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This article was published 10/08/2011 (5351 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just 23 more stops to make, Folklorama fans, and your world tour is over for another year. Here are our reviews of the Week 2 pavilions. Be sure to share your own opinions in our comments section below!

23. Africa/Caribbean Pavilion

Grant Park High School, 450 Nathaniel St.

FOOD: If you like your food spicy, jerk chicken ($9), curry chicken or goat ($9) or milder calypso ribs ($9) including rice and peas is for you. Veggie roti ($7) is terrific with your choice of gingery gizzarda or coconut drops ($2.50) for dessert.

DRINK: Red Stripe Beer, Dragon Stout or Carib Beer ($5 each); rum punch and pina coladas ($5). Or, if you prefer, non-alcoholic Calypso Punch ($2.75), ginger beer ($2.75) or all-the-rage coconut water ($2).

SHOW AND DISPLAY: The lively show features the hip-shaking Ariya Afrika Dancers, Afro-Caribbean Dancers and Bele dancing, as well as African drumming and limbo. The display includes carved coconut bowls and dishes, fertility dolls, and a host of musical instruments.

BEST REASON TO GO: Two (or is that three?) words: Prince Jo Jo. Everyone’s favourite limbo dancer/fire eater direct from Ocho Rios, Jamaica slithers under impossibly low poles.

CULTURE SHOCK: George Washington Carver discovered over 400 uses for the lowly peanut, from axle grease to shampoo.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: This friendly pavilion felt somewhat disorganized on opening night. Some sound issues also resulted in a muddy mix for the Paradize Band that also performs before each show.

— Holly Harris

24. Brazilian Pavilion

Heather Curling Club, 120 Youville St.

FOOD: The feijoes ($8), a black bean stew, sticks to your ribs. But it’s the Bolinhos de Caranguejo ($4), deliciously greasy crab cakes, that will leave you wanting more.

DRINK: Sour but sweet, a tart Caipirinha ($5.25) has the perfect mix of Cachaca spirit, lime juice and sugar cane. For those who are going alcohol-free, there’s also guarana soda ($3.50).

SHOW: A rollicking 42-minute show that has members of the audience on their feet by the end, joining in with eye-popping samba dancers. A well-designed and colourful display touches of major aspects on Brazil (like love of soccer, and the fact the country is home to the biggest cashew tree in the world).

BEST REASON TO GO: Professor Baiano’s whirling back flips during the show will take your breath away.

CULTURE SHOCK: The stars on the Brazilian flag are in the position they were in the sky above Rio de Janeiro on November 15, 1889. Each star represents a Brazilian state.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Some of the food was underwhelming, especially the high cost for a plate of the feijoes. There was also no Brazilian beer available.

— Gabrielle Giroday

25. Casa do Minho Portuguese Pavilion

Casa do Minho Portuguese Centre * 1080 Wall St.

FOOD: Pork on a bun ($5) is, well… pork, on a bun. But there are roast chicken and cod fish dinners ($12-$15) too. Desserts are a lovely mix of sweet flavours such as flan ($2.50) and rice pudding ($2.50).

DRINK: The chilled vinho verde or green wine, produced only in the Minho region of Portugal, is like a severe white wine with some sparkle. Sagres beer is apparently the mainstream beer of Portugal.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: The display is limited. The show has even more colourful costumes than you would expect, some foot-stomping, poofy-dressed, twirling dancing and a charismatic singer dressed in casual clothes but commanding a big voice.

BEST REASON TO GO: The desserts, and the fact the show was spiced up with a dramatic scenario that had two lost Canadian backpackers shuffling around the pavilion bumping into — who would have guessed? — some Portuguese dancing and singing!

CULTURE SHOCK: At the end of the show, the backpackers ask: “We’ve seen the young and the old, but what about people our age?” Out trot some young adults — but the women in ornate, formal dresses, and the men in tight black slacks and bowler-like hats.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: To warrant having dancing as almost every act in the show, the dances could be more varied, and for some, more challenging. They’re up to it.

— William Burr

26. Chilean Pavilion

Notre Dame Recreational Centre, 271 ave. de la Cathedrale

FOOD: Hot, crispy empanadas filled with cheese ($3) or veggie, beef, chicken or seafood ($4.50) are also available in a combo plate of three ($9). For something more substantial, try the corn pie filled with meat ($8).

