The Winnipeg Leisure Guide had a number of wonderful foodie education opportunities in the spring/summer edition, among them, Fungus Among Us.
Held at the Assiniboine Park Conservatory, it was led by D. Kurt, a self professed mushroom mad man and kind of a fun guy (get it…fun gi) at that.
The evening provided a crash course in terminology and taxonomy (did you know that mushrooms actually are closer in definition to animals than plants…sorry vegetarians) and included some gorgeous photography of Kurt’s finds, both edible and not, across Manitoba and Ontario.
It was a great source of inspiration to head into the woods in search of Morels, which are currently in season.
(Word of caution…false Morels can be deadly).
Kurt has years of careful study and reams of reference books.
You’ll want to pick up a good guide book and sign up for as many of these courses as you can find.
In the meantime, Kurt has promised to publish the powerpoint from the evening on his website. Visit www.Wilds.mb.ca
So many events, so little screen time. Here’s a taste of Winnipeg food fun in April:
If not sold out, Winnipeg Leisure Guide activities continue. One of the standouts, Maple Syrup for Fun and Profit, teaches Manitobans to tap into the health and flavour benefits of this arboreal elixir.
Centrex – Manitoba’s largest tradeshow for hotels, restaurants, bars and foodservices. Starting April 11, this two day event features hundreds of exhibitors, presentations and the second Winnipeg’s own Iron Chef competition. Savour Winnipeg will bring you daily coverage.
Mise Bistro and Kenaston Wine Market team up to pairs regional cuisine with eco-friendly wines.
Winnipeg Wine Festival – Following the success of last year’s special spotlight on Chile, this year takes us through the wines of Australia. Ancillary events lead up to the main event, the Public Tastings held Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1
For a full list of foodie focused activities, and all the details on the above, see the Savour Winnipeg Events Calendar at www.SavourWinnipeg.com/calendar
Registration for Winnipeg Spring Leisure Guide classes begins Monday, March 15, at 9:00am. There’s a veritable bounty of information for the culinary inclined.
Folded into Adult Leisure sections you’ll find the usual headings–Hands-On Cuisine and Cuisine Demo. But I found a couple of foodie items in the Around the Yard section–Making Maple Sugar for Fun or Profit and Growing Mushrooms at Home (not the psychotropic ones).
Also, don’t forget to check the Assiniboine Park Conservatory (APC) section. There’s a handful of classes offered in conjunction with Manitoba Liquor Marts and Red River College. (Why this has anything to do with APC I don’t know. I’m also baffled by their insistence on describing this stuff as Foody. It’s foodie. As in granola munching Hippie, not Hippy. Hah!)
The Dietitians of Canada couldn’t have picked a better slogan for Nutrition Month (March)–Celebrate food…from field to table.
It strikes a chord, particularly now as the sun begins to shine strong enough to melt snow, teasing us with glimpses of the earth, turning thoughts to gardens and growth.
The 2010 Nutrition Month challenges Canadians to celebrate food – from where it’s grown and harvested to the delicious and healthy meals that end up on our tables.
While it’s a little early in the growing season to go to the source (at least around here), why not make March the month to make a tardy new new year’s resolution.
When thinking seeds, plan(t) to try something new. Until fresh produce is available, look on the label for products that have been grown locally, or closer to home. And vow to shop a farmers market for your produce this year.
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives publishes a fantastic listing of local producers and farmers’ markets. I’ve pulled out a few local favourites here:
It’s hard to believe how many food related activities are going on in Winnipeg at any given moment. Although the growing season is still some time away, March is no exception. As an appetizer to the main, here’s a few highlights for the month ahead:
The Demonstration Series continues at d.a. Neils Kitchenware every Saturday
Learn how to make your own maple syrup with an afternoon at Fort Whyte including tree selection, tapping technique, boiling and bottling
Agriculture in the City is a three-day event at the Forks that offers a chance to explore the vibrant and innovative world of agriculture
A host of Winnipeg Leisure Guide events continue throughout the month
Clean Cuisine at The Food Studio teaches participants to prepare delicious meals with non processed ingredients that promote good health and weight maintenance
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.
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:
I indulge in unhealthy levels of Food Network Canada programming, numerous magazine subscriptions, and handfuls of food related books. If laden with a caloric count, this would render me morbidly obese, yet I’m never completely information sated.
I turn, then, to experiences and although there’s room for growth, I’ve discovered a veritable smorgasbord of education opportunities for the info famished foodie in Winnipeg:
How about August 1, 1997? As a beer enthusiast this is like year one for me.
That’s when Dave Rudge, looming over the bathtub he’d used to brew his latest batch, marveled at his most successful creation to date. Little did he know he’d created a monster.
The Winnipeg Leisure Guide had a number of wonderful foodie education opportunities in the spring/summer edition, among them, Fungus Among Us.
Talk about wood-fired
The 
It’s hard to believe how many food related activities are going on in Winnipeg at any given moment. Although the growing season is still some time away, March is no exception. As an appetizer to the main, here’s a few highlights for the month ahead:
Knife sharpening demo at d.a. Niels proves deadly dull.
