There are so many Vietnamese restaurants in Winnipeg. I heard about Pho No 1 from some other Indonesian friends. One time, I was meeting up one Indonesian foodie who lives in Winnipeg as well. Fitri was suggesting to meet at Nou Eul Tor, a Korean restaurant on Sargent. However, the restaurant was closed on Tuesday, so we decided to go to another Asian restaurant. She said let's try Rice Bowl, a Filipino, Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant. I was more interested to try one dish of Vietnamese there. When I took a look the menu, both of us were saying the same "not many Vietnamese choices here". I said let's move to Pho No 1 since Fitri likes this place better.

The room was full, only one table was empty. The waiter was asking us to sit there. We finally sat down inside Pho No 1 and read the menu. I observed the place and people. Most of the customers were non Caucasians, but I did see some Caucasians.

After about 3 minutes, I saw there was another empty table which close to the window. I requested to move to that table.

After flipping some pages on the menu, I decided to go for a bowl of Bun Bo Noung (Rice Vermicelli and Grilled Beef). The beef was seasoned perfectly and tender. This place has reasonable prices with bigger portions too. I definitely will go back there to try other Vietnamese dishes. This place is always packed during lunch and dinner time, so you may avoid those hours.

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I first interested after reading my Winnipeger's foodie buddy, Zollipop. Back when she posted about it, I somehow forgot about this place. Then, two days ago at the urbanspoon, I found people posted some pictures of this cafe. One of them was a picture of different hot sauces on this cafe's table.

You might be curious why I was so fascinated just because a picture of hot sauces. Well let me tell you. I grew up at a place where all restaurants have a bottle or bowl of chili sauce or sambal on the table. I came to the country where I have to ask for hot sauce at some restaurants unless I go to the Asian ones. Sriracha, tabasco and chili oil are pretty common to be offered here, but this cafe offers sambal ABC sauce or labeled as tropical chili sauce in Canada and Thai sweet chili sauce. Now, you got what I meant. Yes, I grew up with this kinds of sambal sauce (preferably jempol and belibis brand), but since sambal ABC is the easiest to get in Winnipeg, I like buying it.





The Sherbrook area, the one that is closed to Misericodia hospital has some places to dine in for vegetarians such as Stella's Cafe, Cousins Deli & Lounge and Charisma Indian restaurant. In my honest opinion, with a great concept and settled in the right neighbourhood, Boon Burger Cafe will do considerably. Plus, it is owned by conscientious people.

Take a look what this place has promised...


The place is not that big yet very efficient. It has two communal tables inside and two small round tables at the patio. The communal table really reminds me of traditional warungs (read: small restaurants) in Indonesia where you can have a chat with the strangers next to or in front of you. Strangers are just friends you don�t yet know. Don't you think?

As an omnivore who often makes vegetarian foods for the better half, I enjoyed my Salsa Burger from Boon. Salsa Burger contains grilled mushroom-rice patty, chunky salsa, avocado, a slice of daiya vegan cheese, red onion and lettuce. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the salsa. I don't find the salsa is perfect balance for this burger. However, I took a bit of my husband's Buddha Burger and loved it! Buddha Burger has curried chickpea patty, mayo, creamy cucumber sauce, peach chutney, sliced cucumber, tomato, red onion and lettuce.


In fact, I didn't eat in. I just recreated how Boon serves the burgers for the sake of picture; serve on a square wood plate. Thanks goodness for my food props at home! I have almost the same as Boon has, so I can take a picture of my meal. Plus, I have my own sambal ABC sauce too

Boon's baked sesame fries was tasty too. Yummmm.

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Please find 3 more pictures below that have been in my file since early January and April this year. I went to this place about 3 times already.

I first came to try this restaurant with a friend and chose Ohjinguh Bokkeum meal. It came with onjinguh bokkeum (Stir Fried Spicy Squid with Vegetables), stew potatoes, kimchi, stir fry bean sprouts and rice.



Then, I recommended to my husband and he agreed to try. Even though this Japanese and Korean restaurant isn't big, it has accommodated my husband who loves Japanese food and myself, the Korean food junkie. As usual, he went for the sashimi and I picked the spicy dishes. So, it was my second visit; I chose Gae Jang Baek Ban due to my high curiosity of raw crab taste. It was really really spicy, but good; a mix sweetness and spicy of gochujang. The blue crab tasted fresh no fishy or unpleasant odour. The sashimi was good too (no picture for that as you know how it looks already).



With medium range prices, friendly service and efficient, you can see why I came back to this restaurant for 3 times. However, for myself, I'd rather stick to their sashimi and Korean dishes.

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Since we barely pass by this area, we never knew this new sushi restaurant, Sushi King. From St. Vital Centre, we decided to eat at Sushi King. I felt in love with the interior design. It's very Easter colour and modern.

When I saw the chef, I was quite surprised. I noticed it was the same guy who worked at Sushi Train on Pembina.

After posting the photos on my Facebook, a friend who used to work close to this area told me that he was the one who worked at Sushi Train. Now, he owns this Sushi King.

Most of Sushi restaurants in town have similarity in menu. Sushi King has one menu that I haven't seen before, Umecchi (above picture). Umecchi is a sushi roll with Umeboshi and Spinach.

