If you are from Winnipeg, Manitoba, you know that we are a hotbed of eclectic cuisine. From ethnic neighbourhood restaurants, chef-focused award winning dining rooms and the best little spots for a burger, pizza or breakfast, we have got it all!

When I recently asked the readers of my bi-weekly Canstar Community Newspapers column for their suggestions for places that I should visit in the future, the suggestions came pouring in.

Many of them, I had already written about in my regular columns, including: Bonfire Bistro, Café Savour, Chaise Lounge, Chew, La Fiesta Cafecito, Luda Deli, Magic Thailand, Red Eye Diner and Vietiane.

Places not yet visited, far outnumbered those already covered. Here are the top selections: Beaujena’s French Table, Bellamy’s Restaurant & Bar, Big Rick’s Hot Rod Diner, D-Jays Restaurant & Ichabod’s Lounge, Ducky’s English Style Fish & Chips, Exquisite Taste, Falafel Place, Green Ninja Eatery & Bakery, Inferno’s Bistro in St. Boniface, Juliana Pizza, Karahi of India, Kyri Bistro, Olympia Diner, Punjabi Hut, Sizzling Dhaba, Sushi Terrace, Water Lily Restaurant and Watt St. Bistro. One spot was suggested by more than one reader, namely 925 Bistro. Another place has just recently opened-BerMax Café & Bistro on Corydon.

Without further adieu, drum roll please…..the winner of dinner with Kathryne Grisim at The Keg Steakhouse +Bar location of her choosing is- Janice Sawka! Although the drawing of her name was random, she and many other entries were like “mini-reviews” of the restaurant that they were putting forward. Here’s hers:

“My choice for a local restaurant for your column would definitely be CAFE SAVOUR.

This small little gem, only open for part of the week, looks quite uninspiring from the outside but hides a lovely surprise inside. The address is 956 St. Mary’s Road.

Run by a husband-and-wife team, they cook meals inspired by their world travels. On slower nights, the husband will often come to your table and answer any questions you have on the food, and then provide some informative background (country of origin, how he came to be aware of this particular dish, etc.). It’s very interesting. Portions are small, but there are several of them, so it evens out. Food is excellent.

The tiny interior is decorated with green walls, bric-a-brac and sparkling little strings of mini lights. When I went there for my birthday last February, I spent much of the meal moaning how I hadn’t thought to bring a camera!

It all adds up to a charming experience.”

Kath’s quote: “It is a true saying that a man must eat a peck of salt with his friend before he knows him.”
-Miguel de Cervantes, ‘Don Quixote’

Live simply, laugh often, love deeply.

Café Savour at 956 St. Mary’s Rd. is pretty much what I imagine our little restaurant would look like, if D and  I ever stopped talking about it and actually did it.  From the hand-painted tables, toss cushions, twinkle-lights and turquoise wine glasses to the photos adorning the walls from the places they have traveled together, this place reflects our personal taste and eclectic style.

We could never duplicate the skill level coming out of the kitchen though.  Chef Louise Briskie de Beer’s menu is imaginative and her creations, oh so delectable.  Her partner Faiz de Beer personally takes care of every table himself and his service is attentive, warm and comfortable. They are the only staff in the restaurant so they only open the limited hours of Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening.  We imagined them sharing a bottle of wine when the evening was through as they were tackling all of the dirty dishes.

Their prix fixe menu, offers three courses for $35 or five for $45.  If you are concerned about quantity but want to sample as much as possible, you could follow our lead and order one three course and another five course and share it ll.  As a result, we started with an amuse bouche of house baked breads and dukkah which is a Middle Eastern spice and nut mixture to enhance the tasty breads.  Even though the recipe is a middle-eastern one, they discovered it while travelling in Australia.

Next up were bowls of piping hot soup, in fact the hottest food I have ever had while dining,  Many soups are “held” for the kitchen’s convenience but Louise must heat small portions up when she receives an order.  I could not decide between my savoury bowl of sausage, mushroom and wild rice and my husband’s of cauliflower, potato and curry.  Bother were perfectly balanced and appealing in their own distinct ways.

We shared a South African appetizer trio of “Dhaltjie”-spinach and chick pea fritter, “Frikkadel”-masala flavoured tuna patty and Cape Malay spiced samosa.  All were enjoyable and we concluded that we like the fritter the very best.  We also shared a deconstructed and reconstructed Greek salad where the wheels of tomato and cucumber were presented in a tower accompanied by rings of purple onion, green peppers, olives and feta.

My husband opted for a slow roasted lamb shank smothered in au jus and sweet onions, while I tucked into an unusual eggplant parmigiana that we guessed had been made to order rather than the typical casserole style.

But wait; there was still dessert to come: a chewy cherry crisp and a decadent chocolate apricot pate.  You might suggest that we would have been exhausted by eating such a quantity but the owners provide the perfect sized tastes of the starters and you are more than satiated with the portion of the entrée.  Every taste from start to finish was divine, made even more so by their reasonably priced wines by the glass.

Kath’s quote: “Savour: enjoy something unhurriedly, to enjoy something with unhurried appreciation“

Love-that is all.