Manitoba Food and Drink

Winnipeg has a vibrant dining scene with a huge choice of global cuisines thanks to the city's diverse cultures. You might dine on Manitoba beef in an upscale eatery, chomp into bison burgers in a local diner or munch pierogies and cabbage rolls in a corner café.

Chefs produce creative dishes using Prairie-grown produce such as wild berries and wild rice. Numerous festivals showcase the region's food and culture, including Folklorama and the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba.

Rural Manitoba also offers a wide choice of restaurants, from high-end bistros to roadside grills and bakeries selling organic treats.

Specialities

• Traditional First Nations foods, such as bison, game, fish, wild fruit and grain.
• Bannock: flat bread cooked over an open fire, first brought by fur traders.
• Smoked fish and meats – try some delicious smoked Lake Winnipeg goldeye, or another favourite, pan-fried pickerel (a small pike).
• Culinary imports include sushi, Ukrainianborschtor a delectablevinartertadessert from Iceland, consisting of thin cake layers sandwiched together with a cardamom-scented prune filling.
• French-Canadian dishes, such as pea soup,tourtièreand sugar pie.
• Pierogies: eastern European dumplings stuffed with fillings such as potato and cheddar or bison and prosciutto.
• Schmoo torte: cake layered with whipped cream, nuts and caramel.
• Apple jacks: an apple-filled pastry sold at Gunn's Bakery in Winnipeg.

Things to know

Off-licence alcohol is generally available only from government-owned and privately run liquor stores, although some hotels sell beer to take off the premises.

Tipping

It is customary to tip waiters 15 to 20% of the bill.

Drinking age

18.

Regional drinks

Craft breweries are on the rise in Manitoba, particularly in Winnipeg. Fort Garry Brewing Company Ltd (www.fortgarry.com) is the city’s oldest microbrewery. Half Pints Brewing Company (www.halfpintsbrewing.com) is another local favourite. Both offer tours.