The Sharing Table: Made with Love With Chef Ben Kramer, Josie Duthoit, Jill Kwiatkoski, and Mike Muirhead Photos by Ian McCausland
As we emerge from our homes after long periods away from family, friends, and even co-workers, we are once again gathering to share milestones and memories— and the obvious partner to those, food and wine. As we gather around our tables again, equal parts eager and trepidatious, the hallmark of gathering will be at the centre: shared meals. Chef Ben Kramer seemed like an obvious choice for a feature on shared platters of food: he has been feeding gatherings of celebrating Manitobans for over 20 years. His approach to supporting the local community through sustainable ingredients kicked up a notch during the pandemic, when he spearheaded the local chapter of the Community Food Centres of Canada Made With Love program, converting over $150,000 in stranded food in shuttered Winnipeg restaurants into nutrient-dense meals for people who could not securely access food in the early days of the first lockdown. (Read more about how Winnipeggers have helped Ben sustain the Made With Love program for over 18 months—and how you can help reduce local food insecurity on page 54). For our shared table, Ben came through with fresh, delicious flavours in his tomato leaf cavatelli with a simple tomato sauce and fresh ricotta and a coffeerubbed pork loin with garden herb salsa verde. Jones & Company’s own Josie contributed a Duthoit family original: warm yam and kale salad. Jill Kwiatkoski rounded out the meal with a Manitoba classic, rhubarb sour cream pie. Mike Muirhead brought it all together with a selection of versatile wines that pair with the diverse flavours in this feast of shared plates.
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