It was a snowy night but it was still a full house when the chefs got the chance to get inside the new Tenderloin Meat and Sausage facility in Winniepgs north end. Chefs had the opportunity to tour the new state of the art facility that produces what many believe to be the best garlic sausage in Canada. In fact they have had to step back from national taste tests as they needed to make room on the podium for others after winning the award three years in a row.

Hosts Jeff Beaucage and Chris Klopick

Hosting us were owner and sausage master Chris Klopick and Jeff Beaucage who works at marketing and promoting the multitude of meat products supplied by Tenderloin. Tenderloin has been a north end institution since the eighties when Walter Klopick and his brother staked claim to coil greatness. The “coils” are tasty rings of Kobassa or Garlic Sausage, smoked to perfection with a guarded family recipe. Chris now carries on the family tradition in a big way. How big you may ask? In the last month, leading up to Christmas, where many homes of eastern European descent, have rings or coils of garlic sausage on their holiday table, they produced 25, 000 pounds of their signature Kobassa alone,  not including all the other related sausages and products that they produce.

Zenon, Christian and Walter Klopick

In the new, state of the art, facility they have taken the traditional recipes and applied advanced production technology to make the sausage even better. Highly innovative technology has allowed them to reduce cooking loss from 23 to 7 percent over the years and as chefs know, that translates directly to profit.   Tenderloin Meat uses Oak, Maple and Hickory to give the products the natural taste of the old country. Locally sourced fresh ingredients provide the basis for a tasty variety of charcuterie, over thirty seven and counting. They are proud to produce a gluten free product that is sold next to the Certified Angus Beef that is also a signature product at their retail store located at 1515 Main Street.

Following the tour, refreshments and food was served and the Culinary Federation presented a short program outlining the upcoming events and activities of the Winnipeg Branch.  The branch presented a membership certificate to Chef Carl Scott and welcomed him to the meeting. Carl’s company, Reel Crue Catering is a part of the booming Winnipeg film industry, providing catering services to cast and crew on the movie sets.

Chef Member Carl Scott of Reel Crue Catering

To complement the cold meats and delicious deli items, and to warm us up on a cold night, Chefs Paul Lemire and Chef Hans Schweitzer prepared Chorizo with Rotini pasta and Hungarian sausage in a cream sauced Fettuccine  The pasta was provided by Natures Farm of New Bothwell, which is the company of our Associate of the year for 2019,  Herman Grauer.

The Culinary Federation Winnipeg is grate-full that Tenderloin Meats and Sausage was able to provide us with this fine event.

The Culinary Federation Winnipeg November event was held at the Jewish Learning Center located at 1845 Mathers Avenue, hosted by Chef Dov Korkh. The evening was dedicated to looking at Jewish and Israeli Cuisine and “Kashrut”,(Jewish dietary laws dealing with food). To open the meeting Rabbi Avrohom Alten  gave the participants an understanding of what foods are permissible and what foods are forbidden to eat according to the Jewish traditions. Participants explored the idea of not mixing milk and meat, different levels of kashrut and the development of kashrut over time. A power point presentation is available on request from the branch.

Chef Dov Korth  prepared an Israeli style kosher dinner in order to let the chefs compare the characteristics of Ashkenazi and Sephardic Cuisine, the two leading cuisines of Israel. The menu consisted of the following items.

Challah Bread

Salads Egg salad, Potato salad, Tahini & eggplant salad, Tabule, Israeli salad, Matbuha

Soup Eggplant soup, Charira,

Starters Spinach knishes, Fricassee,

Fish Gefilte fish, Chraime

Sides Kasha, varnishkas, Lokshen kugel, Couscous w/soup, Majadra

Desserts Rugelach chocolate, cinnamon, jam & sesame. Baklawa

Halva

Thanks to Chef Dov Korth , Food Services Manager Alla Golinkin and Baker Dora Ben Zhion.

Chef Sergei, Catering manager Marilena and Tom De Nardi

The Piazza De Nardi was the site for a true taste of the Mediterranean at the Culinary Federations October meeting.  Tom De Nardi welcomed us to the Piazza where we began the evening with tastings of Parmigiano Reggiano  , fresh sliced Prosciutto and a chilled glass of Prosecco at La Boutique del Vino a wine store featuring wines from around the world.

Next we were guided upstairs to the event center and reception area where Marilena Moccia, catering and events manager for the Piazza welcomed us to a set of hot pastas , an array of house made sausages and fine cheeses including cheeses by BelGiosso. Chef Sergei Dedenko of La Boutique del Vino prepared the fine foods served in the evening and was there throughout to share stories and answer questions about the meal.

While the chefs shared some fine food and wine, Tom De Nardi, sales and marketing director for Piazza De Nardi gave us a color-full presentation about the authentic sourcing going on to provide the best of Italy to Winnipeg.

Culinary Federation Winnipeg Welcomed new member Chef Aaron Crawford of the St. Charles Club.

New member Chef Aaron Crawford of the St.Charles Country Club is welcomed to the Federation.

Marilena and Chef Sergei of La Boutique del Vina who presented a delight-full and delicious display of the best of Italy.

Tom discusses the finer points of slicing parma ham.