One of Mississauga’s most talked-about food destinations has caught the attention of one of social media’s biggest stars.
Jordan Howlett, better known as Jordan “The Stallion,” recently stopped at Ridgeway Plaza, where he sampled desserts at two local businesses and brought the popular food hub to the attention of his enormous online following.
Howlett visited Nora Cakes & Sweets, trying its cookie dough and ice cream, before heading to The Dough Diaries, where he sampled the shop’s Original Pudding Cake.
For the two local dessert businesses, having Howlett walk through the door is potentially significant exposure.
The American content creator has built a massive following on TikTok and Instagram, with his combined audience now numbering in the tens of millions. He became widely known for his humorous food commentary and his “Fast Food Secrets Club,” in which he shares tips, observations and behind-the-scenes information about fast-food favourites.
His videos are also recognizable for his trademark bathroom-mirror introductions, often beginning with his now-famous “Come here” catchphrase.
That audience includes a large number of younger viewers and food enthusiasts, making a stop at a local restaurant or dessert shop considerably more than just a celebrity visit.
And Howlett chose an interesting place to make his Mississauga food stop.
Jordan Howlett samples a favourite dessert from The Dough Diaries.
Ridgeway Plaza, located in Mississauga’s west end, has developed a reputation as one of the city’s busiest and most diverse food destinations. The plaza has become particularly well known for its halal restaurants, cafes, bakeries and dessert shops, many of which attract customers late into the evening.
Its popularity, however, has come with a downside.
The plaza has also become notorious for traffic congestion, noise, litter and large gatherings, prompting complaints from nearby residents and eventually legal action by the City of Mississauga.
But for food lovers, the plaza’s appeal remains obvious.
Its collection of restaurants and dessert shops has made Ridgeway a destination for people from throughout the GTA and beyond, and the variety of businesses packed into the plaza has helped turn it into a social-media-friendly food destination.
Howlett’s visit adds another layer to that reputation.
The creator wasn’t there to investigate Ridgeway’s traffic problems or its controversial history. He was there for the food — and his choice to stop at two dessert businesses puts some of the plaza’s less controversial attractions squarely in front of millions of potential customers.
For Nora Cakes and The Dough Diaries, that could translate into a lot of new eyes on their businesses.
And for Ridgeway Plaza itself, the visit is another indication of how far its reputation has travelled.
A place that was once known primarily to local residents has become one of the GTA’s more recognizable food hubs. Now, one of the biggest food personalities on social media has stopped in to see what it has to offer.
Given the size of Howlett’s following, plenty more people may soon be doing the same.