Peg beer co Neighbourhood ...... Exchange Address ........ 125 Pacific Ave Phone .......... 204-416-2337 Entrées ............. $ 12- $ 60
The flood of new craft breweries putting our city awash in local suds has made this the year of beer in Winnipeg . While interest in local beer has been steadily growing for years , one of the first restaurants to capitalize on the brewpub concept in Winnipeg was Peg Beer Co .
Setting itself apart from the many breweries that offer taproom tasting , this brewery has a full menu of regionally focused dishes to complement pours brewed on site . Chef Aron Epp ’ s penchant for local and scratch-made ingredients ( excercised during his tenure at the University of Winnipeg ' s Elements ) is evidenced by everything from house-pickled eggs and veg to fresh baked bread .
Despite the unlikely pairing of a brewery and a religious community , hints to this province ’ s Mennonite heritage appear on the menu . The peculiarities of regionality result in dishes like Faspa ( a traditional Sunday meal of buns , cheese , and cold meats ) and rhubarb platz ( fruit crumble ), proving that the new generation of homesteaders are a little less buttoned up .
Food that pulls from rustic , nostalgic inspiration is only fitting for the restaurant ’ s setting , an Exchange District warehouse whitewashed and illuminated with twinkling lights . Beer hall wooden tables and stainless steel accents give an industrial edge . The sprawling space has room for beer production and consumption ; you may be able to take a peek at the brewery , where steel tanks are happily fermenting away new batches of brews ( free brewery tours take place ciao ! reviews
Mondays at 7 and 8 pm , private tours can be booked for $ 5 a head ).
With six specialty beers on tap and available by growler , it ’ s no wonder beer makes its way into the food . ISA ( India Session Ale ) lends light , hoppy flavour to an aged cheddar soup , rich without being heavy . Beet and ricotta salad is elevated by the malty edge of a citrus-stout vinaigrette .
In lieu of entrées , “ large plates ” encourage family style sharing . Oktoberfest spirit — no matter the date on the calendar — gets in full swing as a server lowers a platter bearing a slab of bone-in ham , glistening with honey glaze .
A smoked corned beef platter , another monster portion , is worth gathering the requisite 2-4 friends to splurge . Served on a mound of roasted veggies — carrots , parsnips , and smashed potatoes , all laced with dill — the meat is served in fist sized cubes stacked neatly under a trail of whole seed mustard . Soft housemade bread , sauerkraut , pickles and dressing are on hand for building heaping sandwiches .
A selection of flatbreads offers an option for those looking for a lighter meal . A fungus ' za layers on the cheese with a mound of mushrooms and a scattering of bacon , all under an earthy swirl of truffle oil .
Good food and good beer brings people together , forging a bond by breaking bread and clinking glasses . Undermining the legacy of haute cuisine , regional food has always found its strength in authenticity , in how closely it aligns with the dishes lovingly prepared in home kitchens ; it connects those who eat it with the land and its people . From the chatter at the filled tables of this bustling brewpub , its easy to see that Peg Beer Co is making connections .
Peg Beer Co is open Mon-Thu 11 am-11 pm , Fri & Sat 11 am-12 am , and Sun 4 pm-11 pm .
Across the board Neighbourhood ...... Exchange Address ..... 211 Bannatyne Ave Phone .......... 204-691-3422 Entrées ............. $ 12- $ 17
In the current age of smartphones and instant entertainment , cafes remain bastions of face to face fun . At the newly expanded Across the Board Cafe , analog entertainment isn ’ t going anywhere .
Board game cafes began trending in major cities less than five years ago , and Across the Board became the first such business in Winnipeg in 2014 . It caught on quickly , and soon the business outgrew its small space on Albert St , moving into a pristine and sun-washed space on the corner of Main and Bannatyne early this year .
For a cover price of $ 6 , customers can play any of the games from the restaurant ’ s massive floor-to-ceiling library while noshing on something scrumptious . The spacious dining room is decked out with chandeliers , and the kitchen really pulls out all the stops , with a full menu of filling fare .
Appetizers seem designed to pair with local beer , like a juicy local brat served with curry-spiked ketchup , a pile of sauerkraut , and a soft , salt laden pretzel , made in house . Chips , flavoured popcorn , and salted edamame are all offered as snacks for hungry gamers who need something to munch on between turns .
Excellent entrées make this cute café worth a visit whether you ’ re itching to roll dice or not . A noodle bowl named after monster battle board game King of Tokyo is an umami-rich soup loaded with vermicelli and tender shreds of pork . Cucumber , cilantro , and spears of green apple are piled on top ,
ciao ! / june / july / two thousand seventeen 29