Food Review: Peasant Cookery

Peasant Cookery

283 Bannatyne Ave

                I have been eyeing this place for a while. But I knew I had to go when I heard from my in-laws that it was a very nice place to eat. They were right. The bar at the peasant cookery is across the hall from the dining area and I would recommend it over the regular eating space. It is much cosier and the fireplace in the corner makes the place feel very comfortable. It is also a pleasure to watch the bartenders mixing drinks and chatting to people.

                I am always a sucker for specials and when I heard the special was Panzanella (a favourite salad of mine) we had to order it. We ordered:

-French onion soup

-gnocchi

-panzanella

-2 drinks (old fashioned, ginger pear)

The French onion soup was great and the gnocchi was fabulous. We found the panzanella was nothing special, but the drinks made up for that. We also have good service and the bartender was patient while we tried to figure out what cocktails we wanted.

                We expected that to portions would be small and more costly than the places we usually eat. This was true, but we both agreed that the food was worth the price we paid for it. However, I was unusually hungry that day and so I was peckish again before we got home. I call this type of portioning the just right portion. It is the size of helping that we should all be eating to prevent us from getting overweight. At the end of the meal you don’t feel full but you also aren’t stuffed. When I find that I have the self-restraint to limit myself to a just right portion it feels rewarding. But my love of eating is a hard thing to combat.

                Anyway, I would definitely go here again. I would also invite friends to come, especially if there was a concert in the area. It is the perfect place to eat out if you are in the exchange, and it would be a nice place to bring someone on a date. In other words: good food and good drinks.

Until Next Time,

Food Review: Taco Del Mar (Portage Ave)

Taco Del Mar (West end)

1132 Portage Ave

                I had almost no time to eat dinner and I was in the Wolseley area. Fairly clueless about where to eat in the central part of Wolseley I consulted my handy-dandy urbanspoon app. It told me (Bless its heart) that Taco Del Mar was close by.  I had no idea what that was so I came to the place with no preconceptions. When I discovered it was attached to the subway I was wary. When I saw that the place had institutional-feeling beach decor I was even more hesitant. I had stepped into places that looked like this when I was travelling in Hawaii and was rarely impressed.

                As it turns out Taco Del Mar is owned by subway (explaining why they can share a common bathroom at this location). I know subway pretty well and I am familiar with navigating their endless list of options. Here I had no such luck. I ended up having no idea what I could order or how much it would cost. So I asked the person (the burrito artist?) who was serving me and he politely listed the toppings and stuff and told me I would get extra beans and rice as well as complimentary sour cream and guacamole because I am vegetarian. While I was pleased with the gesture I am also sad that guacamole and sour cream wouldn’t automatically come with the meal. However, no automatic guacamole and sour cream is common practice so I have resigned myself to it.

                I ordered:

•   1 vegetarian mondo burrito with: Guacamole, Rice, Black Beans, Sour Cream, Cheese, something whose name I couldn’t make out but looked like antipasto, cilantro, jalapeno peppers, medium salsa.

It was a good burrito, but not special. You can get a similar one at pretty much any place that makes burritos. It was about the amount of money I would expect to pay for the amount of food I got. Overall it was fine but nothing special. The thing that did awe me was the device they used to moisten the tortilla shell when the first started the burrito crafting process. It was a sort of steam heated press which they could put the shell in and it heated it, moistened it, and grilled it all at the same time. It was a really cool thing! I also like the aluminium foil that they used to wrap the burrito in. It made it very easy to eat it while holding in the juices.

Would I go there with friends? Probably not. Would I go there for lunch in-between meetings with clients? Definitely. 

Until next time,

Food Review: La Fiesta Cafecito

La Fiesta Cafecito
Unit M 730 St.Anne’s Rd




Updated November 2013

The first time I tried to go here I was told that there would be a 45 minute wait. That time I decided to eat at Diana’s Gourmet Pizzeria instead. The time I resolved wait and try the food. A relative of mine had recommended this place to me. She said that it was the best South American food in Winnipeg, if not in all of Manitoba. Even after eating here I am not qualified to decide, but I will say that it is the best South American food I've ever tried (having never been to South America).

The restaurant did a really good job of making a strip mall unit feel comfortable, which is no small achievement. The place is designed to feel like you are sitting on the street ordering drinks from an indoor bar. They also have a bathroom that feels like it belongs in someone’s home rather than a restaurant.
The same relative who told me to come here also warned me that if the host/server tells you that it will be a 45 minute wait you should expect it to take closer to an hour. The place is ALWAYS full. However, you can (and should) make a reservation. We were also warned that the service is incredibly slow. Therefore my Wife and I were not surprised when our food came a full two hours after we first arrived (an hour waiting, and an hour between ordering and getting the food).  In any other restaurant this would have ruined everything and I certainly wouldn't have left a generous tip.  But our server was amazingly friendly and kept us entertained whenever he walked by our table. I have never had a better server! The second time we went (a Tuesday evening) it was quiet and we had no problem getting a seat. The amazing server was not there but the staff were relaxed and the food was equally as good.

The food is unbeatable.
We ordered:
- Sangaria
- Chipotle Jalapeno Cheese Pupusa
- 2 Mojitos
- 2 Vegetarian Combination Platter #2 (salad, burrito, 2 pupusas, 1 enchilada)
- Vegetarian Combination Platter # 3 (salad, burrito, 1 pupusa, 2 tamal, 1 enchilada)

In my opinion the thing that makes the food exceptional is the care the people take in making it. They also make plain (unseasoned) beans taste wonderful. The pupusas and the tamal's are extraordinary and the enchilada’s made every other enchilada look pathetic. In contrast, the burrito and the salad seemed fairly standard. The mojitos were very good. The sangaria is not very sweet, which is a requirement for me.
All in all it was a wonderful time, the food was a good price, and I would recommend the place to anyone. However, I would also tell them that they need to make a reservation or they will spend the whole evening waiting for food.

Until next time,