The north east corner of the city was where I grew up. The majority of my large family still calls East & North Kildonan “ home”. I have always felt sheepish that I reside in a south/central neighbourhood where I can walk to many of Winnipeg’s best restaurants and they have been somewhat restaurant “deprived”. The game-changer is 925 Bistro & Lounge.  My husband said this: “I’m sure that every neighbourhood would love to have a place like 925-basic and comfortable with fare that has been elevated by a talented chef.”

Stephanie is the manager of the Bistro which is owned by her family of Kelmar Bakery and Kelmar Meats right next door at Headmaster Row and Lagamodiere. We had the pleasure of meeting her on our first visit and she personally took care of us most recently.

We need her assistance to decide what to order. She started us with a shared order of Mussels which had been steamed in dill and white wine. Little spoons were delivered in advance so that we could scoop the seafood out of the shell and ladle the broth from the bowl at the same time. I have eaten mussels in Paris, New York and Montreal and I have never been offered this simple but ingenious touch. Grilled toast accompanied the dish for us to lap up the juices at the very bottom of the bowl.

My husband was tempted by the smoked ribs but decided upon the special that evening- a bison burger topped with foie gras (duck liver). The subtle buttery tastes of the foie gras were a little bit overpowered by the caramelized onion and fig marmalade, but the latter was so delicious that the special burger was a hit! The skinny hand-cut fries sealed the deal. Foie gras served in a strip-mall restaurant? That is what my husband meant by “elevated” fare.

My Slavic heritage pointed me to the Veal Schnitzel. Although the meat had not been thinned and tenderized to the delicate escalope that I am accustomed to, it held its own alongside the lemon caper sauce that adorned it. The buttered linguine and fresh seasonal vegetables ensured that the overall dish was a perfect choice for a cooler fall evening.

We arrived early that Monday night and as a result, we were sat at a quiet booth. On another visit I was there later in the evening and the place was hopping with a large group of excited diners. Be cautious about your arrival time if you are interested in intimate conversation. Stephanie tells me that they are strategizing to solve their ambient noise issue.

Kath’s quote: “My idea of heaven is eating pates de foie gras to the sound of trumpets.”-Sydney Smith

Love, that is all.

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