DRINK: For an alcoholic but refreshing and fruity potable, have the Borgoña — a satisfying combination of red wine with strawberry pieces floating in it ($5).

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Dance troupe Maggia Chilena from Temuco, Chile, will dazzle you with different dances each night. Monday featured an expressively choreographed ballet based on the life of influential Chilean folklorist Violeta Parra, who committed suicide at age 49. At the display, be sure to chat with Mario, who can tell you everything you want to know about Chilean history, artifacts, jewelry, famous Chileans and lapis lazuli, which is plentiful in Chile.

BEST REASON TO GO: The visiting dance troupe is worth the entrance fee alone, but you’ll also feel like an honoured guest at this pavilion. Everyone is friendly and greets with you with warmth and smiles.

CULTURE SHOCK: Chilean poet, writer and diplomat Pablo Neruda, the 1971 Nobel prizewinner for literature, is considered by many to be the Spanish Shakespeare.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Audience members would have reaped much more from Maggia Chilena’s dance number had there been a translation of the Spanish narration projected on the screen along with the photos of Parra.

— Gwenda Nemerofsky

27. Croation Pavilion “Zagreb”

West Kildonan Collegiate, 101 Ridgecrest Ave.

FOOD: Cevapcici ($3.50), a mixture of pork and beef minced meat rolls, are a savory treat. Raznjici ($3.50) are peppery pork skewers. Knedle ($3.25) is a large, not-too-sweet plum dumpling that will finish off your meal perfectly.

DRINK: Croatian wine Kastelet ($4.25) is a dry red and beer Ozujsko ($6) is light and fruity. Both hold their own against the flavourful food.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Countless dancers fill the stage for large-scale performances. A live folk band plays tirelessly. The beautiful painted backdrop adds to the feeling of traditional song and dance. There is face painting and colouring for the kiddies.

BEST REASON TO GO: The singing is beautiful and the performers look like they’re having a lot of fun.

CULTURE SHOCK: There is an incredible diversity of landscape in the small country, as shown during the multiple slide shows.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: The audio was difficult to hear clearly in the large school gymnasium.

— Tania Kohut

28. DOTC First Nations Pavilion

Riddell Hall, University of Winnipeg, 385 Spence St.

FOOD: An unusual array includes elk burgers or smokies ($8), bison meatballs ($3), or powwow favourite, Indian taco ($6). It’s all fresh and delicious.

DRINK: Only non-alcoholic beverages available.

SHOW/DISPLAY: You can’t beat this pavilion for authenticity. You’re also guaranteed to learn something you didn’t know before as emcee Ray “Ko-Ko” Stevenson (a.k.a. Walking Wolf) entertains as much as educates. The show highlights traditional powwow dances, including the unforgettable chicken dance mimicking the mating prairie chicken. The display features intricate beadwork, leather, furs, as well as historical information on First Nations.

BEST REASON TO GO: It’s a toss-up between the spine-tingling Walking Wolf Singers/drum group or hoop dance finale where jingling dancers gradually surround you in a circle of life.

CULTURE SHOCK: Every powwow begins with grass dancers who prepare the site by trampling the uncut grass and blessing the ground with eagle feathers.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: The short demonstrations seem to end as soon as they begin! Only the extended hoop dance lets you fully experience the power of indigenous music and dance.

— Holly Harris

29. Hungaria Pavilion

St. James Civic Centre, 2055 Ness Ave.

FOOD: You won’t break the bank at this pavilion, where there are plenty of homemade and delicious choices for reasonable prices. Daily specials of chicken paprikash, pork cutlets, etc. ($6-$8) come with dumplings, rice or potatoes. The cabbage rolls are succulent and full of meat ($4).

DRINK: Hungarian wines are available by the glass ($4.50) or the bottle ($23), but try the cherry brandy ($4.50) that goes down nicely but is deceivingly potent.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: High-stepping energy from beginning to end represents different regions of Hungary. Two performances stand out: young ladies with perfect posture dance while balancing bottles of sloshing wine on their heads; and the Transylvanian dance, whick is quite the workout for the smartly dressed men who combine tricky footwork with slaps, claps and stomps. A small display shows embroidery, painted Easter eggs, costumes and a nice little homage to the great Hungarian composer Ferenc (Franz) Liszt.