Umeboshi is a pickled ume fruits common in Japan. Ume (Prunus mume) is a species of fruit-bearing tree in the genus Prunus, which is often called a plum but is actually more closely related to the apricot.

From my opinion, the miso soup isn't as good as other Japanese restaurants serve. It's too watery. Other foods are ok, but it's not the best I've ever had. Overall, this place has unique design with their special menu that keeps changing. I was a bit disappointed that Sushi King doesn't have takoyaki, but I was happy with their Sunomono Salad with choices of crabmeat, shrimp, octopus. I picked crabmeat for my salad.




Sunomono salad consists harusame noodles, English cucumber, choice of seafood. Harusame Noodles are thin, translucent Japanese noodles, slightly thicker than glass noodles but still almost as thin as hair.



To see more menu, you can visit Sushi King website.

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Yummy Gravlax

The Stella's Cafe and Bakery serves all day breakfast menu.   I never ordered the same food whenever I went there.

The first time I felt in love with this cafe was about 3 years ago. I adored their homemade jam. With a perfect sweetness, I meant for a person who doesn't like too much sweet things like me; their jam is so perfect. Also, I still could find the strawberry chunks in it. You can dunk your toast into the jam.

Last Wednesday, my husband (PB) and I went there for the sixth time. I saw the cafe has new choices. While PB ordered a fish burger with a cup of carrot coriander soup, I chose an Open Face Gravlax Salmon with the same soup as he had.

Surely, he loved the fish burger which was made from pickerel. As Stella's style, it always had a sprinkle of fried shallots inside the burger. What about me? It was my first time to have Gravlax. I do love it. I am a sashimi lover, so I didn't refuse Gravlax at all. Gravlax is a Nordic dish consisting of raw salmon, cured in salt, sugar, and dill. If you still wonder about Gravlax, here is a good link to inform you more.

My Canadian husband has a very little mix with Icelandic.  However, he didn't know about Gravlax before.:)

He also enjoyed the bottled tea that we only found at Stella's so far. Perfect sweetness and acidity! Not too sweet nor too sour.  To wake me up, I needed a bit caffeine for my beverage. I picked a cup of Caff� Latte.





The ambient is very relax, even though most of the time are busy.

I'm doing this review not because I get paid.  Hence, this is my personal opinion. When you are in Winnipeg, try to visit this local cafe.  The Stella's has 3 locations in town.  The one that I used to go is at 166 Osborne Street.

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Last Saturday (March 29, 2008) was only 2C, but it had sleeted as you can see in the first picture, the road was so nasty. I was quite upset with the pictures here. It was my mistake too, I was in rush to take the pictures *too hungry:-P*. Also there was a dish that I didn't take a picture of, it was shrimp on green peppers with oyster sauce.

After I took pictures couple times, one of the servers came and asked me, " are you a professional photographer?"
I said, "Is there any rule that we can't take a picture here?"
"We are not allowed a pro photographer to take some pictures here."
"Ooo, no, it's just a hobby"
Hahahahahaha but I would say yes if he said we need a food photographer :-P

Another thing that was disappointed me, my favorite chicken feet came late, they put them on the cart right after we were standing front of the cashier to pay. :(

The only two places for dim sum in Winnipeg that I have been, are Kum Koon Garden and Dim Sum Garden. Kum Koon is pricey but if you look for a good food for Chinese food, it is the place. If you want to go for dim sum that is more modestly price than Kum Koon, go try Dim Sum Garden during their happy hour (2 pm to 5 pm).

Dim Sum Garden
277 Rupert Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 0N5
(204) 942-8297

Enjoy the pictures folks!

Shrimp and Scallop Dumplings or we call Hakau in Indonesian


Fried Eggplants Stuffed with Shrimp




Gai-lan with Shrimp Paste Sauce (Petis Udang in Indonesian)

Next are two pictures of my favorite mango pudding.

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I read about Diana's Gourmet Pizzeria advertisement on internet two months ago. I told to my husband to try it one day. On Sunday evening, he was reading its advertising at Yellow Pages, which is said:

� Each crust is made fresh with 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil not Lard or Canola Oil
� All recipes made with Nature�s Cargo Sea Salt (find this at healthy stores)
� Choose 4 types of crust � Medium, Thick, Thin or Crispy Thin � Available in White and 100% Whole Wheat or try our Award Winning Moosehead Crust
� Our house blend marinara has crushed tomatoes marinated with 6 herbs and spices for 24 hours to create a one of a kind homemade flavour
� Your choice 4 Premium 100% REAL Canadian Cheese, including low-fat mozza � not fake Cheese
� Your choice of over 39 toppings including 25 gourmet and 19 vegetarian delights.

Diana was recently named Canada's 2005 and 2006 Pizza Chef of the Year by Canadian Pizza Magazine. Sounds interesting, eh? We were tempting to try the pizza.


There is no dine in. Pick up and delivery only. Open daily at 4 pm.

My husband called to ask for delivery. We ordered XL combos gourmet vegetarian which is topped with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, and artichoke heart. As soon as I got the pizza and paid it, I opened the box, I can see the freshness of the topping and ungreasy appeared.

I tried one bite, hmmm it was so good and tasted fresh. My husband used to have digestion problem after ate pizza . With this pizza, his digestive was ok.

After all, I gave 4.5 of 5 stars for Diana's Gourmet Pizzeria. Check the website out at http://dianasgourmetpizzeria.ca

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