New French-Canadian fare in Steinbach

A new restaurant, Forum & Bistro, is opening on June 12 at the Southeast Event Centre.

JP Charpentier is the head chef of the self described “French-oriented bistro with Canadian flavours” along with 50 other staff.

At 14-years-old he was getting his experience in kitchens at the south of France.

“I was trained to be like a Gordon Ramsay, but Gordon Ramsay in Canada doesn’t work well. You have to be very kind with people in the kitchen,” he said.

Before getting the job he had to purchase, prepare, and plate food for HyLife executives and directors.

Charpentier said he walked around the HyLife plant and selected meats, went to Steinbach, and prepared a five-course meal using only pork for 12 directors and executives at the CEO’s home kitchen.

He said he sometimes works from 12 to 16 hours.

“For me food is about spending time in the kitchen and sharing moments with people at the table,” he said.

“The kitchen is my first house. And my home where I live is my second house. I spend more time in the kitchen than my own house,” he said jokingly.

He said the must try food item is the HyLife Pork Steak, and all the desserts.

Forum and Bistro has a fixed menu, but will change every season. He also hopes to create new menu items for events happening around the community.

The restaurant will be using local ingredients.

Forum & Bistro’s interior sits 45 people, and the patio’s capacity is 60.

The restaurant’s grand opening is on Aug. 21.

Charpentier also plans to participate in Le Burger Week, a week where restaurants around Manitoba make specialty burgers.

Southeast Event Centre is a not-for-profit organization and everything that is spent in the arena goes back to the building.