#4 Local Baby Shower Gift: Shower Sweets & Caterers

I know that this is not really a shower gift feature but anyone who has been to a baby shower knows that it isn't only all about the gifts. A bunch of women close to the mom are of all ages and are there to show their support and guidance. Lately, the newest trend are Jack and Jill showers. Jack and Jill showers are even more about the party or get together. Lots of shmoozing and eating. Regardless of what kind of shower is chosen for the mom the food will be the center of most of it, especially the sweets. Cupcakes, cookies and cakes are normally the center of the meal. Little sandwiches, dips, and other savory snacks may start the meal but the attention stays on the desserts. If home made is not an option, I know most people go to one of the large grocery stores for their desserts. They are typically made with horrible ingredients and are rarely fresh. One thing Manitoba, especially Winnipeg, has for it are dozens and dozens and dozens of bakeries. These bakeries can be chosen to cater the savory dishes and some specialize in the sweet treats. Here is only a small selection of what Manitoba has to offer. If I have missed a bakery worth mentioning, please email handmadeinmanitoba@gmail.com.

Anna's Cakes
Anna Wall
Winkler
aewall17@hotmail.com








































Sugar Cookie Shoppe
Kristina Currie
Winnipeg
www.thesugarcookieshoppe.com























Lilac Bakery
920 Grosvenor Avenue
Winnipeg
www.lilacbakery.com





























High Tea Bakery
2103 Portage Ave
Winnipeg
204-775-0264
www.highteabakery.com











































C-Cups Bakery
2B-1565 Regent Ave.
Winnipeg
204-654-2877
www.ccups.net






















Eat Bistro
274 Garry Street
Winnipeg
204-949-1231
www.eatbistro.ca
















Constance Popp Chocolatier
1853 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg
204-897-0689
www.artisanchocolates.ca












Chocolate Zen
553 Osborne Street
Winnipeg
204-287-2253
www.chocolatezen.ca















Cupcake Corner
439 Stradbrook Ave.
Winnipeg
204-453-CAKE (2253)
www.thecupcakecorner.ca























Belle Cake and Candy
Unit 10 - 1604 St. Mary's Road
Winnipeg
204-255-8727
www.bellecakeandcandy.com
















Cakes By Shelley
Winnipeg
204-803-2145
www.cakesbyshelley.ca





























Sweet Impressions
Suite A-268 Tache Ave
Winnipeg
204-237-0743
www.sweetimpressions.ca






















Dessert Sinsations
505 Saint Mary Avenue
Winnipeg
204-284-4661
www.dessertsinsations.com











Others to look to for catering of the savory or sweets:

Tall Grass Prairie
Winnipeg
www.tallgrassbakery.ca

Bread & Circuses
238 Lilac Street
Winnipeg
204-477-4555

Peppercorn & Co Personal Chef Service
www.peppercornchef.com

Harvest Bakery & Deli
Winnipeg
www.harvestbakeryanddeli.com

DeLuca's Specialty Foods
www.deluca.ca

Mondragon Cafe & Bookstore
www.mondragon.ca

La Grotta Mediterranean Market
www.lagrotta.ca

***All photos belong to the businesses and artisans featured here.

Homer's Restaurant

Ok....so I KNOW that Homer's Restaurant is still open because my husband and I decided to order take out for Valentine's Day. We have two small children so we had our romantic dinner here once the kids were in bed. I was very thankful for early bedtimes because my stomach was growling.

I have had Homer's a few times in the last 4-5 years. It is not far from our neighborhood and they have a delicious menu and I especially love their Homer's Vegetarian Platter. My favorite greek dish is Dolmathes. They are little vine leaf bundles stuffed with rice and glazed with a lemon sauce. Normally they come in the Homer's Vegetarian Platter but they have changed the dish slightly and they do not anymore. Their online menu still shows them on the platter so they would make it that way if you wanted it. The platter comes with a stuffed tomato or pepper, spanakopita, roasted potatoes, and the veggies of the day. My platter came with the stuffed tomato. Everything was lemon and fresh tasting. The spanakopita was buttery and rich and the potatoes were fantastic. Even the seasoned vegetables were good and the red peppers tasted like they were marinated for hours. They were melt in your mouth good. I am not 100% sure that the potatoes are not cooked in a chicken broth. If you are a very cautious vegetarian you may want to ask before ordering. I am a long time vegetarian but I know that I have occasionally eaten items at restaurants that may contain some meat broth and I am sorry to say that sometimes the less I know the better. Many ethnic restaurants still label dishes with meat broths, fish, or oyster sauce as vegetarian dishes so it is good to check.

We, or should I say I, decided to order the Dolmathes appetizer because it has 5-6 of them for $8.95 and I can't get enough of them. I actually have bought a jar of the leaves at Deluca's and have intended to make them at home but haven't gotten around to it yet. They were delicious and the lemon glaze was light and creamy. I was very impressed that I allowed my husband two of them. It must have been the love in the air.

My hubby ordered Greek Baby Back Ribs which came with Avgolemono lemon chicken rice soup, roasted potatoes, and their veggie of the day. He said his meal was great too but said that he prefers ribs that have a wet sauce since these were more of a dry rub. He said they were very good but he said they would be better as an appetizer since they are similar to dry ribs offered at many restaurants. One thing that he was very impressed with was the prices. All the meals were between $15-$25 and this included the steaks and seafood. My husband is fairly thrifty so for him to say this was pretty cool. Also, I have a menu from 4 years ago and the prices have not gone up much at all and I know that nearly every restaurant I go to ups their prices every year or two including the cheap delivery pizza places.

