Savour Winnipeg

When it comes to treats for your sweet on Valentine’s Day, chocolate is passe.

I smell sex and…bacon?

I’m sure referencing Marcy Playground’s “Sex and Candy” song makes me a dinosaur, but the sex and candy centric theme for Feb 14 is also on its way to extinction.

According to a recent national survey, when asked to choose between bacon and sex, 43 per cent of Canadians would choose…bacon!

The survey revealed some noteworthy differences on the Prairies. Nearly one in four of respondents (23%) from Manitoba and Saskatchewan wondered if “my partner loves bacon more than me.”

Maple Leaf commissioned this Angus Reid For the Love of Bacon survey to mark the launch of their newest product innovation, Maple Leaf Reclosable Bacon.

“We wanted to probe how deeply rooted Canadians’ passion for bacon is – and the For the Love of Bacon survey sure opened our eyes!” explained Adam Grogan, VP Marketing, Maple Leaf Foods. “Our research also told us that Canadians’ number one frustration with typical bacon packaging is that it can’t be reclosed and that it’s too messy (52%).”

Ah ha ha. He said probe. Look, I don’t mean to diminish advances in container design, but where does this preposterous need for reclosable packaging come from? It seems to suggest leftover bacon. Pshaw! I don’t know about you, but the existence of this beast is every bit as unfathomable as the concept of a fat little man-baby fluttering about shooting lust inducing darts into lover’s hearts.

Love me tender…

Before neglected partners go wrapping themselves in bacon (and I saw some less than appetizing pictures on Google when researching this article) try it on a juicy steak. Cash in on Keystone Processors Valentine’s Day special. They’ve marked tenderloins down to a “honey of a deal” at only $95 per 10lb box (that’s only $9.50/lb!).

The sale only lasts till February 14.

If the way to a man’s heart truly is through his stomach, this is a great way to say I love you.

Hiccup-burp you too, honey!

Shop bacon, beef, keystone processors, maple leaf, survey, tenderloin, valentines day, winnipeg

School, sports team, church, community org? Keystone Processors has a new way to Beef Up Your Fundraising.

A farmer-owned company with a modern beef processing plant in Winnipeg, Keystone works with local producers to deliver Manitoba produced, high quality, hormone-free beef. The products are available at numerous outlets throughout Winnipeg, and also online.

Through their online store, they’ve created an easy-to-use automated system that earns your organization money every time you and your members buy beef. There’s no commitment whatsoever and set up is a breeze…simply send  an email to info@KeystoneProcessors.com to create your organization’s membership.

Then tell your friends, family, colleagues and volunteers to identify themselves as your members when they register at the KeystoneProcessors.com online store. Every time they shop, you’ll receive Beef Up Bucks equal to 15% of each purchase. Since Keystone only sells beef by the box, those purchases can add up quickly, especially if friends and family bundle orders.

Now that’s an easy way to moo some good for the community.

Click here for more information on Keystone Processors’ Beef Up Your Fundraising initiative.

Food, Shop beef, fundraising, keystone, local producers, winnipeg

Knife sharpening demo at d.a. Niels proves deadly dull.

When I learned kitchen supply outfitter d.a. Niels was hosting a series of live demonstrations at their 485 Berry Street store February through March I couldn’t wait to get down there.

My eagerness was only bolstered by Destination Winnipeg’s extensive, almost exhausting, 3-part account of Bistro 7 1/4 Chef Alex Svenne’s recent performance.

d.a. Niels’ non-existent website (c’mon guys…at least have an info page…I can help you with that if you like) told me nothing. Thankfully the DW bloggers had posted a pic of the event flyer.

“Join us and these exciting Culinary Guests for our Saturday Demos. Drop by between 11:00 and 3:00 to learn new techniques, get fabulous ideas and sample great food.”

The next session, I learned, was a Knife Sharpening Demo with J.A. Henckels. Screech! I LOVE my Henckels knives. For the price point they can’t be beat. I couldn’t wait to learn about caring for them and keeping them at their sharpest.

Read more…

Gadgets, Learn, Shop da niels, Gadgets, henckels, kitchen hardware, knife sharpening, restaurant supplies, winnipeg

Well the credit card bills are rolling in and many of us are hunkering down for that post Christmas cash crunch. All too often that means I’m not dining out quite as much. The industry has long recognized this new year lull and it was a stroke of genius when food, fasion and style magazine Ciao! created DineAbout Winnipeg.

Kicking off today and lasting until February 11, DineAbout is a don’t miss opportunity to sample food from some of the best establishments in the city at even better prices.

More than 30 restaurants are participating this year, offering prix fixe menus at $25 or $35.

For more information or to view the menus for participating restaurants, visit the Ciao! Magazine website.

Read more…

Eat cheap meals, deals, Dine About, prix fixe, Restaurants, winnipeg

I was delighted to see a good friend of mine, Barret Miller, featured in this weekend’s Winnipeg Free Press.  A fellow foodie and nature lover, Barret has spent the last couple years working as a special programs interpreter at FortWhyte Alive, an absolutely amazing environmental education centre right here in city limits. (It’s also home to the Buffalo Stone Cafe, voted Best Restaurant of the Year by Ciao Magazine).

Barret and I have many rewarding conversations about beer, recipes and the great outdoors. A fount of enthusiastically related information (sometimes unbidden bless him) he’s the guy who hooked me up on the mushroom picking education afternoon with the Manitoba Naturalists Society.

Winnipeg Free Press reporter Alison Mayes wrote a fantastic feature for the Detour section. You can read the article here, but the FREEP also shot an awesome series of videos with Barret foraging for wild edibles and turning them into some bush tea. Check it out:

Learn foraging, Fort Whyte, wild edibles