Manitoba

interlake meander

diy Food Tour

Pickerel burger from Beach Boy Restaurant in Gimli (photo credit @diyfoodtours)

what to expect

The Interlake region of Manitoba is a landlocked region located in the center of the province. It is bordered by Lake Winnipeg to the east, Lake Manitoba to the west, and the Canadian Shield to the north. The region is home to a variety of lakes, rivers, forests, and farmlands. It is also home to a number of small towns and villages. The Interlake region is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, including fishing, boating, camping, and hiking.

  1.  

details

For this tour:

  1. Identify what time your food tour will occur
  2. See what restaurants are open during those times
  3. Pick which dishes to sample based on the results of #1 and #2
  4. Eat great food

Number of stops: 9
Number of tastings: 9
Tastings:
Pickerel Burger (lettuce, mayo, and pickles), Mee Krob (crunch noodles with mixed vegetables), Kikiam (served with sweet sauce), Fresh Pick of the Season Crepe (With fresh fruit and a little cream cheese), The Butter Tart Lady Original Butter Tarts, Smoked Goldeye, Lobster Stuffed Mushrooms, Vanilla Macchiato, and the Cake special of the day

Notable nearby

Diageo whisky plant – Gimli, Manitoba by TravelManitoba

Crown Royal distillery

“Nestled on the edge of Lake Winnipeg, Crown Royal’s distillery in Gimli, Manitoba, is home to 1.5 million barrels of delicious whisky that sit patiently waiting to be shared with the world… Our property stretches over 360 scenic acres with 51 warehouses (which house more barrels of whisky than there are people in Manitoba) and one stillhouse (which serves as a landmark from the lake so fisherman can return safely to harbor). The distillery employs roughly 76 people who distill, mature, blend and run Crown Royal’s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week operation – oftentimes following in the footsteps of generations of family members who made Crown Royal before them. They’re passionate in the craft of whisky-making and they’re proud to share the smoothest, finest Canadian whisky adorers have come to know and love since 1939” (https://www.crownroyal.com/story/our-home/)

*TOURS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE*

DIY Food Tour

Tasting types

There are 6 different tasting types. The first is a Must Try tasting, which means the dish provides a sense of pleasure, leaves an everlasting impression, evokes something exceptional, and will be remembered. The second is a Tasting Hack, that is for example, a tasting that is combined with another tasting on the tour, that together, create a better tasting experience. A Seasonal tasting is only available during certain times of the year. A Vegetarian tasting does not contain meat (only verified vegetarian tasting are identified). A Best-In-Class tasting is an identification of a top tasting destination. A Cook At Home tasting is where you purchase in store, but cook at home.

Must try

Must try food tasting

Tasting Hack

Special manipulated tasting

Seasonal

Seasonal tasting

Vegetarian

Vegetarian tasting

Best-in-class

Top tasting destination

Cook At Home

Tasting you purchase in store, but cook at home

Tasting Menu

Pickerel burger from Beach Boy Restaurant in Gimli

photo credit @diyfoodtours

Beach Boy Restaurant (Gimli)

Seasonal Restaurant

Must try: Pickerel Burger (lettuce, mayo, and pickles)

“The walleye is considered to be a quite palatable freshwater fish, and consequently, is fished recreationally and commercially for food. Because of its nocturnal feeding habits, it is most easily caught at night using live minnows or lures that mimic small fish. Most commercial fisheries for walleye are situated in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes, and fried walleye is considered a staple of Canadian cuisine. In Minnesota, the walleye is often fished for in the late afternoon on windy days (known as a “walleye chop”) or at night. Often served as a sandwich in Minnesota’s pubs where the fish is very popular, deep fried walleye on a stick is a Minnesota State Fair food” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walleye)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: 70 1 Ave, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0, Canada
Hours: TBD
Website: NA
Instagram: NA

Chesley’s restaurant

photo credit @chesleysresort

Chesley's Restaurant (Petersfield)

Canadian-Thai restaurant

Must try: Mee Krob (crunch noodles with mixed vegetables)

