Chefs gather in St. Boniface to see whose version of jollof is best

Chef Alex Bockarie is bringing an age-old African culinary battle to Winnipeg.

On Saturday, five local chefs hailing from Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Nigeria will go head-to-head to determine who makes the best jollof — a rice dish simmered in a savoury tomato-based stew.

“Jollof rice originated from Senegal but it has spread throughout West Africa and every country has its own method of cooking it,” Bockarie says. “It’s a long-standing fight; even among the communities here in Winnipeg, everybody’s always saying that Sierra Leone’s (jollof) is the best, Ghana’s is the best, Nigeria’s is the best.

“It’s a friendly competition; friendly, but very serious too.”

Loblaw increases number of new stores planned for 2026

BRAMPTON - Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is increasing the number of new stores it plans to open this year.

The company behind Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart said Tuesday it now expects to open about 75 new locations this year, up from earlier plans for about 70.

Loblaw chief executive Per Bank says Canadians are being thoughtful about every dollar they spend. 

"We see that in how they shop our stores, the brands they choose, and how they use our loyalty and e-commerce solutions," Bank said in a statement.

Schwartz’s Deli swaps black cherry soda for local alternative as U.S. tariffs bite

MONTREAL - On a typical summer day at Schwartz’s Deli, in Montreal, there's a lineup at the door as tourists and locals wait to get their smoked-meat sandwich.

But now, something has changed.

For decades, customers would be able to order a can of Cott’s Black Cherry Soda alongside their sandwich.

While Cott's used to be a local brand, it was bought out in 2018 by a multinational beverage company, Refresco, which said it has stopped production of the drink in Canada.

Getting schooled in cool-climate Chardonnays

In mid-July, winemakers, winery owners, those in the trade and the wine-loving public convened in Niagara to celebrate wines made from the noblest of white grape varieties — Chardonnay.

This annual gathering isn’t just about any old Chardonnay, however — rather, it fêtes those made in regions where the grape produces the liveliest, most exciting examples of the stuff.

The 16th annual International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration brings together producers making Chardonnay in regions of the world that don’t get as hot as, say, Napa Valley, Australia’s Barossa Valley or Tuscany in Italy.

The grape developed a bad rep among some wine drinkers for being overly oaky and buttery, with almost-overripe fruit flavours and a big, rich texture. That style has primarily a thing of the past, however, with more producers opting to craft wines that deliver decent ripeness but with less oak influence and more zip, offering a lively wine with a backbone rather than something on the flabbier, over-extracted side of things.

Interprovincial trade barriers falling but challenges remain: experts

The collapse of talks with the United States has added urgency to reducing trade barriers within Canada, but experts say it's not a simple fix.

Efforts to boost interprovincial trade have ramped up recently, including at a meeting this week of federal, provincial and territorial trade officials in Iqaluit.

In a communique released late Thursday, ministers agreed that the suspension of negotiations with the U.S. means it's more critical than ever to strengthen the economy at home.

As part of that push, nine provinces agreed last month to allow direct-to-consumer alcohol sales across provincial boundaries.

What’s up: Deep Purple, Sarper Güven, and Taste of Manitoba, Maryland Music, Must Be Nice Indigenous Comedy and Corn and Apple fests

Must Be Nice Indigenous Comedy FestivalDevil May Care Brewing Company, 155-A Fort St.Friday & Saturday, 7 p.m.Tickets $23 at EventbriteTreaty 1 comedians Jeff Gobeil and Kaitlynn Brightnose have had big, busy summers.

Gobeil, a member of Poplar River First Nation, is fresh off performing The Crown Witness Is a Stand-Up Comedian? at this year’s Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival. The hour-long solo show, which earned four stars from the Free Press, details how he reported his childhood sexual abuser to police and served as the Crown witness during the man’s trial, “with Gobeil striking a breathtaking balance between his harrowing life story and the comedic observations that have resulted,” according to our review.

He and Brightnose, who grew up between Pukatawagan and Cranberry Portage and is a regular at the Bannock Bums showcases at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, also performed at the Indigenous Comedy Showcase before headliner Jim Gaffigan’s set at the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in July, along with fellow comedian Noah Robinson.

