publisher’s note
T
1750 Sargent Ave | 204 788 2015
chop.ca
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ciao! / dec/jan / two thousand eighteen
his special holiday issue marks
Ciao! Magazine’s annual
round up of the best places in
the city! Compiling this package
of information entails a series of
visits to new restaurants and stores
before adding them to our best list
and it list. Exploring the city is an
ongoing exercise at Ciao! of course,
but during the fall, the activity
intensifi es.
We start by making a list -
recording all the restaurants that
opened since last October. We
discuss each property’s potential of
inclusion for our best new restaurant
choices, sharing dining and food
details of our personal experiences.
It is not unusual for our lively debate
to yield more than fi ve - which leads
to more dining out.
The fi nal fi ve restaurants chosen
as Best New Restaurants of 2018
make the city better for their being.
It has been a year of well executed
themes created by people obsessed
with details. Two of the top picks
breathe new life into familiar
French inspired recipes, adding
panache to the area of the city they
dwell. One is a noodle house that
holds its own against some of the
world’s leaders, and another proves
small plate sharing is still alive
and well. The restaurant that has
earned our top billing this year,
comes from a known Winnipeg
chef adding fl air to the casual
food scene at the Forks Market.
Passero strikes a balance between
casual and elegant informed by its
inspiration country, Italy.
We also scoped out restaurants
with imaginative dishes inspired
by our locale. Root vegetables like
beets are ever appearing in new
ways - sparking favour with each
interpretation.
Two seasoned chefs cooking in
kitchens nestled in bucolic settings
were called on to share regional
recipes you’ll want to add to your
entertaining repertoire. Begin by
feasting your eyes on the pages of
ciao!cooks.
A fi eld trip to another
spectacular setting took us
inthekitchen to spend time with
Chef Thomas Stuart, of Resto at
Thermea. He gives us recipes that
up our game just in time to impress
guests over the holidays, all while
keeping his zen. Most importantly,
this spa based chef shows us how
mixing a few super simple dishes
into a menu plan does wonders to
reduce entertaining stress.
In keeping with annual tradition
this publication features a multi-
page photo layout presenting the
results of our city-wide shopping
search. Supporting local stores
is one of the most rewarding
ways to add meaning to the
Christmas shopping experience.
Neighbourhood boutiques give
our city local fl avour, and the
dedication to high quality products
and service is a refl ection of
passionate local retailers. Many
store owners travel the globe,
thoughtfully hand-picking items
they think Winnipeggers will like.
Our it list starting on page 11 is
a curated directory of 156 stores
worth discovering.
May the selections in this special
holiday issue of Ciao! soon become
your new favourite places in the
year to come, and may joy be with
you this Christmas!
Laurie Hughes
Publisher