Food Worth a Drive in Manitoba: Lake Winnipeg and Beyond

Food worth a drive in Manitoba is mostly a short trip from Winnipeg, and the best of it sits on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, which provides pickerel, the local name for walleye. Gimli, Winnipeg Beach and Steinbach each give a reason to go. The best months run from late spring to early autumn.

Where does food worth a drive in Manitoba begin?

On the lake. Lake Winnipeg is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, and its fish has fed the province for generations. A short drive north or east of Winnipeg brings you to beach towns, fish shacks and fishing harbours, and a good plan is to pick one town and make a day of it.

The best months are late spring through early autumn, when seasonal restaurants are open and the weather allows a lakeside walk. In winter, many shut down, and the road is quiet.

What is Lake Winnipeg pickerel?

Pickerel is the Manitoba name for walleye, a mild, flaky freshwater fish with white flesh. It is usually fried in batter or pan-fried with butter, and served with fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce. Seasonal lakeside restaurants are known for pan-fried or battered pickerel caught fresh in Lake Winnipeg, and Gimli's fish and chips counters are a good place to try it.

Order it simply, and ask whether the fish is from the lake. Locals will tell you without prompting. A plate of pickerel with lemon, tartar sauce and fries is the standard, and a side of coleslaw or a cup of chowder fills out the meal. If you prefer, ask for it grilled or baked, though most lakeside cooks are proudest of the pan-fried version. Fish that has been caught that day tastes sweeter and holds its shape, and a busy kitchen is usually a fresher one.

What is Gimli Icelandic food?

Gimli is an Icelandic town on the shore of Lake Winnipeg, about an hour's drive north of the city, settled by Icelandic immigrants in the late nineteenth century. It hosts a four-day Icelandic festival in August, and its streets carry Icelandic names and a statue of a Viking.

In Gimli you can try vinarterta, a layered Icelandic cake with prune or date filling, at a local bakery. A plate of fish and chips made with lake fish is the local order. The boardwalk has ice cream, fish and chips and perogy stands.

What is Winnipeg Beach like?

Winnipeg Beach, at the south end of the lake, has long been a getaway for people from the city. The town has a beach and a boardwalk, and a day trip is easy. It suits a family that wants a swim and a snack.

Because it is close to the city, it is busy on hot weekends. Arrive early to find parking, and bring a towel and sunscreen.

Is Steinbach Mennonite food worth the drive?

Steinbach is roughly forty-five minutes from Winnipeg, and its Mennonite Heritage Village recreates a turn-of-the-century Russian Mennonite street village. Mennonite cooking is hearty and plain: farmer sausage, verenike (cottage cheese dumplings), borscht, pastries and breads. Local restaurants and bakeries serve versions, and the village itself may offer meals in season.

Check what is on offer before you go. Heritage sites often change their menus and calendars. If you cannot find a meal at the village, a bakery or a cafe in town is a good alternative. Look for fresh bread, sausage and pastries, and ask what is made in house. Plain, filling food is the point, and the portions are meant to feed people who work outdoors.

What about farm stands, Riding Mountain and the Parkland?

West of Winnipeg, Riding Mountain National Park is a popular getaway for hiking and camping, and the surrounding farm country sells produce, honey and baked goods at roadside stands in summer. In the Parkland region near Dauphin, Ukrainian bread traditions tie back to the area's settlement.

Farm stands run on the honour system, with a box for payment, and cash is useful. The range includes berries, vegetables, preserves and pickles in season.

How do you plan a Manitoba food day trip?

Pick a direction: north to Gimli and the lake, east to the beaches or south-east to Steinbach. Eat lunch at your first stop, walk it off and have a snack on the way home. Winter trips need more planning, since many seasonal places close.

Fill the tank before you leave the city. Check weather and road conditions, and bring water. A cooler lets you bring home fish, sausage or baking, and a small bag of cash helps at roadside stands. Summer weekends are the busiest, so leave early, and in autumn the colours along the lake make the drive a pleasure in itself.

Where should you go next?

For a Winnipeg meal, the cheap eats in Winnipeg guide and the Osborne Village guide cover the city. The prairie regional foods guide explains pickerel in a wider setting, and the Alberta food worth a drive guide covers the next province west. The Canada guides page lists more.

A good meal on the road is easy to forget. In the Mosey app you can rate each plate, note the town and the lake and build a Manitoba list for friends.