Welcome to Sydney's at The Forks, where the culinary currents from around the globe converge and the ingredients are sourced from Canada's wide bounty. Embracing a "no limits" culinary experience that embraces Asian, French and Italian influences, Sydney's is the brainchild and dream-project of Chef Michael and Kate Schafer. For the past four years, Chef Michael honed his vision of accessible, high-end cuisine as Executive Chef at the historic Edgewater Manor perched lakeside on the verge of Niagara's blossoming wine county. Now, he is coming home to share his passion for fresh, creative cuisine.
Returning to Winnipeg to launch Sydney's - named after a well-loved grandfather - marks the culmination of one dream and the beginning of another for the young culinary couple. "We want to offer a unique dining experience for people who love food." The richly appointed and hearth-warmed restaurant features an a la carte lunch menu and switches over to an exclusive Table d' hote menu for the evening - encouraging diners to turn "eating out" into a true "evening out". Offering five elegantly inspired courses for a reasonable $55, Sydney's is not only setting a new benchmark for dining in the city, but offering solid value.
With 100 seats inside its historic brick walls and 30 on the patio, Sydney's is highlighted by an exclusive Chef's Table where 8 diners can gather in the round for an unrivalled evening of culinary exploration. While guests select wine from the well-appointed list (featuring a wide-range of both Canadian and international offerings), Chef Michael will craft a specialized menu and host the table's diners.Offering stunning views of the rivers and menus which change monthly to incorporate the freshest ingredients, Sydney's also welcomes private party bookings for special functions, weddings, corporate events and social gatherings.
The regional editors of WHERE magazine, Canada’s most reliable source of timely information for travellers with over 9 million readers annually, today announced the top 10 new restaurants for the year 2004. WHERE editors from coast to coast have visited hundreds of new establishments in each of their local regions and sampled scores of menus to come up with this selection of talented chefs and innovative restaurateurs:
| Bears Den – Calgary | Café Soleil – Canadian Rockies | Chambar – Vancouver |
| Fire & Water – Victoria | Lee – Toronto | Monsoon Lounge – Collingwood |
| Onyx – Halifax | Sahara - Calgary | Wild Tangerine – Edmonton |
Sydney's at The Forks - Winnipeg Chef Michael Schafer, along with his wife Kate Schafer, has opened a sumptuous, sun-dappled restaurant in The Forks Market, with the serious aspiration of creating the best restaurant in the city. No expense has been spared with the tableware, decor, or ingredients. And this young chef has both the chutzpah and the chops to potentially achieve his lofty goal. Blazing a new path in Winnipeg, he is offering a nightly, five-course, prix-fixe gastronomic menu, which changes monthly. The response has been positive as large numbers of Winnipeggers are showing up for exquisitely presented & delectable food served on oversize white Rosenthal plates. It's an audacious start, and Sydney's could soon be challenging for top kitchen in town.
