UWindsor alumnus Corey Palmer (centre) and co-host Chris Seeney (right) join Tommy, owner of Tommy's Diner, behind the scenes during the filming of Recommendations, a new food and travel series premiering on Bell Fibe TV1. (PHOTO SUBMITTED BY COREY PALMER)
By John-Paul Bonadonna
For University of Windsor alumnus Corey Palmer, a television series about food, travel and friendship began long before cameras started rolling.
It started with road trips.
As a student in the Drama in Education and Community program, Palmer (BA Hons. '12, BEd '14) spent countless hours exploring southern Ontario with his closest friends, Chris Seeney and Scott Paterson. Whether they were visiting local restaurants, discovering hidden attractions or simply enjoying the journey together, those experiences planted the seeds for what would eventually become Recommendations, a new six-episode food and travel series streaming now on Bell Fibe TV1 and the Fibe TV app.
The series follows Palmer and Seeney as they explore Kingston through its restaurants, local businesses and community stories, while Paterson directs behind the scenes. Together, the lifelong friends showcase the people, places and flavours that help define a city.
"I've been interested in food and travel for a long time, and creating a show where I would get to do just that with my two best friends was all the motivation I needed," says Palmer.
"While I was at UWindsor, Chris and Scott would visit me, or the three of us would drive down over the summer and check out local restaurants and attractions together. That was probably the start of our love of travelling together."
More than a food show, Palmer describes Recommendations as a celebration of community and connection based on a simple concept: follow the suggestions of locals and community insiders to uncover authentic experiences.
The series was filmed entirely in Kingston and highlights independent restaurants, local farms and culinary destinations that reflect the character of the city.
At the University of Windsor, he found many of the skills that would later help bring the series to life.
"My experience at UWindsor shaped not only my passion for the arts, but also my creativity, adaptability and work ethic," he says.
"As a Drama in Education and Community student, I learned how to engage audiences, tell stories and build connections through shared experiences."
Through his studies and involvement with local theatre, Palmer became comfortable taking on multiple responsibilities and collaborating with people from diverse backgrounds.
"Those skills have been invaluable throughout my career in live entertainment and were just as important while creating and producing Recommendations alongside a full-time career in the arts."
Palmer says the city's culinary culture reminded him of another place he knows well.
"I was actually struck by how much Kingston's food scene reminded me of Windsor," he remarks.
"They're both medium-sized cities with this amazing farmland just outside the city that allows restaurant owners to focus on quality local ingredients."
That similarity has him thinking about future possibilities.
"We would absolutely love to do a future season of Recommendations or another project in Windsor," Palmer says.
"There's such a great independent film scene in the city that would be a fantastic resource for us."
His ties to Windsor remain strong years after graduation.
The production team recently returned to the city to complete post-production audio work with sound editor Dan Yaworsky, another UWindsor alumnus. Alumna Monique Renaud (BFA ’11), served as Production Accountant.
“It was really great having so many UWindsor connections to leverage,” says Palmer.
Palmer also maintains relationships with former professors and professional contacts established during his years living and working in Windsor after graduation.
"It's always great to see how many UWindsor alumni are doing interesting things across the arts, media and entertainment industries," he says.
Palmer believes those connections are among the most valuable outcomes of a university education.
"One of the things I'm most grateful for is that UWindsor gave me the opportunity to explore a wide variety of interests and career paths," Palmer says.
"The skills I developed there have stayed with me throughout my career, whether managing some of Canada's largest performing arts venues or helping create a TV series with my closest friends."
As the series launches, he hopes current students and recent graduates recognize the potential of the relationships they are building today.
"I would encourage current students and recent grads not to underestimate the value of the relationships they build while they're there," he says.
"The fact that Recommendations was created by three friends who met years ago and continued supporting each other's creative ambitions is proof that those connections can lead to opportunities you never expect."