Savour Winnipeg

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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Eat 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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Eat alex svenne, ben kramer, bistro 7 1/4, bistro 725, centrex, diversity cafe, diversity food services, iron chef, uofw, 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.

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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.

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

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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Eat spanish restaurant, tapas, winnipeg

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.

Eat osborne vilage, spanish restaurant, tapas, winnipeg

Dingo’s Wild & Crazy Dogs just opened up on Winnipeg’s Corydon Avenue. Occupying the former Sugar Mountain digs, the latest WOW! Hospitality concept serves up stylin dogs with clever toppings that’ll have you begging for seconds.

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Eat corydon, gourmet hot dogs, winnipeg, wow