BEST REASON TO GO: Pick up small trays of tempting home-baked pastries and take the Folklorama spirit home!

CULTURE SHOCK: Hungarian journalist Laszlo Biro invented the ballpoint pen in 1938.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: It’s too bad the cultural display is outside the entrance to the pavilion. It’s very easy to miss it entirely.

— Gwenda Nemerofsky

30. Indo Caribbean Paradise Pavilion

Churchill High School, 510 Hay Street

FOOD: Tempting pineapple and cassava sweet pastries ($3) offer the perfect finish to spicy main courses, including chicken roti ($8.50) and the more appetizer-sized chicken or beef patties ($3).

DRINK: Straight from Trinidad, Solo soda comes in banana, champagne or cream ($2). But if you’re in the mood for something with a bigger bang, the sweet mango rum punch ($4.75) or Carib beer ($4.75) will wet your whistle.

SHOW: A relentlessly upbeat mix of energetic Bollywood-inspired dance and live music that showcases the chutney style, a mix of Indian traditions and spicy island vibes. Helpful volunteers are on hand to share the history of Indo-Caribbean people, from their arrival to the islands to the unique mix of spices they use in their cooking.

BEST REASON TO GO: The live band, made up entirely of local youth performing instruments such as steel drum and tabla, will have you shaking your moneymaker with their vivacious rhythms and saucy melodies.

CULTURE SHOCK: The culture is joyful, but the history is heartwrenching: Those early indentured labourers struggled under terrible conditions, a story which one volunteer hopes gains more recognition.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: You might feel closer to the Caribbean than expected — even on a moderate August night, the temperature in the gym was hot, hot hot.

— Melissa Martin

31. Indochina Chinese Pavilion

City Oasis, 435 Cumberland Ave.

FOOD: A meal consists of your choice of wings, BBQ pork, pork dumplings, chicken with rice or noodles, veggies and spring roll ($9). Still hungry? Try mango pudding ($3) or orange crispy ($3).

DRINK: Tsing Tao Beer ($6) is a lightly refreshing way to wet your whistle.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: The show highlights dances from Indochina: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as a terrific tai chi/wushu (kung fu) demonstration. The cultural display shows off exotic Chinese masks, chess and calligraphy as well as an actual lion costume for the enthralling lion dance.

BEST REASON TO GO: Amid all the Folklorama excitement, marvel at the serene grace and focus of tai chi masters. These dedicated performers make it look so easy when you know it’s not.

CULTURE SHOCK: After a lion costume eventually wears out, a special ceremony is held where Chinese elders dot the new lion’s blinking eyes with paint to bring him to life. Only then is the shaggy successor considered ready to dance.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Vegetarians, beware: There are limited choices if you don’t eat meat.

— Holly Harris

32. Ireland-Irish Pavilion

Holy Cross Gym, 290 Dubuc St.

FOOD: No potato famine fare here: Irish sausage ($3), meat pies ($4) and shepherd’s pie with gravy ($5.50). The soda bread and stew are as good as me mam ever made ($6).

DRINK: Sip a pint of Guinness ($5.50) or a tasty Irish coffee ($4.75) and sing along while the band plays Whiskey in the Jar. With 12 varieties of whiskey on tap, we recommend you pace yourself — but if you’re going to have just one drink, make it the Redbreast single malt ($6).

SHOW AND DISPLAY: The brilliant McConnell School dancers will stomp, bounce and kick their way into your heart and the Ard Ri band will win you with their barroom ballads. In the basement cultural area, you’ll be serenaded by the Comhaltas Flatland Céilí Band while you learn about Ireland’s traditional provincial territories .

BEST REASON TO GO: The atmosphere is that of a boisterous wedding social replete with the fire department making a visit to make sure the venue wasn’t going over its occupancy limit.

CULTURE SHOCK: What’s with the straight-armed dancing? Legend has it the Irish dance that way so that if a passing priest looked through the window, he wouldn’t realize they were dancing.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: 26 years of practice has made the Ireland-Irish pavilion, put on by The Irish Association of Manitoba, a gold-standard stop on any Folklorama tour. A must-see!

— Meghan Potkins

33. Italian Pavilion – Viva l’Italia

Centro Caboto Centre, 1055 Wilkes Ave.

