Festival du Voyageur (CHRISD.CA FILE)
The annual Festival du Voyageur is teaming up with restaurants and local business improvement zones to create a new culinary experience this winter.
Food enthusiasts are invited to come savor the tastes of Festival du Voyageur at local restaurants, cafés and bakeries throughout St. Boniface from February 8 to 23.
Hosted by both the Norwood Grove BIZ and the Provencher Blvd. BIZ, participants include Café Postal, Chocolatier Constance Popp, Cocobeans Bakeshop, Finales Coffee House, Garage Café, Norwood Hotel, The Jolly Frier, Pasquales Restaurant, Promenade Café and Wine, and Purple Hibiscus.
“We are taking the designation of the World’s Largest Kitchen Party to a whole new level by spreading the French-Canadian ‘joie de vivre’ throughout the restaurants of St. Boniface,” said Shawn Brandson, chairman of Provencher Blvd. BIZ. “Festival du Voyageur is a community event and we are happy to be a part of this unique initiative.”
The event allows local businesses to develop menu items based on their own unique interpretation of a traditional French-Canadian meal. Each participant will create a food or beverage that will embody the Festival du Voyageur, if not both.
Patrons are invited to take part by visiting participating establishments and encouraged to share their experiences through social media with the hashtag “#mmmFestival”. Participants could win the title of “Voyageur’s Choice” based on shares, comments, and recommendations.
“We are thrilled that the Provencher BIZ and Norwood Grove BIZ developed this great new initiative to help get people in the Festival spirit,” said Festival du Voyageur executive director Ginette Lavack Walters. “Members of the St. Boniface Chamber of Commerce began the festival 45 years ago as a means to stimulate the local economy in the winter months and get people out supporting local businesses. It’s terrific that the BIZs today are participating … what a terrific way to celebrate our 45th annual Festival!”
— Staff