“Mi krop, also spelled mee krob, is a Thai dish consisting of deep-fried rice vermicelli noodles with a sweet and sour sauce. Mi krop means “crisp noodles”. The citrusy, sour note in the sauce often comes from the peel of som sa, a Thai citrus fruit similar to citron… The dish consists of crispy fried thin rice noodles mixed with fried tofu, fried shrimp, pork, or a combination, and sauced with a mixture of lemon or lime juice, fish sauce, tomato paste, kaffir lime leaves, chilis, and sugar. The dish can be garnished with scallions, bean sprouts, cilantro, chilis, and fried egg strips” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi_krop)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 6 tastings
Address: 212 Tom Prince Dr, Petersfield, MB R0C 2L0, Canada
Hours: Wednesday Closed
Thursday 4–9 PM
Friday 4–9 PM
Saturday 8 AM–9 PM
Sunday 8 AM–6 PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Website: https://www.chesleys.com/thida-s-restaurant
Instagram: @chesleysresort

Kikiam from Grassmere restaurant

photo credit @grassmererestaurant

Grassmere Family Restaurant (West Saint Paul)

Filipino restaurant

Must try: Kikiam (served with sweet sauce)

“Tapa is dried or cured beef, pork, mutton, venison or horse meat, although other meat or even fish may be used. Filipinos prepare tapa by using thin slices of meat and curing these with salt and spices as a preservation method. Tapa is often cooked fried or grilled. When served with fried rice and fried egg, it is known as tapsilog, a portmanteau of the Tagalog words tapa, sinangag (fried rice) and itlog (egg). It sometimes comes with atchara, pickled papaya strips, or sliced tomatoes as side dish. Vinegar or ketchup is usually used as a condiment” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapa_(Filipino_cuisine))

How to portion: One schnitzel burger can provide 4 to 5 tastings
Address: 3750 McPhillips St, West Saint Paul, MB R4A 5A5
Hours: Sunday Closed
Monday 7 AM–3 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–3 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–3 PM
Thursday 7 AM–3 PM
Friday 7 AM–3 PM
Saturday 7 AM–3 PM
Website: https://grassmerefamilyresto.wixsite.com/mysite
Instagram: @grassmererestaurant

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

photo credit @whytewoldemporium

Whytewold Emporium (Matlock)

Restaurant

Must try: Fresh Pick of the Season Crepe (With fresh fruit and a little cream cheese)

“The Crêpe bretonne is a traditional dish in Lower Brittany, a region of France. It can be served plain, or filled with sweet or salty ingredients. The Crêpe bretonne can be made of wheat (sweet crêpe) or buckwheat (salted crêpe). This last is less well-known and should not be confused with the buckwheat pancake typical of Upper Brittany, which has a different recipe… Traditionally, the batter is cooked in a specific device called billig in Breton, galetiere in the local French dialect (galettoire or tuile in Upper Brittany)… The billig is a typically Breton circular cast iron cooking plate… The batter is spread out onto a disc with a small spatula called a rozell (Breton), rouable or raclette in the local French dialect. Crêpes based on the Breton recipes are usually made with a simple crêpière (or frying pan)… The batter requires energy to aerate the dough and precise gestures to spread it on the billig” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cr%C3%AApe_bretonne)

How to portion: One Manitoban burger can provide 4 to 5 tastings
Address: 190 Gimli Rd, Matlock, MB R0C 2B0, Canada
Hours: Wednesday Closed
Thursday Closed
Friday 10 AM–7 PM
Saturday 9 AM–7 PM
Sunday 9 AM–6 PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Website: https://wwemporium.com/
Instagram: @whytewoldemporium

Butter tarts from Sugar Me Cookie Boutique

photo credit @sugarmecookieboutique

Sugar Me Cookie Boutique (Gimli)