On Friday, they’ll headline the first night of Must Be Nice Indigenous Comedy Festival, a two-night showcase featuring Indigenous comedians from across Treaty territories. Robinson will also perform at the fest, along with a slate of other comics including Stephan Meechas, Sherry McKay, Issa Kixen and others. Single-night and weekend passes are available at Eventbrite.

Try these veggie burger options around Winnipeg

This summer, a quest to discover Winnipeg’s finest veggie burgers unveiled a surprising array of creative and delicious options. From the structural integrity of buns to thoughtful toppings, the article explores standout local eateries, each offering unique takes on plant-based patties that are as flavorful as they are engaging.

Saskatchewan’s Premier Moe announces 50% retaliatory tax on U.S. booze amid trade war

PRINCE ALBERT - As Canada's trade war with the United States escalates, Saskatchewan is hitting back with a reciprocal tax on American alcohol.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced Wednesday that starting Sept. 8, Saskatchewan is to impose a 50 per cent fee.

"It will be good for our Saskatchewan producers with domestic and local sales," he told reporters Wednesday in Prince Albert, Sask.

The move comes after trade talks recently broke down between Canada and the United States. 

Grocers revive signage to indicate tariff-affected items, Canadian products

Canadian grocers are adding more signage to highlight homegrown products as trade tensions escalate between Canada and the United States.

Loblaw says it is bringing back the T symbols to its grocery shelf labels to signal products that have seen price increases due to tariffs, replicating its response from last year when the tariff war first began.

Customers will start noticing the T symbols on a small number of products, which will grow as tariffs are applied across more categories, Loblaw chief executive Per Bank wrote in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday.

"And one commitment is especially important: Loblaw will not benefit from tariffs," he said.

Butter me up: Paris gets its first boutique devoted to France’s favorite fat

Le Butter Shop, billed as Paris’ first boutique devoted entirely to butter, opened last month a short walk from the Eiffel Tower — with 30 varieties from small family producers in Brittany, the Loire Valley and northern France.

Arts & Life team taste-tests new Kraft concoction

Prepare your tongue for the ultimate thrill, as Kraft Dinner has once again veered wildly out of its box and into new territory.

Another downtown eatery bites the dust

Another longtime downtown Winnipeg restaurant has closed its doors, leaving another hole in the city’s core.

Rudy’s Eat & Drink announced on social media it was closing after 15 years in Manitoba Hydro Place but did not cite a reason.

“Cheers to the years of local beer, burger weeks, jets games, weddings, catering, stone soup week, DJ nights, charitable events and everything in between — we will hold these memories forever,” the post said. “The end of an era — but there’s always another chapter.”

General manager Mackenzie Robb declined to comment on the eatery’s closure. Rudy’s last day of service was on Friday.

Cool spots for more summer sweets

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. Missed seeing your favourite ice cream joint in last month’s Chill Out feature? Cheer up: we’ve compiled our reader suggestions.

Plenty of alternatives to U.S. wines on the shelves

By necessity, most savvy wine drinkers have moved on from American wines. That move has been relatively easy, as there’s no real style of wine from the U.S. that’s truly irreplaceable; there are plenty of equivalents out there that are just as good (or better) from other countries.

Texas barbecue is getting a halal makeover

FORT WORTH, Texas (RNS) — At 9 a.m. on a scorching Saturday in June, nearly 100 people were already lined up outside Goldee’s BBQ, a small, wooden-shack restaurant.

First in line was 30-year-old Thanh Huynh, who had been sitting in a lawn chair on the joint’s rustic porch since 6:30 a.m.

“I have, like, a whole list, and I’m going to spend lots of money here. It’ll be worth it,” he said, laughing while rattling off a long order of meats and sides from his phone’s Notes app as a sweet, smoky scent from nearby pits hung in the air.

Opened in 2020 by a group of his friends, the restaurant was named the No. 1 barbecue spot in the state by Texas Monthly a year later, and then won a Bib Gourmand award from the prestigious Michelin Guide, given for “great food at a great value.”