Get ready for Indo-Canadian feast at new restaurant

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This article was published 09/04/2018 (2720 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s no secret Winnipeggers love butter chicken. It’s always placed last on the buffet, but people still jump the queue to heap it on their plates. Two entrepreneurs from Winnipeg’s food industry have decided to capitalize on Winnipeg’s butter-chicken madness, and serve everything from full meals (and many different entrees) to smaller fare, such as butter-chicken poutine and butter-chicken hamburgers.

The two-storey King of Butter Chicken opens in a few weeks at 775 Corydon Ave.

“Our restaurant is the first Indo-Canadian restaurant in Winnipeg,” says co-owner Amanjot (Aman) Singh Bajwa, who has teamed up with former Canad Inn banquet and buffet cook Bhupinder (Bob) Singh Purva.

Aman worked at Harvey’s at the airport, but this is no fast-food joint. The restaurant is now pearl grey and brick after a classy renovation, with a cocktail bar and plans for a fancier patio outside.

The concept of the large menu is a marriage between Indian food and Canadian food, with desserts and drinks.

“I’m very excited because I love cooking, and Indo-Canadian is a new concept for Winnipeg,” Bob says. Adds Aman: “I think we’ll have the biggest and best patio here on Corydon, and we’re going to develop it.”

City Haul’s last two weeks: The controversial head shop, which ended up selling at least half antiques, memorabilia and old movie and TV treasures over the years, is closing April 30. Last week, they had big FOR LEASE signs up on the windows at 173 Lilac St.

Owner Matthew Frost says he’s experiencing the irony of business never being better. A flurry of folks, whether online and streaming through the door, are anxious to buy his old collectibles — now that the supply is going to be gone. Frost says the more people have gotten into computers and social media, the more they want old quality things back.

“I barely got a big, salmon-coloured roto-dial phone from 1982 in the store, and it was gone in minutes.”

Yours truly held the door open while one young dad carried out a sled and a Tonka truck.

“That’s an original Spartan wood sled with Eaton’s stamp on it, built to last, not like the new ones made to throw out,” Frost says. Toys and games that aren’t sold before the doors close will be boxed and sold at Central Canada Comic Con in October.

His second floor is still full of bongs.

“I think the 4-20 sale this year is going to be bumpin’,” Frost says.

Meanwhile, people have been stopping by to say “so long” to Matthew and his 27-year-old parrot, Nadine, which was the shop’s mascot.

“I’ll miss a lot of good people who have come to my store.”

SIGN OF SPRING: Bocce provides excuses to party on weeknights all summer. Host restaurant Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano (204-488-3676) is taking applications and spots for teams of six to eight people. They are going fast.

“And individuals who want to play will get placed in a team — we can set them up,” organizer Marilena Moccia says. “It’s become very popular, and believe it or not, it’s pretty good exercise.”

Restaurant owner Joe Grande and his dad, Angelo, started this league, and the tiny street beside the eatery at 1697 Corydon Ave. was renamed Angelo Grande Bocce Way. Grandpa still comes out to watch, on occasion. Want to play and do everything online? Check out monalisa.rest for the registration form.

“We get over 200 bocce players per year, and it’s great fun!” Moccia says.

It costs $80 for anybody to join for the season, which runs July through September, and a bocce awards gala with dinner and dance takes place at the Centro Caboto at season’s end.

Games start July 2, and run Monday to Thursday.

HOLLYWOOD HAS ARRIVED: Angie Zachary’s 3,000-square-foot Be•YOU•tee Bar dazzles at night with glistening chandeliers showing off at 3-823 Corydon Ave.

The full-service salon uses giant mirrors, powder-blue walls and floor-length curtains to draw women’s eyes as they drive by.

The previous Be•YOU•tee Bar was originally on River Avenue in Osborne Village, and has grown up, big time. It now offers one-stop hair, nails, eyelashes, full makeup, facials and waxing — and will host wedding bridal parties, sweet-16 parties, stagettes and girlfriend gatherings, plus they book individual clients for all services.

Got tips? Fun happenings in your world? New spots opening? Unique events? Contact Maureen’s Tips at mscurf@shaw.ca