Where July August 2017 WhereDigitalJulAug17 | Page 9

Greg Hasiuk, who lead the project. “Our
intent was to bring down the scale and change
the entire look and feel to be more intimate.”
References to The Forks’ past are blended
with warm, welcoming elements and twists of
local flavour. Raw steel, blacksmith work, and
natural wood meld with the historic building,
while sleek charcoal accents and pendant lights
pull the space into the future.
The centerpiece of this inviting
environment is a line of reclaimed oak tables
with collapsible leaves that transform into
a 88-seat harvest table, fostering the feel of
community dining. Like all materials used
for the reno, tables were produced locally by
custom fabrication shop Wood Anchor.
Other Manitoba-made items include drum-
style light fixtures crafted by Metal-Tech
industries, decorative blacksmith work by
Cloverdale Forge, and drink flights served on
Manitoba-shaped boards carved by Huron
Woodwork.
In the glass walled atrium, filled with skate-
lacers in the winter, three starburst shaped
ornaments hang from the ceiling. Come closer
and you’ll realize these impressive decorations
(made by Wood Anchor) were created from
donated hockey sticks. As Thomson notes,
“there’s a little piece of many Winnipeggers in
this space.”
It only seems right. Stop in for a bite or a
pint at any time of day, and you’ll see families
chattering over plates of food, couples holding
hands over coffee, and girls nights celebrating
over glasses of wine—a kitchen party for all
to enjoy.
EATING PLACE
If ‘food court’ conjures up images of
greasy fast food and chain restaurants, The
Forks is the antidote. The former horse
stables house a diverse range of local vendors
slinging everything from gourmet burgers to
Caribbean cuisine.
On any given day, a b ustling crowd of
diners peruses the stalls and halls. Laughter
and chatter create the atmosphere of a party
where the guests are constantly changing.
Footlong hotdogs piled with sauerkraut share
the table with Argentinean-style empanadas
and sushi tacos stuffed with crab and avocado.
Plans are in the works for two new
‘microrestaurant’ concepts that will each
have a separate seating area but allow for free
movement between the restaurant space and
main hall.
SIPS AND SUDS
While spaces that mix drink kiosks and
food vendors are common in Europe and
have begun to emerge in cities like New York
and Portland, Oregon, the concept is new in
Manitoba and rare in Canada. Visitors to The
Forks can grab a drink at The Common and
wander freely throughout the rest of the main
floor, melding a family friendly atmosphere
with the convivial vibe of a neighbourhood
watering hole.
Local brews and outstanding imports are
the focus, seleted to pair well with a meal. On
tap, find Winnipeg breweries like Half Pints
Brewing, Little Brown Jug, Peg Beer Co, and
Barnhammer Brewing. A special wine pouring
system ensures all bottles are available by the
glass, and a curated selection complements
the usual suspects with finds like biodynamic
natural orange wine from Ontario and a lively
pinot blanc from the Okanagan Valley.
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