Restaurant

Must try: The Butter Tart Lady Original Butter Tarts

“A butter tart (French: tarte au beurre) is a type of small pastry tart highly regarded in Canadian cuisine. The sweet tart consists of a filling of butter, sugar, syrup, and egg, baked in a pastry shell until the filling is semi-solid with a crunchy top… Traditionally, the English Canadian tart consists of butter, sugar, and eggs in a pastry shell, similar to the French-Canadian sugar pie, or the base of the U.S. pecan pie without the nut topping. The butter tart is different from the sugar pie given the lack of flour in the filling. The butter tart is different from pecan pie in that it has a “runnier” filling due to the omission of corn starch. Often raisins, walnuts, or pecans are added to the traditional butter tart, although the acceptability of such additions is a matter of national debate. As an iconic Canadian food and one of the most popular desserts in the country, the raisin-or-no-raisin question can provoke polarizing debate… The earliest published Canadian recipe is from Barrie, Ontario, dating back to 1900 and can be found in The Women’s Auxiliary of the Royal Victoria Hospital Cookbook, to which a Mrs. Mary Ethel MacLeod submitted the recipe for a butter tart filling” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_tart)

How to portion: One butter tart can provide up to 2 tastings
Address: 41 Centre St Unit J, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0, Canada
Hours: Wednesday 10 AM–5 PM
Thursday 10 AM–5 PM
Friday 10 AM–5 PM
Saturday 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday 11 AM–4 PM
Monday 10 AM–5 PM
Tuesday 10 AM–5 PM
Website: https://www.sugarmecookieboutique.com/
Instagram: @sugarmecookieboutique

Smoked Goldeye from Smith’s Fish in Gimli

photo credit @diyfoodtours

Smith's Fish (Gimli)

Seasonal Fish store

Must try: Smoked Goldeye

“… They are now sought after by many consumers as a smoked fish. Many commercial fishermen sell them smoked after being processed (marinated) in a brine made of spices, salt, brown sugar, and other secret ingredients. They are smoked in oak wood, apple wood, or other woods. Each producer has their own ways of smoking. Despite its soft flesh the goldeye may be soaked in a salt brine for 24 hours and then poached, firming up the flesh” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldeye)

“Jewish immigrants to Canada during the late 1800s played a significant culinary role within Canada, chiefly renowned for Montreal-style bagels and Montreal-style smoked meat. A regional variation of both emerged within Winnipeg, Manitoba’s Jewish community, which also derived Winnipeg-style cheesecake from New York City recipes. Winnipeg has given birth to numerous other unique dishes, such as the schmoo torte, smoked goldeye and “co-op style” rye bread and cream cheese” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_cuisine)

How to portion: Green papaya Salad “Tum Mak Houng” can provide 4 to 6 tastings, Beef Salad “Laap” can provide 4 to 6 tastings
Address: 19093 Gimli Park Rd, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0, Canada
Hours: TBD
Website: https://smithsfish.com/
Instagram: NA

Lobster stuffed mushrooms from McLeod House Tea Room

photo credit @mcleodhousestonewall

McLeod House Tea Room (Stonewall)

Restaurant

Must try: Lobster Stuffed Mushrooms

“Stuffed mushrooms is a dish prepared using edible mushrooms as its primary ingredient. Many fillings can be used, and the dish is typically baked or broiled. It can be served hot or at room temperature, and is sometimes served cold. The dish can have a meaty texture, and serves as an hors d’oeuvre, side dish, or snack. ” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffed_mushrooms)

How to portion: One order can provide up to 4 tastings
Address: 292 Main St, Stonewall, MB R0C 2Z0, Canada
Hours: Sunday 11 AM–3 PM
Monday Closed
Tuesday Closed
Wednesday 11 AM–9 PM
Thursday 11 AM–9 PM
Friday 11 AM–9 PM
Saturday 11 AM–9 PM
Website: https://mcleodhousetearoom.com/
Instagram: @mcleodhousestonewall

Vanilla Macchiato from Beyond Bread

photo credit @beyondbreadbakeryandcafe

beyond bread (Stonewall)

Restaurant

Must try: Vanilla Macchiato

“A latte macchiato may be prepared simply by frothing milk, generally producing generous foam, pouring it into a glass, and adding espresso. The frothing is generally extensive, yielding significant light, “dry” foam, with a layer of liquid milk underneath, rather than the “wet” microfoam used in latte art… Alternatively, it may be prepared as a layered drink, with the espresso gently poured (most gently out of a small espresso brew pitcher, over the back of a spoon) so that it forms a layer between the denser liquid milk below and the lighter foam above. In this case a glass is essential for the layers to be visible” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latte_macchiato)

