Chef and sous chef of extremely popular restaurant in Vancouver are travelling to Winnipeg to check out the restaurants, etc. in this fair town. Winnipeg is very trendy in the hospitality business scene, so we're very excited to see what the town has to offer these days. Any suggestions?

Alas, we have lost some of the best in the last year, and some that were hot a few years ago have become tired.<BR><BR>You have to try Urban Ojas, on south Osborne. Hot new menu, good organic theme.<BR><BR>The most expensive restaurant in town is a steak place, I can't remember the exact name, it is its address ??? Wellington, on Wellington Crescent. I don't go to steak places so I give it a miss.<BR><BR>Eat somewhere on Corydon one night and enjoy the walk. Tango is a good choice. Most of the rest are so-so.<BR><BR>Downtown, I like Liberty Grill, Mezzo (if you are young this is also a good dance place), and Step'n'Out (I know, the name is corny, but the food is nice, and the owner/waitress is a hoot!). I've had bad experiences at Coyote Cafe, although my friend swears by it.<BR><BR>At the Forks everything is so-so, except the grilling at Muddy Waters. Just go there for drinks and a look.

Remembered more: the other good restaurant on Corydon is Cafe La Scala.<BR><BR>Also good is Amici (on Broadway), and The Loop (in the Exchange District).

Thanks Carol - This should really help.<BR><BR>If you know of any thing going on in the week of Sept. 25 - 29 festival-wise. Or any other suggestions of "must sees" would be appreciated.<BR><BR>Thanks again.

From the Forks Market Corp:<BR><BR>"The Winnipeg International Writers Festival is from September 24 - 29 at The Forks. Celebrate the written word and meet writers from around the globe. For tickets or more information call 927-7323.<BR><BR>Bring home the finest bounty from Manitoba's harvest as The Forks celebrates Good Food Manitoba from September 16 - October 31. <BR>with gourmet cooking classes and the incomparable taste of delicacies from the province's forest, lakes, prairies and marshes."<BR><BR>I believe the chef that does the demonstrations at the Forks is from a hoity toity private golf club. I have seen him on the Shaw cable channel.<BR><BR>Also, I forgot yet one more new restaurant. I have not tried it yet because it opened when I was in Europe and then I am at Winnipeg Beach most of the summer. It is called Fude and it is on Osborne. I saw the menu at the Osborne Street Festival and it looks good, and I am told that it got good reviews in the Free Press.<BR><BR>A lot of people here would say Dubrovnik and The Velvet Glove are the best restaurants in town. They have fairly classic menus, mostly continental, consistently high quality, and excellent service. But IMHO, they are way overpriced for their product.