first word let’ s walk on sunshine
first word let’ s walk on sunshine
Spring means sunshine, flowers, and fresh local fare just around the corner. We welcome this lighter time of year, when waking up to sunshine seems to brighten everything. If you’ re like my friend Liz, perhaps the anticipation of summer’ s vegetable garden is already taking root in a cozy, LED-lit setup indoors.
Longer days also give us the perfect excuse for more celebratory daybreak dining, pairing delicious plates with colourful riffs on coffee at one of Winnipeg’ s charming cafés. The old“ hungry man” specials have made way for globally inspired delicacies that unapologetically deliver bold flavours that quite literally wake up the palate. Our city-wide search led us to two kitchens where imagination and resourcefulness result in truly sublime eating. See inthekitchen on page 11 for Rise and Shine, featuring Chef Patrick Skene of Modern Electric Lunch and Ketty Pichaud of La Crêperie Ker Breizh. The dishes highlighted are representative of their vibrant menus and are recipes worth keeping close, at least for those times you’ re out of visiting range.
Since printing our first issue in 1997, Ciao! has published more than a thousand recipes. It would take years to cook through the entire collection, though it’ s a delicious thought. So, we’ ve handpicked a selection, starting with indulgent sweets, that evoke a sense of nostalgia for us. Recipes Revisited on page 18 of ciao! cooks nods to the creative talents, past and present, of Winnipeg’ s food scene and celebrates the lasting impression good food leaves on our lives. In our 30th year, a few favourites will appear in each issue as we curate a special collector’ s series for Winnipeg cooks.
This issue also launches our annual search for the best kitchen in the city with the Ciao! Kitchen Design Competition. Each year, the entries continue to impress and reveal the high level of excellence in design and craftsmanship found here at home. If you have a kitchen that’ s been recently renovated and you’ re excited to show it off to Ciao! readers, now’ s your chance. The lucky grand prize winner will be hosted by one of Winnipeg’ s top chefs, who will prepare a dinner for six in your new space. The winning kitchen will also be photographed for a multi-page feature in our October / November issue. So, if you love your recent kitchen makeover, simply submit your photos by visiting ciaowinnipeg. com. The deadline for entries is July 15, 2026. It could mean picking up a few tricks of the trade from a master of cuisine.
Last Course wraps up the issue with a tribute to a local artist contributing to the city’ s cultural scene. Michelle Pereira’ s work reflects her passion for Manitoba’ s landscapes, but it’ s her playful still life series that we couldn’ t resist. Toast is her jam, and we think she’ s done this beloved morning staple proud.
We also tip our hat to the advertisers who appear in these pages past and present. They are the heartbeat of this magazine, and a reflection of the very best our city has to offer. For those in the business community who share that same passion for excellence, we invite you to be part of what comes next and help shape the future of Ciao! as a trusted guide to discovering the best of Winnipeg.
Laurie Hughes, Publisher
ciao! / apr / may / two thousand twenty-six 3