Manitoba’s colourful past, multicultural present and innovative future might be a lot to swallow. But Aussie travellers are increasingly using food tours and restaurant guides to learn about the rich culture and history of Canada’s central province.
It’s a delicious and educational way to explore its capital city of Winnipeg and the eclectic towns that lie further afield. Read on for some of the best foodie adventures in Manitoba.
Poutine Trail
Nothing says ‘Canada’ like the potato-cheese-gravy deliciousness that is poutine. Manitoba’s Poutine Trail brings together the best in southeastern Manitoba’s bilingual communities in one scrumptious route. In the tiny Franco-Manitoban town of Richer, 40 minutes east of Winnipeg, Ti-Beauville restaurant beckons with piles of frites stacked with spicy hamburger, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, cheese curds and house-made gravy. Meanwhile, Lucky Luc’s in the town of Ste Agathe serves poutine piled high with ground beef, tangy bourbon barbecue gravy, crispy bacon and onion rings – a feast for the senses! Check out the trail map and start the day hungry.
Made in Canada Food Tour
Taste what it means to be Canadian on this mouth-watering Culinary Adventure Co. food tour. Discover The Forks, a historic meeting place for more than 6,000 years, where First Nations peoples originally traded, followed by the French fur traders, Europeans and immigrants that came afterwards. Chomp your way through the quintessentially Canadian flavours of The Forks Market – from artisan cheese, hand-made sausage pizza, maple delicacies and the best fish ‘n’ chips in Canada. As you feast on Indigenous bannock with locally made jam, you’ll start to understand the stories behind Canada’s culinary icons.
Hargrave Street Market
Check out Winnipeg’s new, upscale food hall positioned right next to Bell MTS Place, home of the National Hockey League’s Winnipeg Jets. This stunning addition to the downtown core has every taste covered with the best offerings from Winnipeg’s favourite restaurants here for the taking. Sip on a craft cocktail or local beer at the stylish Rose Bar, and don’t miss Miss Browns for house-smoked meats and outstanding breakfasts, co-owned by Aussie chef, Steve Tyrell. Saburo Kitchen serves world-class ramen and donburi bowls, while The Good Fight Taco will blow your mind with its colourful bowls and flavoursome tacos.
Exchange District Food Tour
The Exchange District features North America’s largest and best-preserved collection of heritage buildings – an ideal backdrop for restaurants, galleries and boutiques. The Exchange District Food Tour explores this National Historic Site by foot, encountering chefs and shop-owners and tasting their wares. We’re talking Winnipeg’s best donuts, signature sandwiches, plant-based foods, handmade toffee and edible artisan creations. Every bite tells a story!
Prairie Firehouse
Two and half hours west of Winnipeg, the town of Brandon is home to Prairie Firehouse, a popular restaurant housed in one of Manitoba’s most historically significant buildings. Designed by one of Brandon’s most prominent early architects, W.A. Elliott, the Central Fire Station was constructed in 1911. Today, this Manitoba Municipal Heritage Site retains its charm with red brick and a steeply pitched roof, while its menu is packed with pasture-raised meats and meals created from locally grown ingredients.
Saint-Boniface Food Tour
Stroll across the Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge into the francophone community of Saint Boniface, where you’ll find Saint-Boniface Cathedral, the burial place of Louis Riel, a leader of the Métis people who fought for their rights as Canada was being formed. The Saint- Boniface Food Tour is a delicious way to immerse yourself in the culture of the neighbourhood, with a guided walking tour and meal served with quintessential French flare and flavours.
Ale Trail Craft Brewery Tour
Uncover Winnipeg’s burgeoning craft beer scene and the city’s little-known liquor-laced history. Visit three breweries over four hours, learn the art of professional beer tasting, and hear about the city’s wild past—from the scandals of its first police chief to the veterinarians who circumvented Prohibition laws by prescribing alcohol to their four-legged “patients.”
Getting there
Air Canada has direct flights from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Vancouver, with connecting services to Winnipeg.
www.travelmanitoba.com
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