Five Days of Food

Manitoba is a hotbed of gastronomic goodness. You’re sure to find palate-pleasing possibilities year-round - pickerel, pizza, perogies and much more await your plate. And while Winnipeg proper boasts more restaurants per capita than most other North American cities, there’s a wealth of good eats to be had beyond the city limits as well.

For instance, you could head up Highway 9 to Lockport and spend the morning trying to reel in a massive catfish from the Red River, then grab lunch at either of the town’s legendary hot dog stops - Skinner’s Restaurant or The Half Moon Drive In. Once you’ve had your fill, get back on Highway 9 and head north to Gimli, where vinarterta is queen. When it comes to this Icelandic torte, the more layers, the better. The secret is in the prune and cardamom filling, and of course the sweet icing. Coffee and vinaterta is a magical pairing. Get some at Amma’s Tearoom and Gift Shop.

Pick up Highway 8 at Gimli, head 16 kilometres north toward Riverton and look for Integrity Foods. This family-run bakery (complete with wood-fired oven) specializes in ancient grains including spelt and kamut. Grab some baked treats and head back to Gimli for a room with a view (of Lake Winnipeg) at the Lakeview Resort.

Rise and shine! From Gimli, continue up Highway 9 to Hecla/Grindstone Provincial Park. Enjoy a round of golf at the picturesque Hecla Golf Course, then hit the 19th hole at Rok Restaurant and Lounge - grab lunch or a snack while you’re there. Check in to the Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort. Unwind and refresh at the resort’s spa. Enjoy award-winning fine dining at L’Enoteca, the resort’s upscale restaurant, before retiring to your five-star accommodations.

Get a good start on your next day of driving and dining - head back down Highway 9 to downtown Gimli. Take in the shops or visit the New Iceland Heritage Museum. If vinaterta is queen of Gimli, then pickerel is king. Hit Beach Boy Restaurant to try some of this delicious, locally-caught fish - for around $10, you get three filets, a mountain of Greek salad, lemon roasted potatoes and garlic toast. Don’t like fish? Try one of their killer burgers.

Head south on Highway 9, then east on PR 225 to the lakeside retreats, wooden piers and families heading to the beach for an afternoon swim in Lake Winnipeg. Snack and shop at the Whytewold Emporium. Make your way back to Winnipeg, dining at the city’s hip, hot Pizzeria Gusto for dinner - this new, critically acclaimed bistro does pizza like nobody else.

Hit the sheets at the Inn at the Forks - it’s a cutting-edge hotel located at the heart of the city, where the Red and Assiniboine rivers meet. Enjoy a hot stone massage at the Riverstone Spa or a snack and a beverage at The Current.

Enjoy breakfast at The Forks Market - whether you eat at The Original Pancake House or at one of the diverse food kiosks, you’ll be in great shape to start your day. Spend the rest of your morning browsing the market’s many shops, featuring everything from wine to handmade clothing and crafts.

Experience a quintessential Manitoba lunch at Alycia’s. This legendary Ukrainian north end hotspot features the city’s best perogies as well as cabbage rolls, borscht and more. Spend the afternoon burning off the calories as you peruse the fresh produce at Vic’s Fruit Market, Eat It!, and Organza Market. Ask at the latter two about Petersfield’s The John Russell Company’s amazing blended honey.

Head south on Highway 75 and out of the city for the night - check in at the Gîte Maison près de la Rouge Bed & Breakfast in Ste Agathe. Venture out for dinner in the area and enjoy a night in a francophone community on the shores of the Red River.

The final day of adventure features rural culinary discoveries. Head east on PR 305 and Highway 52, then north on PR 216. Once you find the Holstein statue, you’ve arrived at the Bothwell Cheese plant and shop in New Bothwell. Try some mouth-watering samples before loading up on delicious cheeses. From Bothwell, travel east for 6 kilometres on PR 311 to PR 206 and into the town of Landmark to Neva Hydroponic Farms. Check out their mouthwatering greens and aromatic herbs.

Head south on PR 206 to Highway 52, turning east toward Steinbach to grab some lunch. Drive north on Highway 12 to Ste. Anne, home of Greenland Gardens. Greenland Gardens produces tomatoes and cukes year-round and sells them to restaurants and organic food stores in Winnipeg. Get ‘em from the source!

Roll down the TransCanada Highway and back to Winnipeg. Choose from one of the city’s diverse dining and accommodation options.