The NEXT Great Food Trend Happening at The Forks Market

It's time to treat your taste buds to the NEXT exciting food experience at The Forks Market. Now open, the NEXT food kiosk in The Forks Market showcases a unique local chef or restaurant that will rotate on an ongoing basis.

The Forks Market has always been a destination for variety when it comes to food, and NEXT is here to build on that trend. We’re really excited to offer a rotation of great chefs and restaurants at NEXT- and continue to share Winnipeg’s innovative foodie scene!

The NEXT food kiosk is located in the newly refurbished Centre Court, now dubbed the Food Hall, and will have Dancing Noodle as its first tenant. Their hand-pulled noodles are as authentic and appetizing as they are magical to watch when being made.  Usually located on Pembina, Dancing Noodle will be at The Forks until August 5, temporarily closing their main location.

Innovative and local, not to mention tasty- those are some of the things we are looking for when it comes to NEXT tenants. NEXT gives well-known restaurants and chefs in the city a food lab to show off new and innovative menu ideas. And for new entrepreneurs, NEXT can give them a space to launch their unique concepts.

So, if you want to become part of NEXT (or know someone who should), call 204-987-4352.

Stay tuned on social media - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. to find out who's coming to NEXT.

Homegrown Summer: A Visit to The Forks Farmers' Market

Blog post by Lindsay Somers

I don't know about you, but I love enjoying each season and the unique things it brings. In summer, I love biking and taking in the sites, sounds, and flavours. One of my all-time favourites is the fresh produce that we get here in Manitoba, and nothing says summer like going to a farmers' market to get it. So last weekend we (Bob and I) biked to The Forks Farmers' Market (open on Sundays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. near The Forks Market) to check out what they had.

We decided to bike there because - well, I want to ride my bike everywhere! It feels great to use your own body to move, get outside and is a more pleasant way to get places. With updated bike lanes and oodles of bike parking, The Forks is an easy bike destination to get to [just remember to bring a tote bag to haul all your goodies!]. 

Farmers’ Markets are always a bit of a surprise shop, you never know what’s in season (non-gardener here!), and artisans always have new and different handmade offerings. My strategy is always to walk a couple laps first as see what’s out there before really honing in.

I love chatting directly with the people who spent time handcrafting and growing the goods. Everything is made with pride and care. It feels so good buying directly from the source.

One of my favourite finds was infused vinegar from Blue SkyManitoba. It’s a game changer for homemade salad dressings. Just mix with olive oil, and voila! Delicious salad dressing. There were over 20 different kinds of infusions. After some hard deliberations, we chose oregano, sun dried tomato and garlic. You can smell every sample to see what suits you. The vinegars are also great for meat marinades and dips too!

Another great discovery was Teamate tea. Every tea you could possibly imagine, I mean EVERY kind. We settled on mint green, ginger fresh and iced lavender. It is worth stopping by this booth if only for the aromatherapy!

Fruit and vegetable season is just beginning, and there was already so much to choose from! I picked up a few salad essentials: spinach, radishes and zucchini. I always prefer locally grown vegetables, they taste so much better. And, all are grown organically with no pesticides. We rounded out our shopping trip with some classic Manitoba perogies! I imagine they were made with tender love in a rural church basement.

What a lovely way to get my produce and a few essentials for the week. It’s an excellent way to spend time together browsing about on a sunny day. Ah, summer.

Later, we came home and put together a simple summer supper. Perogies and salad, so good! I can’t wait to see what they’ll have next week!

Lindsay Somers is an expert in urban lifestyle health. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram. All photos by @janinekropla

How to Prep for Canada Day at The Forks!

Our beautiful country's birthday is coming up quickly! On Friday, we celebrate 149 years of top-notch hockey, endless Tim Hortons runs, cold beer, and poutine at least once a week.

We've put together your Canada Day prep-guide, so you don't have to worry about forgetting the essentials on Friday!

1. Dress the part

Take everything you own that's red and white and find a place to put it. We're talking layers of red and white, bandanas, your mom's red earrings from the 70s, and Canadian flag temporary tattoos everywhere (extra points if you have a Canadian flag headband like this cutie)!

Don't have much red and white? Two Rivers in The Forks Market has a ton of Canadian gear.

2. Know the schedule

There's a ton happening at The Forks on Friday, so check the schedule and make sure you know where you want to be, and when you need to be there.

3. Plan to play

Head over to the Variety Heritage Adventure Playground during breaks between events to keep the kiddos entertained and having a blast.

4. Pack the essentials

Pack your favorite backpack with everything you'll need for the day. Here is a quick checklist of essentials:

• Water bottle (to refill at the water fountains in The Forks Market)
• Sunscreen
• Bubbles (yes – we consider bubbles essentials)
• A blanket to sit on
• Some snacks or some cash for the food trucks
• Your favorite pair of shades

5. Make sure you know the lyrics

Concerts are so much more fun when you can sing along with the band, EH? Manitoba Music has put together an amazing playlist of the musicians playing on Canada Day. 

6. Pick a patio

Who doesn't love a late dinner on a patio? The patios on Canada Day have an extra special allure – everyone dressed in red and white, sipping drinks, and bursting out in a chorus of "O Canada"!

7. Practice makes perfect

Put on your favorite version of "O Canada" in the days leading up to Canada Day and warm up those vocal chords! Sarah McLachlan singing "O Canada" at the 2014 Heritage Classic gives us all the feels.

8. Wear closed-toe shoes

The crowds get bigger and more cramped in the evening, and unfortunately with that comes a lot of getting stepped on. The best way to avoid constant "Oh my gosh, I'm sorry"s, is to keep your toes protected!

9. Plan to visit both stages

There will be live music at the Main Stage in Festival Field and under The Canopy. So, pick who you want to see at each stage, so you don't miss any of your favorites.

10. Pick out a viewing spot

The fireworks start at 11:00 p.m., so make sure you get a spot early. The best ones fill up quickly! Some of the dreamiest spots are down by the river, along Tache Ave across the river, and on top of the hill in Festival Field.

See you Friday, Winnipeg!