Ciao Dec/Jan 2023 Ciao Dec/Jan 2023 | Page 52

ciao ! reviews
French onion soup nods to its St . Boniface location , neighbourhood staples such as tourtiere are not in step with owner , Jay Lekopoy ’ s mission to celebrate his ancestral meals . Instead you ’ ll find delicate pemmican tartare ; a mound of raw chopped beef tenderloin accented with kicky mustard seeds and sweet saskatoon berries , finished with dots of aioli , parmesan shavings accompanied by house made potato chips . Bursts of the juicy prairie berry are a pleasing substitute for briny capers .
Indigenous Manitoba ingredients play an integral role throughout the entire menu . Divine ‘ Le Fromage ’ features cubes of feta resting on a swoosh of spiced apple sauce , pickled pear slices and a puddle of herb dressing . These same pear wedges paired with orange segments brighten a colourful beet salad sitting atop creamy ricotta . Rhubarb ’ s supporting role infusing the vinaigrette pops the dish .
The holy trinity of garden ingredients , corn , squash and beans , referred to as ‘ three sisters ’ - symbolizing their symbiotic growing relationship and role in sustaining well being - are infused throughout the menu . Together they appear in a nutrient rich bowl with wild rice , pickled beets and pumpkin seeds . Red pepper aioli rounds out the fulsome bites .
Squash fortifies ricotta gnocchi dressed in luxurious sage cream , elevating a rich comforting dish . Crispy shallots , blanched peas and apple accents add freshness to the pillowy soft dumplings . Trout , charred and perfectly tender , is perched on a corn , citrus herb salad sitting on pea purée , a playful nod to French Canadian pea soup .
Every flavour packed dish pairs comforts with precise plating . Colourful vegetables presented in delightful ways , like puréed carrots piped around fall-off-the-bone bison short ribs add vibrancy to plates while enriching them .
You can ’ t go wrong finishing with a sweet bite of tradition . Decadent tart au sucre , is silky and satisfying .
The evolution of Manitoba regional cuisine reflects imaginative chefs merging personal and nostalgic recipes with locally available ingredients . Promenade Brasserie ’ s richly symbolic , river facing location , overlooking the Forks , provides a thoughtful backdrop for evolved cooking that is imaginative and nostalgic . In our books , this is a stage set for extraordinary dining . Cap the night with a scenic river walk with your sweetheart , and its pure magic .

DELICIOUS . FRESH . AUTHENTIC .

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50 ciao ! / dec / jan / two thousand twenty-three