The St. Norbert Farmers’ Market officially opened on June 6.
I’d almost laugh if it wasn’t so worth it, but thousands of Winnipeggers eagerly await this moment and every weekend, pile into our vehicles, stomping out a massive carbon footprint as we flock to the southern-most tip of the city to scoop up pounds of fresh, organic produce (hey, guilty as charged).
And while there’s also the Osborne Village Farmers Market for the more urban inclined (opening July 2), St. Norbert’s scope and scale makes it one of the must-stop destinations in Winnipeg’s all too seasonal culinary calendar.
If you’re heading down there this weekend, you might be interested in bypassing the hot-dog carts and swinging round the corner to the St. Norbert Arts Centre for lunch.
Chef Jamie Koblanski and his wife Audrey have opened Ground Roots Cafe on the grounds of the old Trappist’s Monastery.
A graduate of Red River College’s culinary arts program, Chef Jamie comes to his first head chef position by way of his experience in some of Winnipeg’s best restaurants including Bellissimo and 529 Wellington.
Ground Roots will feature al fresco dining at its best. The picturesque patio couldn’t be a more suitable backdrop for plates inspired by produce grown miles from where you’re eating.
There’s no set menu, Chef Jamie told me, a decision that frees him to create from whatever he finds weekly at the Farmers’ Market. His emphasis, and guarantee, is that everything will be organic, and sourced locally whenever possible.
Although the restaurant was yet to debut when I visited, if the Lemon Thyme Sugar Cookies I had are any indication, Koblanski’s food will be smartly executed and scrumptious.
Ground Roots Cafe opens for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Friday (11:00am – 2:00pm & 4:30pm – dusk) and breakfast & lunch Saturday and Sunday (9:30am – 4:00pm).
Take a walkthrough of the patio by viewing the video I captured:
Ground Roots Cafe
100 rue des Ruines du Monastère
St. Norbert, Manitoba
(204) 269-0564
