National Bank : partner of our expansion

For the past few months, Tastet has been living through the biggest growth chapter in its history: stepping beyond Quebec to discover the food scenes of the rest of Canada. It’s an exciting step, a little dizzying too, like every big leap. And this adventure, we’re not living it alone. National Bank has been with us since the very beginning of this new chapter, and if our pan-Canadian expansion is taking shape today, it’s in large part thanks to them.

We wanted to take a moment to say it clearly, because this kind of support is never a given.

When we first started talking about bringing Tastet beyond Quebec’s borders, it was still just a vision. A desire, a slightly crazy dream of sharing the best local and independent addresses from coast to coast. Back then, there was no clear-cut plan, no guarantee, just a deep conviction that there was something worth building. National Bank believed in that vision before it ever became concrete. They gave us the means to turn it first into a project, then into reality.

And a little taste before we go further: to celebrate this milestone with you, National Bank has a delicious gift in store on the Toronto side. More on that a bit below.

Our launch in Toronto, our very first city outside Quebec, was made possible in particular thanks to their support. Landing in a new metropolis, learning a new culinary scene, earning the trust of restaurateurs who didn’t know us yet, all of that takes time, energy and resources. Knowing we had a solid partner behind us changed the way we were able to approach that launch. We could think bigger, further, without having to hold our ambitions back.

And the collaboration continues today, as Tastet prepares to move into new markets: Vancouver, Halifax, Edmonton and Calgary. Four cities, four distinct culinary personalities. The seafood and buzz of the West Coast in Vancouver, the maritime warmth of Halifax, the bold tables of Edmonton, the rising energy of Calgary. Each one has its restaurateurs and artisans who deserve to be in the spotlight, and we can’t wait to introduce them to you. Without National Bank, this expansion across the country simply would not be possible.

What we take away from this collaboration goes far beyond financial support. National Bank is present, truly listening. They ask the right questions, the ones that push us to sharpen our thinking and reflect more carefully on our next steps. They walk alongside us in our reflections rather than dictating a direction. This isn’t a simple backer waiting for a report at the end of the quarter, it’s a partner genuinely invested in what we’re building and giving us the confidence to think bigger.

It’s a relationship built on real mutual trust, the kind of rare partnership we wish for every young company that dreams of going further. We brought them an idea that was still fragile, they saw its potential, and ever since, they’ve been moving forward with us.

Because at its core, Tastet’s mission stays the same, no matter the city: to shine a light on the restaurateurs, chefs and artisans who bring each food scene to life, to celebrate local and independent addresses, and to become, one day, the reference for eating well anywhere in Canada. It’s an idea that lived only on paper not long ago. Today it’s becoming reality, city after city. And National Bank is part of this adventure as much as we are, at every step.

To celebrate all of this with you, we wanted to go a little further together. Because a partnership like this one is meant to be shared. After helping us discover new Canadian culinary scenes, National Bank is now inviting you to experience one directly, through a contest we’re organizing together.

Up for grabs: two dinners at 20 Victoria, in Toronto, one of the city’s most sought-after tables. Each dinner takes the form of a seven-course gastronomic experience, paired with wine chosen to match every dish. It’s exactly the kind of evening we dream of offering you: a great address, a menu that unfolds course after course, and people who deeply love what they do. For the length of a meal, you get a taste of what Tastet sets out to share from one end of the country to the other.

The winners will be announced on September 16.