puck1337's Profile
Winnipeg - where to buy sausage/meat curing supplies (re: standalone pink salt)
Does anyone know where in Winnipeg I can find "pink salt", a.k.a. Insta Cure #1, a.k.a. Prague Powder #1?
I've checked Cabela's and Canadian Tire, and I'm about to start calling the independent butchers.
I don't want to buy pre-mixed cures, because I want to fool around with my own seasonings.
Best Pizza in Winnipeg?
I'm a pretty big Diana's fan. I like Gusto, too, but I agree with Prasantrin about the lacklustre dough.
Upscale Winnipeg
I was at Mise recently, and it was fantastic. See http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/544152 for my impressions.
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Mise
222 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
Upscale Winnipeg
You're thinking of Lux Sole, which is pretty good but not what I'd call upscale.
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Lux Sole
726 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
Impressions: Mise (Winnipeg)
I'm not certain when they're moving to Gluttons, but I've been told that they're keeping the cheese counter, so I suspect that means they're keeping the whole market.
Impressions: Mise (Winnipeg)
I finally got around to going to Mise.
Location/atmosphere/decor/etc.: It's at Confusion Corner, i.e. Pembina/Corydon/Donald/Osborne, so it's central and close to a lot of other stuff.
I'm not a real fan of the decor/entrance/etc., but I won't elaborate because it isn't horrible and I don't feel that it affected the experience. Plus, it's bound to change - the server mentioned off-hand that the owners of Mise have sealed a deal to purchase and move into Gluttons' current location on Corydon. I assume that this means Gluttons is officially done.
Service: We attended on a Wednesday night, and only 4 tables were in use during our 2+ hours in the restaurant. The server handled all tables very capably and was quite helpful. I should note that it must have been a pretty slow night - we've previously tried to get a reservation around a week in advance, with no luck.
Amuse bouche: The meal started with a complimentary shot of gazpacho that was topped with lobster and creme fraiche. The gazpacho was delicious and very fresh. The lobster wasn't strictly necessary, but it was a tasty treat and certainly didn't detract from anything.
Bread: The house bread was fluffy and white, and came with a dollop of wonderful hummus and a pat of maple-streaked butter. The hummus had a perfect level of garlic and excellent consistency - the only downside was that it was a bit salty. The maple butter was maple-y without being excessively sweet.
Appetizer: We shared an appetizer that consisted of sesame-crusted prawns, shiitake spring rolls, and a pair of mystery dumplings. The prawns were impressive, but the spring rolls were just too skinny - the filling was barely noticeable. Not exactly sure what was in the dumpling - it wasn't listed on the menu, but it was a bit tangy and crunchy.
Entrees: My wife had the sweet potato gnocchi with lamb sausage and chicken breast. The lamb sausage was moist and delicately seasoned (i.e. not killed with a pound of fennel), and the gnocchi was more than adequate. The chicken and vegetables were good, but not great. My wife disagrees and thought that the entire entree was top notch.
I had a rack of baby back ribs with wild rice latke fries and jicama slaw. The ribs were exactly right - the meat was firm and juicy, and the sauce was sticky, sweet, and spicy enough to feel a bit of a burn.
That said, the sides were THE main event. The jicama slaw was crunchy and criminally fresh. The wild rice latke fries were chewy and sprinkled with just enough salt to provide a nice crunch. The harissa dipping sauce was relatively creamy and subtle, and was a nice change of pace from the intensely flavoured ribs.
Dessert: I had the mille feuilles and the wife had a slice of lemon cheesecake. Both were really good.
Typical prices: Alcoholic drinks - $7-10 (wine/scotch can be more), appetizers - $10-15, entrees - $28-$38, desserts - $7-10.
The total damage for our visit: 1 appetizer, 4 drinks, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, 1 coffee, 1 cappuccino = $170 (incl. tax + tip)
Summary: I'll go back, and I'd recommend it to anyone that wants to try some of Winnipeg's best.
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Mise
222 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
The 5 best EVER dessert cookbooks?
I can vouch for the Beranbaum books. They're very useful, although quite technical in places - she has a background in food science, so it isn't altogether unexpected.
Lunch Options in the Loop? My Ramblings...Brown Bag it!!!
I visited last summer, and I was shocked at the crazy number of franchise joints downtown. And I was really disappointed at the lack of street food.
Needless to say, the other neighborhoods of Chicago did not let me down.
Winnipeg rec?
I would recommend Bistro 7 1/4 and Mise. Both are on Osborne St., so they're pretty centrally located. Mise in particular is on the edge of the Osborne Village and is also right by the fairly lively Corydon Village, so you can enjoy the nightlife after dinner if that's your kind of thing.
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Bistro 7 1/4
725 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
Mise
222 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
La Chaya (Minneapolis)
Ah! Thanks for this - my wife and I are hitting the Cities this weekend, and this was one of the places we were checking out.
Winnipeg Burgers
Daly has definitely had a drop in quality in the last few years. The last burger I bought from there was almost pure oregano. I really like VJ's, but they tend to over-salt.
Tomato Pie (Winnipeg)
I've heard good things about the food, but I haven't tried it yet. However, I do walk by it every day and the decor is atrocious. I'll keep in mind that I may need to go earlier whenever I do land up giving it a go.
Best breakfast joints in Western Canada
In Winnipeg, The Toad in the Hole (a pub in Osborne Village) has an amazing greasy-style breakfast available on the weekends. Stella's is really good, but the best breakfast in the city might be available at Blaze Bistro (in the Delta downtown).
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Blaze Bistro & Lounge
350 St Mary Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3C, CA
Is Winnipeg really a Wasteland? (moved from Canada board)
Old topic, but worth replying to. There are a lot of great restaurants in Winnipeg, but they tend to be scattered in the sprawl of the city. You won't find a stretch of several contiguous blocks that are packed with great dining, because the city just isn't structured that way. Even the more classic "hip" areas (Osborne, Corydon, Academy, Exchange) can't compare with what you'd find in a truly major center.
This topic has already covered a lot, but it's left out some relatively significant places:
- Bistro 7 1/4 (South Osborne): Excellent bistro-style food, and really cheap for what you get. The staff actually knows something about cheese, so you don't have to worry about getting a cheese board with Kraft Cracker Barrel and string cheese. The desserts are hit and miss - avoid the chocolate pot de creme, but try the lemon tart - it's the best in Winnipeg. Oh, and they have the best beef short ribs ever.
- Lux Sole (South Osborne): This is actually right across the street from Bistro 7 1/4. It's a pretty generic fusion joint, and the quality seems to have dropped slightly in recent years, but it's still a good place to grab some tapas. Their bruschetta is very worthwhile, as are the ginger bison and the dry pork ribs. A lot of people swear by their pizza, which is admittedly pretty good.
- Right There! (Osborne Village): A Korean restaurant in the Osborne Village. You won't get Korean-style BBQ beef this good anywhere in Winnipeg. Everything is delicious, and every meal comes with a complementary series of Korean salads and roasted barley tea. However, be aware that the owner may not let you order exactly what you want to...
- The Toad in the Hole (Osborne Village): A pub, but has the best breakfast in Winnipeg. Unfortunately, you can only get it on the weekend, starting at 11 a.m. The corned beef hash is really damn good.
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Bistro 7 1/4
725 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
Lux Sole
726 Osborne St, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
Korean Museum Restaurant Right There
472 Stradbrook Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3L, CA
