Event showcases Manitoba’s gourmet delights

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This article was published 01/03/2019 (2409 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With a cold, hard February behind us and a not-much-friendlier March roaring in our faces, a walk around an outdoor food market isn’t in the immediate future.

But fear not, gentle foodie. Saturday brings with it the sixth annual #LoveLocalMB, a fantasy food market at the Victoria Inn you can stroll through sans parka, while sipping a lovely cocktail.

Peter Fehr, who owns of Gourmet Inspirations (gourmetinspirations.ca), is also the co-founder and host of #LoveLocalMB (lovelocalmb.com) — a food, beer and wine indoor tasting tour.

“Our guests get to treat themselves to a variety of bite-sized, savoury or sweet gourmet delights from Manitoba’s best food and beverage producers,” Fehr says. “The fact that the event has become a sellout evening is telling of how much our province values and builds into its local economy.

“It’s a super fun evening out, with a complimentary cocktail, live music, lots of sampling and the opportunity to support local producers by purchasing their wares,” Fehr says.

Fehr says he’s worked hard to make sure guests will enjoy some new features to keep the Love Local MB experience fresh.

“We have a cool welcome cocktail that I’m just finalizing now,” says Fehr, who is working with the folks from Nomad Box Bar to get it just right.

Nomad Box Bar is new to the event this year. The company has taken a two-horse trailer, built in 1978, restored it and converted it into a self-contained mobile bar service that on Saturday will be set up in the centre of the event.

Designated drivers will get a chance to sip coffee by Tasse: The Coffee Project (tassecoffee.ca) a “farm-to-cup” coffee supplier.

“Their story is really cool,” Fehr says of the Pham family, led by Thien Pham, who runs Tasse. “He is Vietnamese, and his family are coffee farmers. He imports the beans directly from his family farm, and then he roasts them in Winnipeg.”

Tasse does not have a storefront yet, so Love Local MB provides an opportunity for attendees to meet the Phams in person.

Other vendors include: Baltic Brothers Created Infusions (a cocktail infusion company); Wolseley Kombucha (kombucha and other ferments); Spreads by Cede (almond butter and chia seed spreads); Shrugging Doctor Wine; Fort Garry Brewing; Bones & Marrow Broth Company; Prairie West Ice Cream; Little Bones Chicken; Hildegard‘s Bakery; and perennial favourite, Flora & Farmer.

Fehr’s own company, Gourmet Inspirations, is also bringing something new to the table.

“The landlord at my facility owns a Saskatoon farm,” he says. “We were brainstorming on products, and we came up with our Prairie Berry Salad Dressing and Prairie Berry Dessert Sauce, which contain Manitoba Saskatoon berries and wild Canadian blueberries.”

In addition to the new vendors, Fehr says the layout will be changed around a bit. One thing that won’t change, though, will be Love Local MB’s basic format.

“It’s pretty much the same as always: you come in and you register, and then you start browsing and you go grab a drink,” he says.

“As always, we have some great door prizes, as well.”

He has one key tip for everyone: arrive with an empty stomach.

“There’s lots of sampling, with over 50 companies showcasing their wares,” he says. “And we also encourage more than sampling: you can support these local makers — who produce these great products every day — by purchasing the products they bring.”

If people want to track down the vendors either pre- or post-show, they are all listed on the #LoveLocalMB site, lovelocalmb.com

“Most of them are available in retail stores, but there are some who only sell at markets,” he says.

Fehr says running the indoor market has been a real learning curve for him both as an entrepreneur and an organizer.

“The biggest thing I’ve discovered is the sense of community that we have, and that we’re continuing to build around these local makers,” he says.

“Most of us are small companies that do one- or two-person shows, so this is a real opportunity for community.

“The amount of support that exists between these companies is pretty incredible, and it’s been a joy to be a part of this community.”

Twitter: @WendyKinginWpg