HuffPost Québec Editor Blurs PR, Journalism

'Tis the season for restaurant listicles and Huffington Post Québec editor Myreille Simard recently threw her hat in the ring. But did the lifestyle blogger and Université de Montréal communications grad forgo journalistic objectivity in the process?

In "9 restos à essayer en 2014 à Montréal", Simard cites three coups de coeur, or favourites, as it were: La Société Bistro in the Loews Hôtel Vogue, Icône and Mme Lee.

A dubious trio, to be sure, since all three happen to be clients of one Bicom Communications, a Montreal PR firm.

This is the same Bicom behind the not-so-distant Icône and La Société Bistro debacles - see here and here - in which both restaurants drew two of the worst reviews of Lesley Chesterman's career at The Gazette. This, despite overt efforts by management and Bicom publicists to seduce the usual gaggle of spongelike bloggers with free food and drink.

Other restaurants on Simard's list, like Toronto concept Bier Markt and Groupe Misto's Le Richmond - while not averse to the publicist-food blogger circle jerk - deny links with Bicom (both follow the PR firm on Twitter but hey, no crime in that).

· 9 restos à essayer en 2014 à Montréal [HuffPost QC]
· Lesley Chesterman Kayos Icône, Some Bloggers Rave [-EMTL-]
· La Société Bistro Responds to Zero Star Review [-EMTL-]
· Bicom Communications [Official Site]