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❚ buon giorno!
The Exchange District’ s
Chosabi has flipped occupants, to a mash-up concept inspired by a different continent. Soho Kitchen + Wine draws from Italy’ s iconic culinary regions and Eastern Europe, nodding to the Michelin starred chef and owner’ s origins, respectively. Elegantly plated breakfast fare, such as a stack of savoury spinach and salmon pancakes layered with herb infused cream cheese crowned with a lacy cheese tuille, is an eyeopener that pleases the palate. Imaginative rigatoni Nerano with zucchini sauce, is poised to win raves 100 King Street, 204-869-6165
❚ seriously jovial snacks
Chef Dustin Pajak, the affable chef formerly at the reigns of Close Co., who earned recognition nationally( in addition to being featured in Ciao!) for his eclectic and whimsical cooking style, has returned from the Big Smoke to launch SNACK HaUS, a ciao! news
new openings & food and retail news ❚ crash-up cuisine
tribute to casual nibbles. Novel sandos are loaded with fillings such as trout, piri piri lamb meatballs are stacked on a pick, and freshly preserved pickles burst with piquancy. Bold flavours, designed to pair with on-site Low Life Barrel House brews and wines, amp up the allure. and underline the widening scope of today’ s pedigreed chefs. High style bites in low brow places? We’ re all in! 398 Daly St N
❚ dough to know
The Forge Bagel Co, just opened at press time, but community taste testers sharing its journey have been creating social media buzz for months. This father daughter duo’ s signature“ Polishire” Bagel merges Polish technique with Yorkshire soul resulting in a new style of crust. Flavour infused dough is shaped by hand, rolled into smooth rounds, and uses a poke and stretch method to form the hole, yielding a creamier chew and a hint of brioche-like softness – a calling card for curious eaters ready to get in the cue. 692 St. Anne’ s Road, 204-201-2727
River Heights’ Naan Culture
( pictured left) is making an exciting case for cultural cuisine crash ups, blending heritage and modernity in every bite. This sleek newcomer takes humble naan bread and folds it around flavours that travel far beyond the tandoor, spanning continents. Try chicken Tikka Masala stuffed with tandoori chicken, peppers, and masala cream gravy. But don’ t miss the Italian leaning mushroom, truffle & parm or the Southwest Kernel nodding to Mexican comfort., 1700 Corydon Avenue, 204-504-6226
❚ ready to roll-up
Housed in heritage, Milksmith is impossible to miss: a blush-toned, Barbieadjacent space that turns dessert into performance. Inside the cute space, made to order rolled ice cream, boba and milkshakes are served alongside playful delights, catering to fun and photo-ops. This pastel playground scoops up a mood boosting rush that deserves all the screams for ice cream. Johnston Terminal at the Forks
❚ decadent dieting
The wave of clean eating is making ripples at The- Forks since yogurt maker Skyr, emerged earlier this fall. The new Icelandic inspired shop introduces new fans to parfaits layered with fruit( think balsamic laced blueberry) and granola and frozen licks blended with fresh fruit. The thick, decadent recipe is equally versatile for savoury bites; Go for the Beetnik – a mixed bowl of farro, beet patty, roasted beets, grapes, cranberries, tomato dressed with dill infused yogurt. The Forks Market, 204-956-0679
6 ciao! / dec / jan / two thousand twenty-five