A Bear-y Special Visit: Stella's

I live for the connections I make. Whether be it during work, school or play, my most memorable moments are those with friends, family and loved ones. Perhaps hardwired into my blueprint, I find myself in a constant search for social interactions between both new acquaintances and old friends. It was with unadulterated excitement when I learned that a medical school colleague of mine was braving the weather to visit Winnipeg and so I dedicate this bear-y special set of posts to their visit.

An institution of Winnipeg, the first meal had to be Stella's. It seems that the first recommendation from anyone for brunch or breakfast food would be Stella's ... and for good reason too. All homemade from scratch, they have delicious breads, salads, omelettes and sandwiches, all at reasonable prices. Thus it was a no-brainer for me to bring our physician colleague to Stella's to try their near-legendary status as the go-to place for breakfast and brunch in town.

A fellow resident ordered the Arugula Salad with Salmon. The large portion, enough to feed the three of us, was chalk full of fresh arugula, peas, feta cheese and finished with their house honey vinaigrette. The large portion of salmon, well seasoned and wonderfully flaky, does well to counteract the strong feta. Ultimately it is the deliciously sweet and salty honey vinaigrette that brings together all the components of the dish. Tasty!

I went with their special of the day: Tourtiere. A modest slice of flaky pie with beef and pork filling finished with a sweet cream sauce and served with your choice of salad or soup (I chose spinach salad), this came with enthused recommendation from the waitress. And for good reason too! The meat was exquisitely tender and had a good amount of moisture within the flaky crust. The sweet sauce had a nice mixture of tartness and sweetness to cut through the fat of the meat. Although the serving size might seem small, the richness of the ingredients fills one up quickly.

Our esteemed guest went with their Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes. A special for the night, this was the epitome of breakfast luxuriousness: four huge pancakes infused with banana and chocolate chips and served with a side of protein (bacon, sausage or ham). We appreciated the thickness of the pancakes, thick enough to hold all the ingredients but thin enough to cook fully through. The sweet and savouriness of the dish mitigated any need for syrup.

Overall Stella's offers solid breakfast and brunch items.  There is a magical charm about the restaurant and an air of confidence surrounding its consistently tasty food that attracts curious diners and maintains its serial regulars. An institution in the city, Stella's, no matter the location, is simply a must for anyone visiting or living in Winnipeg.