and many other things. Staci has also written stories for The Boise Beat for the last two Foodfort events, that part of Treefort that is all things Food. In those, Boise Yelp Ambassador StaciLei has interviewed some of the top chefs featured at this wonderful culinary event.
StaciLei spoke with The Boise Beat about her love of food, Yelp’s role in shaping the Idaho dining scene; and why Yelp is so useful in not only searching out information on local restaurants but also in providing feedback to those restaurants from a multitude of dining guests.
Why is Yelp so important to today’s diners?
Yelp’s mission is to connect people with great local businesses, and it’s made possible by our unmatched high quality, trustworthy and reliable content, including reviews, photos and local business information.Yelp reviews and photos get diners excited to go out and can be a source of inspiration to try something new. Diners can walk into a business with more confidence based on information and photos from other Yelpers’ experiences. They can also see the information included on a business’ Yelp page such as business attributes that help people find businesses that align with their values.
You are the Yelp Boise Ambassador. What responsibilities does that require and what do you do as the Yelp Boise Ambassador
I’m so excited to be the voice and face of Yelp locally here in Boise and for all of Idaho. I’m primarily a community builder, and that includes connecting folks with great local businesses in a variety of ways. For example, I curate The Local Yelp, an awesome e-newsletter that goes out monthly. I arrange events and collaborations with businesses and local organizations, talk to businesses about how they can use the free tools on Yelp, and I’m the curator of @YelpIdaho, our beautiful instagram handle.
What are Yelp Elites and how do they help find the best places in Boise?
Yelp Elites are role-model Yelpers who embody the spirit of Yelp – both online and off – and write useful, funny and cool reviews. These local tastemakers are eager to explore new businesses in their area and are passionate about sharing their discoveries through reviews, photos, and tips to help others find great businesses.
In addition to being officially recognized as a Yelp Elite with a badge on your Yelp profile, Yelp Elite members are also invited to join exclusive events with other locals in the community. These behind-the-scenes looks at top-rated businesses often include interacting with the business owners and hearing their unique stories. From cocktails on boats to playdates with penguins, there are all kinds of experiences to check out.
If you love interacting with great local businesses and discovering the best your city has to offer, we encourage you to nominate yourself for the Yelp Elite Squad! You can also nominate friends who want in on the fun. To learn more, visit the Yelp Elite page.
What’s your favorite type of food?
My heart belongs to pastries of all sorts. My favorite is Janjou Patisserie in Boise! The kouign amann, fruit tarts, and quiche at Janjou are some of the best you can get in the region. Ideally, if I could, I would start everyday with a latte and pastry from Janjou Patisserie.
Why do you think people in Boise should read Yelp reviews?
Yelp reviews are written by real people and are based on their actual firsthand experiences; making Yelp a trusted source to turn to when looking for businesses to visit and connect with..
What is your food background?
The Chinese restaurant near my house growing up was like a second dining room that we frequented at least 2-3 times a week. Other than that, my food background is primarily from my travels. I’ve been to over 25 countries, and have explored all different cuisines from Korean to Peruvian, Spanish tapas, and one of my all time favorites,Thai food.
How did you become the Boise Yelp Community Ambassador?
My background in community outreach and communications along with my passion for food and supporting local businesses made it feel serendipitous when I came across this opportunity. During the interview process, I remember telling all my close friends and family about this Yelp Community Ambassador position and everyone kept on saying how perfect this role was for me.
Why would you encourage even casual diners and not just foodies to become Yelpers?
I would encourage anyone to join the Yelp community because everyone can speak to their personal discoveries and experiences. Yelp values authenticity and firsthand experiences – and it’s important to note that Yelp isn’t just about food! You can review your local plumber, a hair stylist, a locksmith, a garden shop or landscaper and beyond. Yelp is a one-stop platform for everything local, where you can connect with local businesses, request a quote for a service, join a waitlist and make a reservation or appointment.
Tell us about the most favorite dish you ever had…..
One of the best meals I’ve had was at AMANO in Caldwell. Amano in Spanish means “by hand”, so all the food there is made by hand and from scratch in-house. The Baja fish tacos made of beer battered lingcod with a crema, tomatillo, and habanero slaw has an addictive heat to it that will always have me coming back for more. All the cocktails are so beautiful, creative, and delicious. After finishing a meal at AMANO I don’t ever think that I could cook that at home, because I couldn’t and no one else can – You have to get it at AMANO.
Thank you, StaciLei for what you do for the food scene in Idaho and for filling us in on why Yelpers help raise the quality of restaurants in the Treasure Valley and beyond.
Boise Yelp Ambassador StaciLei T page
StaciLei Boise Beat Foodfort stories
Ed, you’ve introduced us to some of the best food. Your column is appreciated for it’s content, variety and outstanding writing!
I had no idea Staci Lei was based out of Boise- bringing a face & a voice to Yelp is truly bringing the human & hometown into the Yelp platform. Very cool.
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