FOOD: Mamma, mia! Excellent homemade pastas ($5.50), pizza ($2.50), bruschetta ($3) or various combo plates include salad and a bun ($4.50-$9). The tiramisu ($3.75) is mouthwatering but you can also try gelato ($3.75) and cannoli ($4.50).

DRINK: Toast la dolce vita with Italian red/white wines ($5.50), Nastro and Moretti beer ($5.25), or non-alcoholic Italian sodas and granitas.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: This year’s pavilion celebrates the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. The show features traditional and contemporary song and dance, including a taste of opera. The cultural display’s theme, “Then and Now,” showcases food, fashion, the history of the Jacuzzi “whirlpool” brothers, and even hot Italian cars parked outside.

BEST REASON TO GO: OK, call me sentimental, but Mario Audino’s passionate Parla più piano from The Godfather is swoon-inducing.

CULTURE SHOCK: Legend has it that a Bolognese innkeeper created popular pasta tortellini as a tribute to love goddess Venus. He spied on her through a keyhole but was only able to glimpse her navel… Need we say more?

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: None. This highly organized pavilion runs like a well-oiled Ferrari.

— Holly Harris

34. Japan Pavilion

Sisler High School, 1360 Redwood Ave.

FOOD: A minimalist presentation, including sushi bento boxes ($7), chicken teriyaki with cucumber salad ($8) and yaki soba noodles. For a sweet treat, cups of kakigori — freshly shaved ice — are delicious when topped with flavoured syrups and a shot of condensed milk… or even a little booze.

DRINK: Besides Japan’s favourite green tea, you can also sip on two familiar cold sakes and on chuhai, a tasty cocktail featuring plum juice, tonic and shochu, a vodka-like spirit ($4.25).

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Back after a two-year hiatus, the show opened with a selection of serene and elegant traditional dances, then kicked into high gear with a thundering performance by acclaimed local Japanese drum group Hinode Taiko. Tables line Sisler High’s smaller gym, featuring displays on everything from kendo (Japanese fencing) to anime and the magnificent, artfully layered Japanese wedding attire.

BEST REASON TO GO: Besides Hinode Taiko, the pavilion features an array of nightly demonstrations, including workshops on dressing in kimono, making origami and martial arts.

CULTURE SHOCK: Many in the local Japanese community trace their roots here to the Second World War, when Japanese-Canadians from British Columbia were forced to come to Manitoba to work on sugar-beet farms.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Maybe it was opening-night jitters, but vendor volunteers chatted so loudly during the show, it visibly distracted many sitting in the back half of the gym.

— Melissa Martin

35. Mexican Pavilion

St. Norbert Community Centre, 3450 Pembina Hwy.

FOOD: The taco plate ($8) is a generous portion, which allowed us to try beef, chicken and pork. The fresh salsa ($4), too, was fragrant and fresh when paired with cripsy chips.

For dessert, there’s rice pudding and churros ($3), if you’re still hungry.

DRINK: Viva Mexico! A slick bar setup meant a lime margarita ($5) with a shot of El Jimador tequila was a steal. There’s also imported soda and juice for purchase. ($4)

SHOW: This is no amateur show, with a charming and technically skilled dance group from Monterrey, Mexico, opening the act. Things heated up with Cardoso, an act the master of ceremonies aptly nicknamed “Cirque du Soleil meets salsa.” Display is earnest and diverse, if not crowded. Clothing from places like San Luis Potosi, Chiapas and Veracruz are worth a look.

BEST REASON TO GO: Beyond the ridiculous bang for your buck you’ll get from the show, the food is excellent and $25 for a colourful pinata to take home seems like the best souvenir ever. Kids, start asking your parents now — even if your birthday’s months away.

CULTURE SHOCK: The Spanish brought bullfighting to Mexico, and now it’s the country’s national sport.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Not a complaint, just a warning: There are serious crowds here for a reason. Come early to get good seats, and expect a line to get food. Also, why sell bar tickets across the room from the actual bar?

— Gabrielle Giroday

36. Paraguay, Heart of South America, Pavilion

Maples Multiplex Arena, 454 Adsum Dr.

