Blogger Paradise

Something that has come to my attention recently is that I haven't blogged in a long time. I thought I would share a movie that I recently watched that was a real tear jerker. This movie is called The Help, and takes place in Jackson Mississippi. This movie brought myself a grown man to tears more than once. I am not ashamed of this because it is okay for a grown man to cry from time to time. I don't make crying a habit of mine however I must emphasize that this movie touched me and I believe it has the potential to touch you as well. This blog post may be short but it is from the heart. I was raised to believe that quality is more important than quantity, and I stand by that thought. If you have a few hours to check out this movie, I highly recommend it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVTMkINRChk 

Feeling Irish

My family like many North American families has been on this continent for hundreds of years. Studies show that the first Conklin's to arrive on this continent arrived sometime between the 1500 and 1600 hundreds. Members of my family have done extensive research about my specific branch of Conklin's and came to the conclusion that we were glass makers in London England before we migrated to North Eastern United States. They also found that the name Conklin came from the word "Conk" which is British slang for big noise. This doesn't seem all that far fetched when looking at my immediate relatives noises and the character that each noise seems to possess. 

Knowing where we come from is something that many humans take pride in. The debate within my family is are the Conklin's Irish, English or Dutch. Evidence points to all three. Something I found doing a Google search as a boy was a Conklin family motto. The motto read "Glory is the reward of valour". This motto was taken off a website that claimed Conklin was originally a Dutch name. I always liked to think that Conklin was an Irish name. However someone pointed out to me recently that Conklin's may in fact have originated in Cornwall England. I have nothing wrong with being from England don't get me wrong, I just always liked the thought of being Irish. Is it possible that Conklin came originally from the Netherlands, moved to Ireland and then ended up in England before crossing the Atlantic to Boston. I guess these are all possibilities. One thing that is certain is that the Conklin's have been on this continent for over 400 years. The Conklin's it is said were loyal to the British crown and fled north when the Americans claimed their independence from the crown, more evidence showing that we were in fact English.

All I know is that it is fun to think about all of this stuff, and not knowing were you come from will always be the case for many who live on the North American continent. I do hope one day to travel back across the atlantic and visit these places where maybe my ancestors once lived hundreds of years ago, but until then, I just have my large noise and Canadian patriotism to satisfy my curiosity.     

Wasabi on Broadway

Wasabi is a popular sushi destination for many Winnipeggers. There are many rolls one can choose from as well as many different sakes. I personally enjoyed the Tortilla Sushi, Spicy Mango Prawns, Spider Roll (soft shell crab),  Veggie Caterpillar and a couple martinis. The atmosphere is very sophisticated and the serving staff is knowledgable and friendly. There are three locations in Winnipeg all offering a different spin on Sushi and drinks. If you want to take your taste buds on an adventure and get silly while doing so, check this place out.

Cheers,

Johnny Eats

Usually I post a recipe about simple home cooked delicious fare however today I'm going to write about a place I like to eat at in Winnipeg. My favourite restaurant in Winnipeg is easily the Bonfire Bistro. You may be asking yourself what is the Bonfire Bistro or more importantly where is the Bonfire Bistro. Well those are both good questions.

First of all the Bonfire Bistro is located in the heart of River Heights on Corydon Ave between Waterloo and Niagara St and across from the also delicious Greek Market. The Bonfire Bistro has a lovely wood burning oven which gives a large portion of their food a wood smoky taste (hence the name). Bonfire Bistro is a sister restaurant to the popular Cafe Carlo Which is located on Lilac St between Corydon and McMillan Ave. Bonfire, is the more casual of the two although it still serves up some real tasty treats.

When at Bonfire make sure to try a pizza and don't hesitate to share one as an appetizer so you can enjoy a dinner entree. Personally,  I love the Paella but everything is good and made fresh here so if you're hungry dive right in. The portions are large and the prices are reasonable, which is perfect for the bargain savvy type. I think this is a must try for anyone interested in deliciousness.  

I think that is all I have to say about the Bonfire Bistro for now but I do want to add that it is locally owned and the service is very pleasant. Everything about the place is easy going so next time you feel like relaxing head down to River Heights and check out this gem of a bistro.   

http://www.bonfirebistro.ca/