ciao! reviews
wat satisfy the spice adverse without
compromising taste. Tender nubs of
beef bathe in bright turmeric, garlic
Neighbourhood . . . . . West End
and onion. Mellow gomen be spiga
blends kale with melt-in-the-mouth
Address. . . . . 533 Sargent Ave
chunks of beef, Gojo’s special spices
and sneaky jalapeño, adding minor
Phone . . . . . . . . 204-615-0785
heat. Cool off with a bottle of icy
Entrées . . . . . . . . . . . . $9-$13
St. George lager, the perfect brew to
wash it all down.
Sourdough flatbread made with
Gojo Ethiopian Restaurant is
teff flour is the back-bone of nearly open Tue-Sun 10 am-9 pm.
every Ethiopian dish, acting as the
canvas for colourful wots (stews)
AURORA PIZZERIA AND CAFÉ
and buttery tibs (sautéed meats) at
West End eatery Gojo. While forks Neighbourhood . . . . . Corydon
and knives are available, owner
Solomon Meshesha cheerily dem- Address. . . . . 842 Corydon Ave
onstrates the traditional way to dig Phone . . . . . . . . 204-615-9644
in, ripping off pieces of this injera
bread and using it to scoop up the Entrées . . . . . . . . . . . $10-$30
aromatic mixes.
A tiny pitcher of vibrant emerald
Aptly lodged in the bustling
sauce brought to the table immedi- strip of Little Italy, Aurora Pizzeria
ately entices. Its heat is intense but and Café is the place to go for
well matched with vinegar, garlic unpretentious, authentic Italian.
and tons of fresh cilantro. Pour it The owners, a first-generation
sparingly over everything for a won- Roman family, have brought their
derful flavour osmosis.
unique touch (and crisp crusts!)
Ordering the veggie combo is to Winnipeg’s richly populated
a must. Nutrient dense lentils, Italian community.
split peas and chickpeas are cur-
This pizzeria has arguably one of
ried into a paste-like consistency the best patios in the city; secluded
perfect for mixing with mouthfuls but still close enough to the buzz of
of tender lamb tibs sautéed with Corydon Avenue that passersby can
green pepper in a spiced butter. enviously look on as guests snack
Kitfo (lean minced beef ) can be on egg-shaped arancini. Break the
prepared raw like tartare, or lightly golden-crisp exteriors of these
cooked to resemble a deconstructed Sicilian street eats to reveal a layer
hamburger patty. It’s seasoned with of risotto encircling gooey fior di
blazing mitmita and served with latte cheese, bright peas and meat
tangy house-made ayibe, a drier sauce.
cottage cheese that cools off the
Gracious servers encourage
warming sensation.
ordering like an Italiano—primi
Ethiopia’s national dish, doro before pizza—and Aurora herself
wat, a memorable and richly fla- suggests the arista (thinly sliced
voured chicken stew heavily spiced Tuscan pork loin) with pasta. At first
with fiery berbere, is deliciously hot bite, it’s obvious why the restaurant’s
without overpowering taste buds. namesake loves it. Luscious mush-
A hard-boiled egg bobbing within room sauce—just briny enough to
turns out to be a stellar companion get taste buds watering—bathes
to the scorching sauce.
chewy penne and tender pork in
Although it’s clear that Ethiopians glistening cream. A vibrant shower
love spice, milder options like alecha of parsley adds freshness and colour
GOJO ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT
to the plate.
Bitter rapini sautéed with Italian
sausage, another pre-pizza offering,
renders a creamy, craveable sauce
that clings to the crannies of al denté
orecchiette pasta. A heavy dose of
Romano cheese sharpens it up.
Fragrant pizza Napoletana is up
next. Pillowy dough retains a good
amount of chew and char, perfect
for carrying tastefully brackish top-
pings like tuna, white onions and a
generous smattering of green olives.
For a classic red sauce pie, go for the
traditional pizza napoli, sauced with
tangy San Marzano tomatoes and
topped with salty anchovies.
Sit back, relax and linger over
imported glasses of vino long
after the sun goes down and
plates are cleared at this laid-back
neighbourhood spot.
Aurora Pizzeria and Café is open
Tue-Sun 10 am-9 pm.
BBQ HUT PAKISTANI GRILL
Neighbourhood . . . . . West End
Address. . 435 Notre Dame Ave
Phone . . . . . . . . 204-221-4144
Entrées . . . . . . . . . . . . $5-$34
Pakistani cuisine is characterized
by its bold spices, flavourful cuts
and, perhaps most importantly,
traditional cooking methods. BBQ
Hut Pakistani Grill has quickly
gained a following since ignit-
ing its grills in the city’s eclectic
West End July 2018. Hot chiles,
juicy chops and savoury stews are
commonplace on this restaurant’s
meat-forward menu of regional
favourites.
Ke b a b s a re i nv a l u a b l e to
Pakistan’s food culture, dating back
to a time when meat was speared on
swords and cooked over a blazing
fire. The skewers used here are long,
saber-like rods. Rows of chicken,
beef, mutton and lamb are impaled
and cooked over grills before being
ciao! / aug/sep / two thousand nineteen
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