London wasn’t exactly the foodie crawl I’d hoped. I was starved after a no frills Iceland Express flight (no frills as in no free sandwich, no peanuts, no coffee tea or juice, not even water…there wasn’t even in flight entertainment…not even a radio in the ashtray equipped seat arm).
After a little arm twisting we made a quick pass through the Mack Donalds (that’s how they pronounce it here) on the fringe of Gatwick Airport. I demolished a chicken snack wrap to quell the knawing emptyness in my stomach. It (of course) paled in comparison to the balsamic glazed chicken on ciabatta buns topped with grilled apples, fig jam and melted Brie I’d whipped up for a pre trip bon voyage/father’s/mother’s day.
I survived, however, on a steady diet of scotch eggs, pork pies, cornish pasties and crisps (prawn cocktail and a super oniony pork rind type thing called monster munch). Like many a daily tube commuter, you can aquire any of these at the strategically placed Spar, Tesco Express or Boots shops. Consumed on my part more for nostalgia than nutrition, it’s these kinds of dine and dash staples that make pub grub look like a visit to Vita Health. But if you’re seeking the best of Britain, it’s the pub, and the fish and chip shop, where you’ll find it.
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I’m embarrassed to admit how long it took me to realize that Cinco de Mayo actually meant the fifth of May.
But I’m no clearer on the meaning or importance of this Mexican holiday. To quote a favourite Cake song, “I don’t know much about Cinco de Mayo, I’m never sure what it’s all about.”
But this mysterious hispanic holiday always gets me in the mood for some south of the border grazing.
If it’s important enough for the White House to celebrate, then it seems appropriate enough for Savour Winnipeg to present a roundup of Winnipeg restaurants offering some southern flavours.
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cinco de mayo, latin food, mexican food, mexican restaurants winnipeg, south american food, spanish food, winnipeg
A new culinarian was crowned king this weekend during an Iron Chef competition at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.
The main event and every bit as crowd pleasing as the free meat treats handed out by several exhibitors, the competition took place as part of Centrex, Manitoba’s largest trade show for hotels, restaurants, bars and food service providers.
Eight restaurants competed for a grand prize of $1000, a set of new embroidered uniforms, and bragging rights, through a series of head to head battles over two days.
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alex svenne, ben kramer, bistro 7 1/4, bistro 725, centrex, diversity cafe, diversity food services, iron chef, uofw, winnipeg
Talk about wood-fired
Pizzeria Gusto’s state of the art wood-fired oven remained cold for more than a week, following the firing of head chef Scott Bagshaw last weekend.
Pizza doh!
In a shocking show of solidarity, much of the kitchen crew packed their knives and followed Bagshaw out the door forcing the restaurant to close.
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Eat, Learn, Read
pizzeria gusto, scott bagshaw, the last crumb
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.
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cheap meals, deals, Dine About, prix fixe, Restaurants, winnipeg
If ever there was a country whose customs I’d adopt, it’s Spain.
Nowhere is there a country that understands better the benefits of drinking, snacking and napping.
When my parents dragged me there for a family vacation though, I hated it. There were no scotch eggs, fish fingers or Birdseye beef burgers. And retreating to the hotel room every afternoon while the entire city shut down for a pm snooze just frustrated me.
But now, with a hectic career, an almost all consuming passion for food and a penchant for late nights, I wish we could take a bite out of Spanish culture in Canada.
Thanks to Segovia, a Spanish restaurant in Winnipeg’s Osborne Village, we can.
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spanish restaurant, tapas, winnipeg
Less than a month after wroting Corydon Avenue Gone to the Dogs, announcing the opening of Dingo’s Wild & Crazy Dogs, super chic Italian Bistro Fazzo unleashed another pack of gourmet hot-dog options at its take out window just two blocks away.
Yesiree there’s a dog fight happening in Winnipeg’s little Italy and Savour Winnipeg took on the task of eating hot-dog after hot-dog to bring you the low down on the hoedown.
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dingos, fazzo, gourmet hot dogs
United Way of Winnipeg and The Cupcake Corner are teaming up to create a sweet deal for Winnipeg.
For every dozen delicious, gourmet, mini cupcakes ordered by Tuesday, November 17, The Cupcake Corner will donate seven bucks to support United Way’s work in our community.
Cupcake Corner you ask? It’s that little place in Osborne Village, formerly the Cupcakery. Rumour has it some outfit in Toronto already had the name and didn’t think Canada was big enough for two of them to exist.
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Eat, Food, Shop
Legend has it Alfonso the Wise, an 11th century monarch of Spain, attributed his recovery from illness to the practice of taking small meals, or bites, with his wine. So convinced was he of the health of this practice that he decreed all taverns were not to serve wine without a snack, or tapa.
Spain has undergone a culinary renaissance over the last decade or so, its influence creeping steadily across the globe. Winnipeg proves no exception to the rule.
Set to open this November in Osborne Village, Segovia will serve up small Spanish bites…tapas… in fitting fashion, honouring the origins of these tiny bites, for Alphonso was ruler of Castile, home to the Province, and capital city…Segovia.
Located on Stradbrook, just behind Happy Cooker and beside Right There Korean Restaurant, renovations are almost complete and include a full commercial kitchen addition and stunning patio.
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osborne vilage, spanish restaurant, tapas, winnipeg
Students returning to class at the University of Winnipeg this week will have even more food for thought.
Replacing the long bemoaned Chartwells as campus food service provider, Diversity Food Services will feature affordable flavours from around the world on three locations including the main cafeteria in Riddell Hall, and a coffee shop and small restaurant on the university’s upper floors.
Diversity will also provide three squares a day for the 170+ residents occupying McFeetors Hall—the university’s new student and community residence.
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chef ben kramer, diversity cafe, social purpose enterprise, university of winnipeg
