first word
first word
ageing tastefully
20 anniversary
It ’ s always fun to look back on what foods made an impression on us last year , and speculate what we may be eating next . When you hit a milestone like a 20th anniversary , the sheer volume of food trends that have made their mark over the years is impressive ! We ’ ve eaten better for the fearless entrepreneurs with a passion to bring something new to Winnipeg ’ s dining scene . We ’ ve seen the desire to eat food grown locally build over the years , and the new eagerness to support local endeavors has been a game changer for upstarts . For locavores this has meant more ( fresh ) choices and better eating . For Manitoba it has been an economic boon .
Twenty years ago , according to this magazine , Winnipeggers ate pretty well ! Manitoba Regional Cuisine was becoming a describable entity ; food that reflects the land and its people , and restaurants with shared principles were emerging on the scene . Mom and pop eateries serving dishes from recipes passed down from their ancestors were commonplace , and with a strategy to share the stories ( and secret recipes ) of the people in Winnipeg ’ s restaurant kitchens , we were on our way to build Winnipeg as a destination food region .
Fast forward to 2017 , and we revel in the city ’ s food related accomplishments . The Ciao ! editorial team visits hundreds of restaurants every year to promote the best ones in this publication . Our experiences and coverage , however small , has expanded many palates . Adding to the mix , Travel Manitoba and Tourism Winnipeg now routinely host journalists eager to spread the word about Manitoba ’ s good eats in national publications and newspapers . The best part ; the way media works ( then and more now ) publicity leads to more publicity . Ciao !— and global influencers like Food Network and Conde Naste — have developed an appetite for stories , pictures and ideas that celebrate food . To that end , consumers are getting in on the action by contributing their own food stories . Watching all those cheffy shows develops fans that take to more home cooking . The results are then “ shared ” with thousands of their not so close friends and fans . The same is true for those eating out .
This issue is a tribute to other noteworthy businesses ageing gracefully . Top Tables selections all have proven timeless appeal , Ciao ! cooks features the colourful and vibrant flavours of Indian cooking with two of the city ’ s pioneer restaurants spotlighted . Our 20th Anniversary special occasion cake on the cover is a work of art by chef Cam Tran , and only one of the delectable French dishes of Café Ce Soir featured . Learn about Cam ’ s journey to cooking on the pages of inthekitchen .
This 20th year is poised to be our best yet . This from someone who has just spent many weeks
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flipping through all 101 issues of Ciao ! to review , critique and plan the future ! That ’ s because the city couldn ’ t be more interesting right now ; fearless entrepreneurs are enriching our local food experiences and good food can be found everywhere — from casual bistros and food halls to cafes in grocery stores .
“ More authentic ethnic eating ” shows up on restaurant trends lists , and this province delivers worldly flavours in spades . We say yes to more African , Middle Eastern , Filipino , Laotian and Thai cuisine ! Bring on the ugly vegetables , the seaweed , grain bowls , green smoothies , and freakshakes . More pickles , pulses , spices and probiotics ! Why not ?
Winnipeg is filled with small players with big ideas who know no bounds . These are the people making it better to live here ! My own desire to spread the word about what makes Winnipeg great , and your continued interest in knowing , means we can celebrate 20 years in publishing together by continuing to celebrate local flavour on these pages ! This issue is dedicated to all the people who have had a hand in Ciao ! over the past 20 years , and most lovingly to my dearly missed husband Brad , who inspired everyone he met and always believed Winnipeg was destined for greatness .
Laurie Hughes , Publisher
4 ciao ! / feb / mar / two thousand seventeen