FOOD: A dinner special, with ribs, steak or milanesa (breaded meat) costs $12. Or sample the flavours of Paraguay à la carte. Empanada, chipa (a tangy cheese roll the texture of a bagel) and sopa (cornbread baked with mild spices and cheese) are $1.50 each. For dessert, try the alfajores, an Arabic confection that migrated to Spanish-speaking territories.

DRINK: The Paraguayan beer, $5.50, hadn’t arrived early in the week, but was expected any time.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Paraguay is celebrating its bicentennial this year, and the show tells its history in song, dance and fabulous costumes. The cultural display of lace, leather, gallina de la suerte (lucky chickens) and artwork is staffed by friendly volunteers who ask if you have any questions, a nice touch.

BEST REASON TO GO: The bottle dancer, who eventually works up to dancing with nine wine bottles stacked one atop the other on her head.

CULTURE SHOCK: Paraguay was the second country in the Americas to achieve independence, after the United States. But unlike the U.S., no life was lost the night Paraguay declared its independence from Spain, May 14, 1811.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: There’s a big split between the local folk dancers and the professional dance troupe in the show, making for an uneven performance. The local folk dancers, holding Paraguayan flags, form an honour guard for the departing audience. That’s a charming role for them.

— Julie Carl

37. Pavillon canadien-français

Centre culturel franco-manitobain, 340 Provencher Blvd.

FOOD: The menu offers lots of ways to sample French-Canadian fare, among them soupe aux pois (pea soup), tourtière (meat pie), sucre à la crème (brown-sugar fudge) and farlouche (cake with caramel sauce). All dishes are under $3.

DRINK: Caribou and maple coffee will set you back $4.25; maple coffee sans alcohol is $3.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Features a traditional French-Canadian kitchen party with jigging, fiddlers and wooden-spoon players. Just try to not tap your toes and clap your hands. The display features a weaver working on a loom, a chance to dress up as a voyageur and re-enactors in full uniform. The souvenirs might be the best of the pavilions: a kilo of split yellow peas, Métis sashes, wooden spoons, maple candy and more.

BEST REASON TO GO: The charm of the show’s emcee, Angelique. Be prepared to practise your French Ls and rolled Rs with her.

CULTURE SHOCK: The first map of Manitoba, drawn by French marine officer La Vérendrye in 1737, was repatriated to Manitoba in 1910 at the request of St. Boniface.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Hard to find fault. Coleslaw didn’t seem particularly Canadian or French, but that’s a bit nitpicky. This pavilion offers a great evening of FrenchCanadian entertainment.

— Julie Carl

38. Philippine Pavilion Nayong Pilipino

Tec Voc High School, 1555 Wall St. East

FOOD: The Philippines venue comes with a big school kitchen, so they serve nine combos cafeteria-style ($6.99 to $8.99). Check out the purple gelatinous dessert at $3.75 for a unique taste experience

DRINK: In the sit-down area, you can imbibe San Miguel beer ($3.75). For the designated driver, grab a large can of mango or coconut juice.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: The 70-person show is Las Vegas-style in drama and performance and we heard they practise eight hours a day prior to the show. Costumes are magnificent and dancing with the bamboo clacking poles at one’s feet is downright dangerous, yet none of the dancers got feet caught and hurt. The display was of goods and clothing from the Philippines.

BEST REASON TO GO: The show is everything! Don’t miss this one, as you will be spellbound.

CULTURE SHOCK: The obvious devotion of Philippine people to music and dance — it’s no coincidence they are always at local karaoke venues. They even had karaoke set up in the food cafeteria for anyone who felt like singing.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: The food needs to be combined with the party somehow. And where was the singing onstage, when this culture loves to raise its voices in song?

— Maureen Scurfield

39. Punjab Pavilion

Winnipeg Convention Centre, 375 York Ave.

FOOD: Clay Oven provides high-quality fare for this new pavilion. Feature dishes are $10 and $11 but offer a lot. Punjab thali consists of pakora, tandoori chicken, vegetables, rice, naan, salad and dessert ($11). Two large, spicy, flavour-packed samosas ($6) come smothered in chick peas and tamarind sauce.

DRINK: Sip a refreshing mango lassi, made with mango, milk, yogurt and spices ($5) or opt for India’s largest-selling beer, Kingfisher ($5).

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Balle, balle! This pavilion boasts the most stunning costuming, full of gold embroidery, mirrors, elaborate headdress and paranda woven into the women’s long braids. It’s wonderful to see so many boys also involved in the dance. Polished TV personality Monika Deol is emcee.

