Eating In Winnipeg

I recently travelled to Winnipeg and North Dakota as part of my annual-ish hockey road trip. While I plan on writing several different posts about the trip, this one focuses on food. Yes, today, I'm going to be a food blogger.

For our first night in Winnipeg, we ate dinner at Feast Cafe Bistro as recommended by Taylor at Tourism Winnipeg. Taylor and I go way back...to earlier in October. Feast is a 100% Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant using local ingredients. I split a bison ramen noodle bowl and a fire-roasted buffalo lasagna. Both were delicious and not something I would normally eat. 

We went to dinner at the Hargrave St. Market on the second night, adjacent to the Canada Life Centre where the Jets play. I really enjoyed the Hargrave St. Market concept. It's a modern-day food court which seems to be becoming more prevalent. There were about 8 different food and drink restaurants serving pizza, tacos, Japanese bowls, burgers, and more, but it's not like Taco Bell and Sbarros that they had at the Monroeville Mall food court growing up. This was much more upscale.

On day #3, we went to the Forks Market. I want to live there! First, outside of the market is The Forks where Winnipeg began at the meeting of the Red River and Assiniboine River. (Please don't ask how badly I mispronounced this name which is all over Winnipeg.) The Forks Market has dozens of restaurants and shops. While there were many dining options, how could I not eat at the best named restaurant in all of Winnipeg? (And they had poutine too.)

On the third night, we ate at the James Avenue Pumphouse. Really cool venue. The building is over 100 years old and served as the pumping station distributing water to area fire hydrants. Much of the machinery is still there. I got the Dan Dan Thai plate. It was good but not great. A little too much tofu for me. Think I would go for something else next time.

I probably should have started this post with the view from my hotel.

Of course, I had a donut from Tim Hortons! I also visited a Real Canadian Superstore. When I told my brother that I traveled thousands of miles to visit a grocery store, he said, who are you, dad? I like going to new grocery stores. Although I didn't buy anything, I like seeing my normal Rold Gold pretzels in a darker yellow packaging and in French.

I was also intrigued by a strawberry milkshake flavor of Frosted Flakes. I almost bought one before going on my phone and realizing that they are sold in my area. Sure enough, there are boxes at my local Wegmans.

Consider this part one of the 2024 hockey road trip. More posts to come.