How to portion: One order can provide 1 tasting
Address: 368 Main St, Stonewall, MB R0C 2Z0, Canada
Hours: Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Tuesday 8 AM–4 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–4 PM
Thursday 8 AM–4 PM
Friday 8 AM–5 PM
Saturday 8 AM–3 PM
Website: https://www.beyondbreadcafe.com/
Instagram: @beyondbreadbakeryandcafe

Mint Chocolate Chip Cake

photo credit @ljsgrill

LJ's Grill (Warren)

Restaurant

Must try: Cake special of the day

“During the Great Depression, there was a surplus of molasses and the need to provide easily made food to millions of economically depressed people in the United States. One company patented a cake-bread mix to deal with this economic situation, and thereby established the first line of cake in a box. In so doing, cake, as it is known today, became a mass-produced good rather than a home- or bakery-made specialty… Later, during the post-war boom, other American companies (notably General Mills) developed this idea further, marketing cake mix on the principle of convenience, especially to housewives. When sales dropped heavily in the 1950s, marketers discovered that baking cakes, once a task at which housewives could exercise skill and creativity, had become dispiriting. This was a period in American ideological history when women, retired from the war-time labor force, were confined to the domestic sphere, while still exposed to the blossoming consumerism in the US. This inspired psychologist Ernest Dichter to find a solution to the cake mix problem in the frosting. Since making the cake was so simple, housewives and other in-home cake makers could expend their creative energy on cake decorating inspired by, among other things, photographs in magazines of elaborately decorated cakes” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cake)

How to portion: One slice can provide up to 5 tastings
Address: 250 Railway Ave, Warren, MB R0C 3E0
Hours: Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Tuesday 8 AM–4 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–4 PM
Thursday 8 AM–4 PM
Friday 8 AM–7 PM
Saturday 8 AM–2 PM
Website: NA
Instagram: @ljsgrill

photo credit @arborgbakery

Arborg Bakery (Arborg)

“We are a bakery that has been around since the 1940s, which means our recipes are tried and true. Our European bread recipes are the talk of the Interlake, and often taken by the dozen with those visiting relatives who once lived in the area. We serve only the best, the same product from the Arborg Bakery that you know and love. You are always welcome and we hope that you feel heard, and satisfied each time you visit our shop or purchase from our store” (https://www.arborgbakery.store/)

Address: 303 Main St, Arborg, MB R0C 0A0
Website: https://www.arborgbakery.store/
Instagram: @arborgbakery

photo credit @gimlihoneycompany

 

Gimli Honey Company

“Local honey producers in the Gimli area. We extract the Flavors of the Land for all to enjoy. Established well over a decade ago. We sell honey, bees, wax, pollen and candles. Garlic is sold seasonally.” (Gimli Honey Company)

Address: Gimli, MB, Canada, R3J 1Y8 (see location on map above)
Website: NA
Instagram: @gimlihoneycompany

2021 Le Burger Week Winner “The Smokey Barrel” (CAB and Beef Brisket Grind Patty, Apple Butter Beef Brisket, Smoked Pork Belly, Honey Horseradish Aioli, Grainy Mustard, Smoked Gouda, Red Pepper Jelly and topped with Arugula) (NOT CURRENTLY AVAIABLE) from Carlo’s Cucina (photo credit @carloscucinamb)

 

Carlo’s Cucina (Winnipeg Beach)

2021 Le Burger Week Winner, 2023 Le Burger Week Winner

Address: Winnipeg Beach Community Centre -32 Hamilton ave
Hours: Saturday
8 AM–7 PM
Sunday 8 AM–6 PM
Monday 11:30 AM–7 PM
Tuesday 11:30 AM–7 PM
Wednesday
11:30 AM–7 PM
Thursday
11:30 AM–7 PM
Friday
11:30 AM–7 PM
Website: NA
Instagram: @carloscucinamb

COMMENTS/QUESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS/UPDATES

Email: Matt@diyfoodtours.com