Their menu says that they were established in 1979 and that they are the creators of Chicken Souvlaki and that is has since spread internationally. Hmmmm......I wonder if that is true?? They also feature fresh, tasty, unadulterated food, and multigrain flax bread that is baked on site. Using fresh, natural ingredients is very important to Homer's Restaurant. I have yet to dine inside so I cannot comment too much on the service but I have always spoken with friendly people on the phone and at the front. I have used them for small catering events and have never had any issues and everyone has always been very happy with their meals. I would recommend that you keep them in mind for a work lunch, a small or large function, a dinner party, or like we enjoyed...a romantic dinner for two.

They have menus online:

www.homersrestaurant.ca

www.mobilemaitred.com

Homer's Restaurant & Catering
520 Ellice Ave
Winnipeg
(204) 788-4858

Deluca's Onsite Cooking Studio

I know that most people have heard of Deluca's food products and have visited their Portage Ave Italian Specialty Store, Deli, and Bakery. I have been a customer of theirs for many years and have also been very lucky to be involved in two events in the Deluca's Cooking Studio. They use this studio for cooking classes and private events. Friday, we were at a Deer Lodge fundraiser dinner in the Deluca's Studio and it was great. The room was decorated beautifully and it is bright and cheery. The staff and Deluca family were amazing and the atmosphere was very fun and relaxed. The kitchen is open and they have cameras on the cooks so you can learn from them on the large flat screen tvs. They also include some recipes to take home. The meal included a salad, a pasta, the main dish, dessert, and wine.

Fridays menu was Insalata Misti (mixed green salad with lemon balsamic vinegar), Gnocchi al Ragu di Agnello (tomato lamb sauce), Petti di Pollo Ripieni con Prosciutto, Formaggio e Spinaci Patate al Forno e Vegetali Misti (chicken stuffed with prosciutto, spinach, & cheeses in a white herb sauce served with roasted baby potatoes and veggies), Tiramisu con Panna (lady fingers dipped in espresso & brandy with whip cream, chocolate shavings & amaretti crumbs), and they had cappuccino or espresso to finish the meal. My husband loved the meal, especially the Gnocchi. They had a demonstration on how to make the three courses (not dessert) and sent home the recipes for the entire meal.

With me being the vegetarian at the table I had the salad, Gnocchi with a tomato sauce, and a eggplant layered dish similar to a lasagna, using the eggplant as the noodles, and of course the dessert. My whole meal was delicious especially the eggplant. It was rich and had so much flavour. I love eating where the chefs know how to mingle the flavors so that it is completely balanced and nothing overwhelms the palate. Many people do not have this gift and there is always one herb or flavour that takes over the dish. This meal was a wholesome Italian meal from being to end. The dessert was light and a yummy end to a fabulous meal.

Deluca's has cooking classes available for anyone and it is run similar to the private parties. There is no hands on experience but the demonstrator is easy to follow, you get to eat a delicious 4-5 course meal, and can take home the recipes. I have not been upstairs to experience their restaurant but I am sure many of these dishes are served there as well. The restaurant has a menu online and it is open:

• Monday – Thursday 11:30am- 1:30pm
• Friday 11:30 – 2:30pm & 5:30pm-8:00pm
• Saturday 11:30 – 2:30pm

950 Portage Ave
Winnipeg
(204) 774-7617

Little Bakery on the Prairie

Tall Grass Prairie has been the go to place for fresh bread and baked goods in Wolseley forever. They not only bake everything on site but they grind their own flours from local grains, offer yeast free and other allergy sensitive food, sell local Bothwell cheese, jams, and knit wear, and make the best cinnamon buns anywhere. Not only are these cinnamon buns delicious but they are made from whole wheat flour and they will hand over the recipe to you if you ask for it. They know that you will keep coming back for theirs because their grains are ground daily so your home made ones will still not compare to their jewels. In the last couple of years they have opened a second location in The Forks that offers all sorts of things that the small location in Wolseley can't currently offer including a small organic grocery, catering, and on site made meals. The Wolseley location is currently closed and will reopen in January because they are currently renovating and adding onto the existing bakery. I am excited to see what new things they will offer in my neighborhood.

To me, other than the cinnamon buns of course, the NEED to have items are their whole wheat multi grain bread, wild rice bread, their own cold pressed sunflower oil, and their cheese croissants. Yum Yum! I am sure that they are the best cheese croissants in the world. They are smokey and buttery. I wish I had one right now to go along with my berry tea.

The only thing that they make that doesn't do it for me are their muffins. I think they are a little healthy tasting and my toddler won't eat them. I like them slathered with butter but what isn't delicious slathered with butter. My friend Nadine makes way better healthy muffins and she hides all sorts of crazy veggies in hers. This is of course is just my opinion and I am sure there are lovers of them or they wouldn't be making them. ;)

Tall Grass Prairie is a super place to stop for outings of all sorts. You could pick up a nice hostess gift, a cake, or a dozen of their folk fest cookies for the kiddies. They will even make vegan and allergy sensitive birthday cakes and treats. Give them a call for your next function.

I sadly....oh so sadly missed my friends wedding last year. Not only did I miss watching her walk down the aisle but I missed a meal catered by Tall Grass Prairie. I mourn that day still. I was lucky to have been at a function at our local community club where Tall Grass Prairie catered part of the breakfast. Yummy mini-cinnamon buns and other treats. That was a pleasant surprise.

Just get on your bike and ride to Tall Grass Prairie right now. I don't care if it is 2 in the morning. It is worth the wait, and depending on where you are coming from you may have a long bike ride there anyways. :D

Check them out here if you are too lazy to ride over there now:

www.tallgrassbakery.ca

Bon Appetite!