A comprehensive cultural display, including a huge doll collection. Musical instruments, miniatures of household utensils for spinning and butter churning as well as several samples of phulkari, beautifully embroidered shawls.

BEST REASON TO GO: Along with the cultural display, there is a huge marketplace of crafts, jewelry, handmade purses, footwear and clothing. You can even get a henna tattoo.

CULTURE SHOCK: Ludhiana, the largest city in the Punjab region, is the official sister city of Winnipeg.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: During the show, lights flash constantly in the audience’s faces. As well, we could do without the advertising scroll behind the performers. It’s too commercial and distracting.

— Gwenda Nemerofsky

40. Romanian Pavilion

Canad Inns Garden City, 2100 McPhillips St.

FOOD: The vampire theme runs through some food items, so start with the appetizer vampire’s ears (pastry filled with a meat mixture, two for $1.50). Of the five main dishes, choose chicken Dracula ($3.75) with intense garlic dip to ward off evil, and skip the beans with ham hock.

DRINK: Try the drink called the Bloody Fang ($5.25) — red wine, vodka and fruit juices. Intense and sweet, one woman described it as a “cough medicine, only better.”

SHOW AND DISPLAY: You can get involved! This pavilion offers a corner to don a costume — even a black cape — and pose in front of a choice of Romanian scenes. As part of the display, this pavilion sold favourite Serbian foods and treats besides their historical displays. As for the show, the dance troupes dance up a storm and John Racaru, the famous Romanian violin player, does a humorous show while showcasing his talents.

BEST REASON TO GO: The male host — 13-year-old Damion Brajne — tickled everybody’s funnybone with his off-the-script remarks between the charming dances.

CULTURE SHOCK: This country is the only eastern European country to have Latin as its base, so the gist of a sentence is easy to get. It was conquered by the Romans, hence the name Romania.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Half the younger dance group weren’t matched in age — older boys with tiny girls. When they did pairs, the group looked uncomfortable.

— Maureen Scurfield

41. Russian Pavilion — Back to the Past

Indo-Canadian Arts & Cultural Centre, 479 St. Mary’s Rd.

FOOD: The cabbage pie ($4) is a layered, delicious example of making simple ingredients go a long way. Pelmeni (5$) are small, finger-pinched dough pockets of seasoned ground beef and, of course, borsht ($4) made with a mix of veggies and not just beets.

DRINK: The traditional muddled fruit juice mors ($1.50) is fresh and refreshing. Vodka ($4.25) is also in abundance for those wanting something a little stronger.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Beautiful, bright costumes enhance the dances and help display the variety of cultures that make up the former Soviet Union. A clown will keep the children laughing and band Limpopo adds some rock flavour to the show. Much of the talent makes the trip from Los Angeles for the week.

BEST REASON TO GO: The male dancers’ leaps make you wonder if their legs are made of rubber bands.

CULTURE SHOCK: Organizers embrace the many cultures that make up the fabric of Russia’s identity, past and present.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: The large room’s decor is lacking, with sponsor advertisements playing a prominent role.

— Tania Kohut

42. Serbian Pavilion ‘Beograd’

St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 580 Talbot Ave.

FOOD: Good place to start your night! Serbian food is delicious, filling and à la carte: The favourful moussaka ($4) used zucchini, not eggplant, for a lighter texture. Savoury sausages were $1.50 a pop — ya gotta have two at least. The pork and veggie shish kebobs ($3) were dee-lish. Great desserts? Striped poppyseed cake and a yummy coconut cake

DRINK: Plum brandy ($5) is the Serbian drink specialty and it’s best straight up, chilled, no ice. It’s 40 per cent alcohol and will give you a friendly jolt. Some drink it with a chaser of mineral water.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: This folk-dancing stuff is not for sissies. The Serbian Beograd dance troupe danced with such vigour in their beautiful but warm traditional costumes, they were streaming with sweat by the last dance. We loved the curly-toed sandals worn by both men and women. The cultural display in the upstairs sanctuary of the church was small but instructive, if you ask for a tour. The church sanctuary is an amazing sight — especially the gorgeous old chandeliers.

BEST REASON TO GO: Delicious dinner and dancing to elevate your mood instantly!

