ciao! news
new openings, culinary calendar and food news
I brewmasters
I here's to 20 more
now open
eg Beer Co, the latest
n 1996, when Fusion Grill
I taco loco
venture from former Half
opened its doors, Manitoba
P
Pints Brewery CEO Nicole
Barry, has opened its doors in
the Exchange District. Craft
beer is joined by family-style
feasts on chef Aron Epp’s
menu, which plays with farm
staples of past generations
and ingredients pulled from
Manitoba soil. Table-dwarfing
“large plates” – whole roast
chicken, stuffed trout, or rack of
lamb to name a few – redefine
Sunday dinner when paired
with a house brew. 125 Pacific
Ave, 204‑416‑2337—JK
I sip n' snack
N
I Georgia on our
minds
S
aperavi is the first
Georgian restaurant to
open on the prairies, one of
very few in Canada. Yellow
walls and warm pendant
lighting set the tone in a
bright second floor space on
Corydon Ave, where the cozy
restaurant serves Caucasus
specialties. The cuisine
reflects a country known for
its hospitality, where long
feasts and free-flowing wine
are the norm. Bring a group
to split dishes like khinkali, a
spiced meat filled dumpling,
and shashlik, kebab-like
skewers of grilled meat, from
prime seats on the large,
shady patio. 709 Corydon Ave,
204‑416‑3996—JK
6
ciao! / june/july / two thousand sixteen
ew East Exchange
District coffee
shop Forth serves
fresh soups, salads,
sandwiches and juices
made in-house. The
brick walled space,
home to roaster
Dogwood Coffee Co.,
boasts ample seating,
architectural flair and
sparse, chic decor. At
night, head downstairs,
where a cocktail bar comes
alive slinging specialty drinks
flavoured with ingredients
like lavender and cola syrup.
171 McDermot Ave—KC
I good morning
T
he team behind nationally
recognized Osborne
Village tapas spot Segovia
has branched out into the
breakfast game. Tucked into a
chic subterranean location in
the Exchange District, newly
opened Clementine Cafe
promises to deliver equally
flavourful fare for breakfast and
lunch. Indulgent items for the
most important meal of the
day have diners raving, like the
popular fried chicken on toast
(pictured right) with pimento
cheese spread and bittersweet
ribbons of squash. 123 Princess
St, 204‑942‑9497—JK
I
Regional Cuisine was more
of an idea than a practice. It
is the dedication and talent
of owner Scot McTaggart and
chef Lorna Murdoch that has
brought local eating into the
city's most stellar cuisine
categories. As this pioneering
restaurant turns 20, we
extend a big "cheers!". As any
entrepreneur can attest, having
a good idea is the easy part;
executing it day after day is a
test of mettle, and these guys
ace it every time. For bettering
Winnipeg and working hard to
grow the city's food reputation,
Ciao! salutes a job superbly
done! 550 Academy Rd,
204‑489‑6963—JK
food news
I back for more
T
hroughout June and July,
The VG Restaurant will
serve up street food fare from
the back door of The Fairmont
hotel. Weekly Taco Tuesdays
and Thursdays’ Back Door
Burgers events run 11:30 to 2
pm, with a new creative and
flavourful taco and burger from
VG Restaurant mastermind
chef Eraj Jayawickreme each
week. 2 Lombard Place,
204‑985‑6255—JK
I market watch
L
ocal farmers markets
connect urbanites with
Photos: Tacos courtesy La Roca; Fried chicken toast by Alexandra Johnson; produce courtesy The Forks Farmers' Market; Little
South America Tour courtesy Hermanos
H
it up new spot La Roca
on a sunny summer day
and you may just feel you've
been transported south of the
border. The new downtown
hub serves Mexican fare
focused on the light, fresh, and
flavourful tastes of the cuisine
(move aside, carby Tex-Mex
treats). The dark, rustic wood
space exudes nightlife vibes
with sleek decor accents and
live music. Stop by for a trio of
tacos (pictured below) on the
unique rooftop patio. 155 Smith
St, 204‑615‑9605—JK