Savour Winnipeg

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:

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Food, Learn, Shop

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.

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

Although it was a stocking stuffer, my Microplane was one of the standout gifts of last Christmas.

A Microplane is exactly that. It uses the principles of a woodworking plane, only miniaturized and specialized for kitchen duty.

All the TV chefs seem to insist upon them. Therefore, I had to have one too. Hey, I’m completely in touch with my impulsiveness, especially when it comes to food gadgets (I’ll tell you about the impetus to buy an iPhone in a later post). Perhaps I’d been sucked in by endorsement hungry superstar chefs.  But there had to be more to this than empty hype. And there was!

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Gadgets, Shop buy kitchen gadgets, microplane reiview, winnipeg

Brewmaster Dave Rudge of Half Pints Brewing Company leads a tour of the new facility

There are a few standout dates in the Winnipeg food calendar for me.  The opening of the farmers markets, the Winnipeg Wine Festival, Flatlanders Beer Festival, and Folklorama to name a few.

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.

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Drink, Learn, Shop beer, brewing, craft beer winnnipeg, half pints

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

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.

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Eat, Food, Shop organic produce, organic restaurant, winnipeg farmers market

Sometimes I’m too busy (read: lazy) to make something at home, and even hauling myself out to a place that lets you  pick-up is more effort than I can bear. That pretty much relegates me to either not eating (perish the thought) or the tired old standbys–Pizza and Chinese food.  Well how about sushi, roti, butter chicken or ribs?

For a couple of extra dollars over the regular menu price you can, in fact, tap into the kind of cravings that only a dine in experience can offer.

Enter Winnipeg’s Mobile Maitre’d.

Simply place your order at one of the participating restaurants, then call MM’s operator at 777-DINE (3463).  They’ll dispatch a driver to pick it up and deliver it right to your doorstep within the hour.

The service operates Monday through Sunday, 4:30-9:00pm, and even offers lunch delivery from a select few restaurants.

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Eat, Food, Shop delivery, winnipeg menus

Garlic Zoom: no substitute for knife skills

Got this little doo-dad in my stocking this year.  It’s a Garlic Zoom and it sells for about $15.

Cute, shiny, easy to clean.  Yes, it’s all those things, but is it a time saver?

With the little gears and wheels and spinning blades, my inner geek couldn’t resist the urge to take it for a spin.

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Gadgets Garlic Zoom, Kitchen Gadget