CULTURE SHOCK: There are 5,000 Serbs in Winnipeg, not clustered together. They come from all over the city to get together for church and Folklorama.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: To set the mood, the announcers should have worn costumes, not regular clothes. Lots of hollering “Opa!” but very little singing going on at this pavilion.

— Maureen Scurfield 

44. Tamil Pavilion

Burton Cummings Community Centre, 960 Arlington St.

FOOD: Food at the Tamil pavilion consists of two great dinner choices — masala dosa ($9), a lacy crepe you use to scoop a hot stew with a spicy sauce on the side, or meat combo, which is meat curry and two veggie curries with rice on the side ($10). Appetizers masala vada and ulda vada were $2 each and both a little doughy and tough.

DRINK: Alcohol is not served in the pavilion, but the mango juice was sweet and refreshing. Check out a fantastic dessert — a custard with nuts and sweetened with palm trickle.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: This show is all female and absolutely enchanting. Some of the girls who danced started training at age four, and it shows. The costuming was brilliant in colours — like tropical birds. Do have your name written in Tamil, as the language is unique. The cultural display was smallish and definitely requires guiding to get the most out of it.

CULTURE SHOCK: Tamil is a language, not a country, but it spawns its own culture, found mostly now in southern India’s tip and Sri Lanka. There are only about 50 Tamil families in Winnipeg and yet they put on such a lively show!

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: It would be great to see some men in the dance show next year!

— Maureen Scurfield

45. Ukraine-Kyiv Pavilion

Maples Collegiate, 1330 Jefferson Ave.

FOOD: One pavilion volunteer’s baba used to tell her, “You need a cigarette after, it’s so good.” You might consider taking up smoking then, after the garlicky kovbasa sausage ($5.50), cream and dill varenyk perogies (3 for $3.25), massive ohiruk pickle ($1.50), and kapusta sauerkraut ($2.75).

DRINK: A Lvivske pale beer ($5.50) requires far more effort to pronounce than drink: It’s light, refreshing and without any bite.

SHOW AND DISPLAY: The display inside this behemoth of a pavilion is a tribute to “Ukraine’s greatest poet and artist,” Taras Shevchenko. The show has some knockout singing and dancing, as well as some well-intentioned children’s dance groups.

BEST REASON TO GO: Food, the soulful singing duo of Sofia Bilozor and Laryssa Klynkiw, and one troop of dancing kids that actually blew everyone away in a whirl of colourful costumes and complicated, dynamic moves. Manitoba’s Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble owned the stage.

CULTURE SHOCK: Learn a new compliment. Bilozor and Klynkiw translated the lyrics of one of their love songs for us: “He has a moustache like a pickle and eyebrows like string.”

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: It’s great to see kids up dancing on stage, but to bring the show to the next level, all the dance acts should strive to be as professional as the Troyanda ensemble.

— William Burr

46. Warsaw Poland Pavilion

Glenwood Community Centre, 27 Overton St.

FOOD: Hard to beat the tangy hunter’s stew, a mixture of meat and sauerkraut ($4), although the tender potato and cheese perogies are a close second ($4). Good luck choosing from the assortment of tortes and cheesecakes ($4.25).

DRINK: There are six kinds of Polish beer ($5.50) and five varieties of liqueur ($4.25).

SHOW AND DISPLAY: Organizers made the most of their new, spacious venue, packing the huge stage with dozens of dancers from the Polish Dance Ensemble SPK Iskry, many of whom travel internationally each year to Polish dance festivals. You’ll feel like you travelled to Poland itself with this impressive and wide-ranging display. Photos of the many palaces and castles are awe-inspiring. View dolls of different regions of the country, gorgeous paper cuts, pottery, weaving and a series of portraits by Polish painter Jan Matejko.

BEST REASON TO GO: You’ve just got to see the gravity-defying leaps and squats of the men in the dance with the ciupaga (mountain hatchets). The youngsters will want to visit the candy table, full of imported Polish sweets.

CULTURE SHOCK: Polish sheepherders don’t waste their time while their sheep are busy grazing. They produce fine carvings — ornamental plates and figurines.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: None. The new venue has been a big improvement for this vibrant pavilion. They’ve made excellent use of the space and despite lack of air conditioning, managed to maintain good ventilation.

— Gwenda Nemerofsky