Tour du Chocolat

Semi-sweet, dark, light, milk chocolate- the options are endless and delicious. On April 18-19, The Forks Market is partnering with Ciao! to present the Tour du Chocolat, a unique Forks take on chocolate. For only $7, you can purchase a passport and try everything from chocolate perogies to deep fried mars bars. We have over 20 samples at our shops for you to savour, and you won't want to miss a single one.

We also have three students from the Pastry Art program at Louis Riel Arts &Technology Centre joining us for the festivities. Each student will be sculpting with chocolate to create a masterpiece that will be auctioned off at the end of the two-day event. We talked to each of the students to find out what they will be creating and a few of their favourite chocolate treats!




Hoping to pursue a career in pastry arts, Quin entered the pastry program in September. She's excited to be graduating in June.

What is Quin going to sculpt?

The only sculpture I have ever made was a small isomalt sugar sculpture, but prior to hearing about the chocolate festival, I had never attempted to make anything out of chocolate before. I'm anxious to see the end product, but I'm also very nervous that things won't turn out as planned.

I hope to create a bit of an underwater themed piece simply because as I was sketching out my plan, that is what became of the shapes I was creating

What's Quin's favourite chocolate?

As I am more of a sour jujube type of person, I find it hard to pick only one favorite chocolate, but I always find myself leaning towards anything milk chocolate filled with caramel.

Leandra entered the program at Louis Riel Arts &Technology Centre because she wanted to learn more about styles and techniques as a pastry chef. This is her first time working on chocolate like this and she's really looking forward to it.

What is Leandra going to sculpt?

The creation that I want to achieve is a carriage like the one off of Cinderella. Why did I choose this? Well, the new Cinderella movie that just came out it inspired me. The details of the carriage and how it was all gold it was such a phenomenal prop in the movie. And to try and hopefully create something like that would be amazing!

What is Leandra's favourite chocolate?

My favorite is milk chocolate or dark . I love both kinds, but not for any particular reason. I am just a fan of chocolate I guess.

Only 18 years old, Erica has been working hard to learn the skills of a baker. A soon-to-be graduate of the program, Erica is also new to sculpting chocolate, but is looking forward to the challenge.

What is Erica going to sculpt?

For my chocolate sculpture I am hoping to create something weird shaped using different shapes and sizes.

What is Erica's favourite chocolate?

My favorite type of chocolate is milk chocolate because I think it tastes the best and it has a nice and smooth mouth feel.

Saddle up for the Rodeo- Interstellar Rodeo that is.

Interstellar Rodeo has been slowly creeping into Winnipeg’s consciousness after three great festivals in Edmonton. Adding Winnipeg as Interstellar Rodeo’s second home was a natural. Winnipeg is a music-lovers town. We punch well above our weight when it comes to the talent that oozes out of here, and we are well known to be prolific and discerning when it comes to making and taking in live music.  Our festivals are renowned – every summer weekend boasts musical opportunities of all genres and vibes, and even our winter has shot up as a music festival season with events like Festival du Voyageur and Big Fun. Interstellar fits right in to the scene. It’s an urban festival – easily accessible by foot, bike, bus, car and even boat.

Our inaugural 2015 Winnipeg festival features a slick set of excellent artists – the unofficial theme has something to do with badasses. While very different musically, artists like Sinead O’Connor, Steve Earle and Tanya Tagaq are not afraid to tell their truths. Personally, I think every summer festival should end on a Blue Rodeo high; and so this one shall, right after a summer stunner of a set by Vance Joy who is burning up the airwaves and is about to hit the road with Taylor Swift!

When I think about Interstellar Rodeo, much of my excitement comes from envisioning it at The Forks. That museum in the background? After show drinks at SMITH? (maybe a breakfast cinnamon bun from Tall Grass…). I just can’t wait to sip exquisitely paired wine on one of those berms, watching Winnipeggers enjoy the site, the sights and seeing some old favorites like Dwight Yoakam, and likely find some new great bands to love.

Guest Post by: Sara Stasiuk

{fan of good music}

Interstellar Rodeo Winnipeg Artists & Schedule

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2015

Hawksley Workman

Tanya Tagaq

Sinead O’Connor

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2015

Amelia Curran

NQ Arbuckle

Elliott BROOD

Justin Townes Earle

Steve Earle & The Dukes

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Dwight Yoakam

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2015

Jason Plumb and the Willing

Black Joe Lewis

Rhiannon Giddens

The Lone Bellow

July Talk

Vance Joy

Blue Rodeo

Tickets:

Tickets go on sale Friday, April 10 at 8 a.m. 

Prices range from $48.75 (Youth single-day tickets) to $225.00 (Adult weekend transferable passes). 

There are limited quantities of First Mover Weekend Passes, which are just over $140 (1/3 off the advance price.)

For more ticket details, click here.

Foolishness at The Forks

 Photo by Leif Norman

As a parent, coming up with ways to keep the kids entertained during Spring Break is challenge. So many hours to fill with healthy and fun activities, so much energy to burn off!

For the past few years, I have brought my two young girls to The Forks to 'help' me at Festival of Fools. I am a part of the Winnipeg International Children's Festival (which spearheads the Festival of Fools), and the event always ends up being a chance to 'bring your kids to work week' - a week we all get to have some fun.

Photo by Leif Norman

The kids get to see incredibly funny circus performers like Gustavo the Impossibilist, The Silly People, The Street Circus Show, Mr. Mark, The Magic of Anders, magician Ron Pearson and many others.

They also get to participate in Circus Workshops, where artists like juggler Isaac Girardin teachs kids to use circus tools like juggling sticks, diabolos and spinning plates. There are even Trapeze Workshops available to kids aged 8+.

Other parents like Jennifer Lesley, who belongs to the Kidsfest Facebook page, agree Festival of Fools is a great family-friendly event.

"My sons, 6 and 7, still remember their first experience at the Festival of Fools last year," Jennifer wrote. "Watching (Karl Saliter from Karl's Circus Comedy) getting 'swallowed' up by a giant balloon was, by far, their favourite part of the program. I also loved the incredibly realistic skeleton and lion my boys were transformed into after a visit to the magical face painters!"

It's a win-win - and the best part is: totally free. 
For helping mommy out, our kids get rewarded with treats from the Festival of Fools General Store, and Skinner's French Fries. They can't wait for Spring Break so they can head down to The Forks!

Guest post by: Lisa Saunders,

mother of two and enjoyer of all things foolish!

Click here for a full schedule for Festival of Fools.

Photo by Leif Norman