Winnipeg, Canada
So where are we on my ever growing list? There is Bertrand with his pulled pork sandwich, Sheldon who is likely going to win Top Chef and fiercely opinionated Isaac. Little did I know I would land in Winnipeg and discover one great crush after another.
Chef Ben Kramer
I dedicated an entire post last week about him, he is transforming the food program at the University of Winnipeg provoking many to call him the Jamie Oliver of Winnipeg. Don’t worry you don’t need to go to the school cafeteria to eat his food, he participates in many one-off events and I was lucky to eat his food at the River Pop Up.
Chef Scott Bagshaw
If you could only eat at one restaurant in Winnipeg it would have to be Deseo. I cannot rave enough about his food and his girlfriend serves excellent wine pairings. If you get a chance definitely have a chat with him, a bit quirky but definitely entertaining. When I told him I wanted to take his photo he ran to grab a bottle of alcohol to hold. Adorable and weird but the food was amazing.
We asked for Chef Bagshaw to choose the meal and it’s a wise move. My favourites were the sweetbreads and veal cheeks. Chef Kramer recommended the gnocchi with black garlic and black boar bacon and he was right – although you can’t really go wrong with black garlic or bacon, right?
Chef Chef Alexander Svenne
Of this group of chefs he was one of the first to realize that Winnipeg had fine dining and burger joints but nothing in between. Bistro 7 ¼ is a fantastic place to grab a drink and have really good food. He also runs the kitchen for the Winnipeg Folk Festival, an amazing summer music festival in the city.
Again we let him pick the dishes and I will be honest I’m not entirely keen on eating mussels when I’m not near an ocean but the food was fantastic. I’d say skip the mussels and go for the smoked meat board, pulled pork sliders or smoked duck tartine with foie gras mousse pickled zucchini and red wine pear.
Chef Mandel Hitzer
The man behind the Raw: Almond River Pop Up, unfortunately he wasn’t there the night we ate at Deer + Almond as he was cooking on the frozen river. I did speak to him at the pop-up and he is unnervingly honest, unlike some arrogant chefs he tells us that he was lucky and fell into things. Given the number of interesting events he has been running I am not sure that is true but his modesty is refreshing.
He has a really interesting menu the varies from soba noodles to pork belly. My favourites were the brussel sprouts with blue cheese, incredibly tender venison and a semifreddo dessert that I swore I would only take one bite of because ”I don’t like dessert” but then I ate half of it. I also like how the restaurant doesn’t take itself too seriously, on the drinks menu you can order a mystery can of beer – which is literally a tall tin of beer that changes every night.
And just like that I doubled my chef crush list, this could be a dangerous year, especially as I head next to Finland.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Tourism Winnipeg but they did not request that I write a favourable review or include any chefs from Winnipeg restaurants in my chef crush list, but come on, these guys are adorable.
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I'm Ayngelina and in my mid-thirties. I left an amazing job, boyfriend, apartment and friends to find inspiration in Latin America. I'm creating a new life choosing what I want instead of what other people think I should do.
I feel that garlic (nature’s antibiotic), is one the best ingredients a chef or amateur cook can use to add flavor, and it goes with most dishes. I’ve never heard of black garlic though, interesting.
Mike recently posted..A Taste of Tamil Nadu
Black garlic became really popular a few years ago, it is fermented and about 100 times more expensive than regular garlic but so worth it.
This was TOTALLY me this weekend. I was geeking out at a food and wine festival. Editing pictures now and it’s making me really depressed to be back home.
Caroline Eubanks recently posted..Travel Writing Round Up [March 2013]
I hear ya on that one.
Now I’m crushing.. and hungry!
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..Around the World in Mickey D’s
It’s a good combination!
“smoked duck tartine with foie gras mousse pickled zucchini and red wine pear.”
oh my gosh. seriously. how did canada end up being such a delicious destination that doesn’t have anything to do with maple syrup?
A Montrealer Abroad (@amontrealer) recently posted..Confessions of a Bad, Bad Montrealer
I think this is wildly different than what most people would think represents local food in Canada.
A man that can cook well is automatically hot in my book!
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures recently posted..Buenos Aires, Argentina: Recoleta Cemetery (Part 3)
Mine as well!
Most importantly… which ones are single?
Sadly, none. But it’s probably for the best, Winnipeg is too cold for me!
If “restaurant photographer” were a full-time profession, I would tell you to get into it, girl! Love all your food, interior a chef portrait shots.
If it were a full-time gig I’d be all over it.
Why has nobody ever told me about combining Brussel Sprouts with blue cheese? I feel like I haven’t lived.
TammyOnTheMove recently posted..Flashback Friday: Why does Barclays bank hate travellers?
You must try it, so amazing.
Thats made me super hungry now! very impressed with the standard of cooking too, way better than I could do.
John @ Imperative Travel recently posted..The Un-Official Natural Wonders оf thе World
These guys are pretty talented, the Winnipeg food scene is really changing.
Just had lunch, but I wouldn’t mind eating again after reading this…
Me either
Cool restaurants!
And great food photos. Chefs look like they have some unique style!
Juno recently posted..Three Years with Runaway Juno: Ode to Entrepreneurs
Really interesting approach to food, and it just gives people another reason to visit Winnipeg.
Chefs really are the new rock stars. I love it, since I’m such a foodie!
Abby recently posted..How to take the perfect picture (even without Steve Carell)
I would much rather eat than listen to music. Although ideally you don’t have to give one of them up.
It’s a good thing I’m going out for a nice dinner tonight otherwise I think I’d be licking my screen after all those photos!
Emily in Chile recently posted..Saturday in Santiago: BocaNariz Wine Bar
Hard to feel bad for you being in Santiago. At least you are warm!
you and your chef crushes… it’s neverending.
Lorenzo recently posted..Photo Essay: Simple Fun In Burrell Boom Village
It seems that way…
I don’t know about “chef” crushes but I am definitely crushing on the food!
Jonathan Look, Jr. recently posted..Top 12 Photos of 2012
The food makes the man
Who would have thought Winnipeg has such an amazing food scene! Was visiting with people all the time when in Winnipeg, so only had ‘Mennonite food’ which is great but not quite as gourmetesque
Regina recently posted..Our Top 5 Favorite Thai Foods
It was definitely a surprise for me, but Winnipeg as a city always seems to leave an impression with me. It doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
Yum yum yum.
Love learning about the food scenes in different places in North America! who knew?!
Hope you find delicious food in Finland too. I’ll be reading closely as I’ve been thinking of heading there in may or june!
Lauren @ roamingtheworld recently posted..Flashback Photo Fridays: Usambara Mountains
Yeah it is interesting to see how smaller cities are developing, in some cases I think a bit of distance from the bigger cities is a good thing.
Good Food + Hot Chef = Yumyum Dinner. Take out, please?
Micamyx|Senyorita recently posted..Subic Homes – That Nostalgic Feeling
I just need to add the word single and I’m with you!
Your food posts kill me in a good way.
Erica recently posted..Happy Blog Birthday Over Yonderlust! THE BIG THREE
I’ll take it!