Winnipeg Restos Winter 2014-15

Winnipeg in the winter - all you can do is stay warm and eat good food, right?  Diet starts in the spring....  Here are some of my favorite places in Winnipeg right now, including three at the bottom with lots of potential.  I've also added one place that disappointed...

I'm lucky that my job allows me to work from the 'Peg from time to time, in a heritage building in the Exchange District. 

 My work lunch fav, and what I consider one of the hidden gems in Winnipeg, is Taste of Sri Lanka in the food court in Winnipeg Square - the perfect place to go for lunch in this underground maze of shops and restaurants under the famously cold and windy Portage and Main.

Sri Lankan cuisine is amazingly complex - the flavours are so unique.  Make sure you order the Kotthu Roti - a mixture of different curries, heated up on the griddle with a rotti chopped and mixed in, scramble an egg to tie it all together and VOILA!  Don't forget to get the spicy tamarind sauce.  This order will feed you for 2 or three meals - spectacular.

My other favorite lunch spot that I always try to drop in on when I'm in the city - the teeny White Star Diner, again in the Exchange District.

The owner, Bruce, lovingly produces classic burgers and sandwiches that will make your eyes roll back in your head.. my favs are the Double Oink (pulled pork and bacon with awesome coleslaw) and the Reuben (comes with Thousand Island dressing - is that a Winnipeg thing?  Love that I don't have to ask for it....).  The burgers and fries are delish as well.

Haven't had the guts to wash it all down with one of their milkshakes.  Sound like a meal in itself.

The Crusty Bun is another hidden gem - this time in St. Vital.   To begin with, it is an amazing European bakery - breads, pastries, the most amazing Christmas stollen, and of course, the crusty buns (my favorites are studded with pumpkin seeds and drizzled with cheese - they are truly crusty with a soft chewy interior).  In addition, they serve simple European-style lunch (read - small but perfect portions) of soup and sandwiches - it is always full which speaks to the quality (and not to mention the tastiness of the dessert you know you have to have).  Don't forget to take a number when you come in the door!  

Parlour - having spent a lot of time in Montreal going to Third Wave coffee shops, Parlour's coffee quality makes me smile.  Yes it's trendy, minimalist, and full of lumbersexuals, but it's quaint and heartfelt.  Love the location on Main Street in the Exchange District... gives you a feel for this historic city centre - worth the sprint out of the rabbit warren.

Now for three restaurants I tried for the first time.

Vera Pizzeria E Bevande is a recently opened pizza joint on South Osborne - remember Woo's Cafe?  The space is cozy and warmed by the open kitchen and (natch!) pizza oven. 

Small and simple menu...

The salad was tasty although a little droopy with all of that dressing...

The Napoli style pizzas were delish - high quality toppings (fior de latte, homemade sausage, etc.), not overloaded, chewy crust - pizza reinvented!  And anyone who tops off a pizza with Maldon salt gets my vote.  Simple but nice wine list.  Looking forward to trying everything on the menu.

Boon Burger - Who would have thought that a prairie town could support a vegan burger chain?  Love their cruelty free and enviro groovy vibe. And did I mention the vegan burgers?  "Boon" means bean, but also a blessing or something to be thankful for in Afrikaans.  And I am thankful to be eating this healthily but also get some real flavour - you choose from the mushroom based Boon patty, the spicy chickpea Buddha patty, the tofu filled White patty, or the beany Black Bean patty.  Then the hard part - so many toppings and condiments... including cheez and smokey bacun!  I'm excited to try more of their combos on my next visit.

Had the opportunity to go to the recently opened Canadian Museum for Human Rights - I've watched it grow over the years.  It was packed, and overwhelming, once you realize that we will probably always have human rights issues to deal with...

The museum restaurant, Era Bistro, has a cozy vibe and an interesting menu, including lots of small plates and local treats (pickerel cheeks, arctic char, bannock, etc.).  We only had time for a freshly baked apple tart and coffee.

One miss this past trip - had heard the buzz about The Tallest Poppy in its new home on Sherbrook, nestled in the front of the Sherbrook Inn.

Funky decor in a cold and dark space - we froze in the front window (okay, it was -20C!), and the long line of hipsters holding the inner doors open didn't help.  Thinking back, neither did the icy, slightly flippant service.

Matzo ball and cabbage soup, pickerel po'boy (not a lot of fish)... in general the food was alright, but we were underwhelmed overall.  This doesn't seem to affect their draw - the place was hopping!

Looking forward to my next trip this spring - to be continued....

Crudessence - rawlicious!

I recently learned the difference between raw and live food... either way - lots of enzymes and nutrients - and bonus - you never get served food that isn't hot enough!  Discovered the restaurant Crudessence in Montreal (we ate at the one on Rachel, another location on Mackay).   They also cater, give workshops & classes, and sell a variety of products from their shops and online.

Groovy menu with all sorts of unusual combos of vegetables, sprouts, and grains.  All organic and vegan.

Pesto spaghetti

Fine zucchini noodles, with pistachio pesto, spinach, apple and marinated mushrooms, sprinkled with Crumesan and served with onion bread

 Sandwich

Pad thai bowl

Banan Split (with brownies!)

 Mousse au chocolat

Brownie with pistachio ice cream

A grand selection of teas and juices as well.

I find the textures of raw/live food a bit challenging at times, especially if you are used to eating dairy.  Let's just say it's ice "cream" and not ice CREAM.  Prices are a bit high, but at the same time, you're getting someone else to chop and grate all those organic veggies.... And you feel so good after you're done!  

Gatineau Favs

Where to eat out when you're visiting National Office? 

See below for my favs....

1) Bistro St. Jacques - Beautifully prepared bistro food, many entrees served with awesome frites & aioli AND salad (no guilt!). - it was selected as one of the top 10 restos in Ottawa
last year.... and not just new restaurants either!
Vincent is the perfect host.  Highly recommended!

2) Pizazza - mainly thin crust pizzas, an awesome smoked salmon salad, great wine by the
glass.

3) Fleur de Sel / L'Argoat - 2 restos (one a vegetarian, one a crepe (non
vegetarian) that have merged.

4) La Belle Verte - a little vegan/raw vegan resto - delicious and fresh
this time of year. I love the raw pizzas, and the specialty salads.  Here are some reviews.

http://ottawafoodies.com/vendor/1817
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/250/1513710/restaurant/Ottawa/La-Belle-Verte-Vegan-Restaurant-Gatineau

5) Epicerie Poukham - Thai grocery store and restaurant - amazing lunch special - you'll be in and out in 30 minutes - piping hot spring rolls served within minutes of sitting down (included in price of lunch special).  If you're ordering the pad thai, ask them to cut back on the sauce.....  Say hi to Kia when you go (104 Rue Eddy).

FYI - #'s 2 and especially 5 are good at getting you in and out quickly (if you have that 1pm teleconference....).  You should mention to the others if you need to complete and pay for your meal within an hour.

Enjoy!