Regent gets a Splendido place to eat

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This article was published 10/06/2015 (4004 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a new burrito shop in town, and they’re loco for local food.

Burrito Splendido recently opened up its third Winnipeg location on Regent Avenue, just east of Lagimodiere (#3-1570 Regent Ave. W).

“People out here are really, really nice,” Ken Livingstone, president of the Burrito Splendido chain, said. “We’re very busy. But even when we’re getting beat up behind the line because we’re so busy, people are very accommodating. It’s a very good location.”

Founded by Livingstone, Burrito Splendido opened its first location at #4-3380 Portage Ave. in October 2012. A second location at 14-1504 St. Mary’s Rd. opened in 2013.

Livingstone said the idea from the get-go was to focus on the suburban commuting market rather than going for a pedestrian-friendly urban model.

“In Winnipeg, half the year it’s really quite cold. We don’t get the same foot traffic as warmer climates,” Livingstone said, sitting in the bustling Regent location as the lunch rush ended. “And this is one of the busiest crossroads in the city.”

“I was travelling in the states and I came across lots of restaurants like this,” Livingstone, who worked for years for WOW! Hospitality before branching off on his own, explained. When he looked at Winnipeg’s market, he saw an opening for Mexican take out.

However, Livingstone believes what really sets Burrito Splendido apart from other chain restaurants — especially large national or multinational chains — is the focus on locally sourced food across the menu.

“I figured I could do all my meat — all my beef, my chicken, my pork, my fish — all from Manitoba,” Livingstone explained. “Our slogan is ‘Your Local Burrito Shop.’”

The beef and pork all come from Manitoba producers, the chicken from Granny’s, and the pickerel from Lake Winnipeg. Veggies come Peak of the Market (with the exception of tomatoes and avocados), and the cheese comes from Bothwell, Man. Salsa is made fresh in-house. Even the tortillas are local, with tortilla chips coming from St. Anne’s, Man. and the wraps for the burritos made before your eyes.

“We use 100 per cent organic wheat from Manitoba and make our tortillas to order,” Livingstone explained. As customers choose the ingredients for their burrito, the tortilla is cooking on a grill in behind the assembly line, hot and ready to wrap for every order.

Last year, Burrito Splendido partnered with the Winnipeg Folk Fest to provide concert goers and campers with fresh, local burritos. This year, they’ll return to Birds Hill to do it again.

“I think we’re an excellent fit with them,” Livingstone said, citing the Folk Fest’s mandate for local and green products. “We had a great time last year. You’re busier than busy, making burritos as fast as you can. It’s fun.”

The menu also offers organic tofu if meat isn’t your thing.

“I’m not a tofu guy, at all, but I like it,” Livingstone said. “It’s really good.”

If you’re a carnivore, Livingstone recommends “The carnitas on a whole wheat burrito.”

“It’s basically pulled pork, we marinate it for 24 hours, we cook it for 10 hours until it just falls apart.”

When ordering, just make sure your eyes aren’t bigger than your stomach.

“The regular burrito is about a pound, the large about a pound and a half,” Livingstone said, adding that the tacos are a bit lighter than the burritos. “I’ve never actually eaten a large burrito myself. I’ve never been able to put one back. A lot of people do, but you gotta be hungry.”

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