Cargo Bar & Poacht

Cargo Bar
Assiniboine Park – just north of the Duck Pond
https://www.cargobar.ca/__beveragemenu/

July, 2022

This kind of thing is long overdue for the city’s premier park.  In fact, the entire park should be licensed so that you can walk around anywhere with a beverage in your hands.  At each pavilion/exhibit/garden, there should be a kiosk offering local refreshments as they offer here.

The Cargo Bar bases out of a rail shipping container with the option of relaxing on the roof (reservations required).  The Bar offers local craft beers (with new flavours every month), wine, and some specialty cocktails.  There are no carbonated sodas here, so don’t expect the pedestrian “rum and Coke” offerings.

Whereas the classic Moscow Mule uses vodka, lime juice and ginger beer, the Manitoba Mule adds maple, hibiscus, simple syrup and soda water.  Despite the infusion of syrup and maple, this drink does not taste sweet at all.  The body tastes sour but not tart.  The tagline claims to “do the heavy pouring,” but this cocktail does not taste boozy at all.

Beer-wise, I count no fewer than 12 local canned brews available.  From lager to ale, from light to dark, from bitter to sour, there’s plenty of choice for the most discriminating beer palate.  On tap, there are an additional six pours. 

If wine is your beverage, they have a nice selection available: a rose, a bubbly rose, the trendy pinot grigio, a classic chardonnay and a sweeter Riesling.  For reds, they offer a bold cabernet sauvignon, a fruity Malbec and an intriguing tempranillo. 

If it’s too hot for alcohol, they offer a selection of mocktails or poptails that can omit the liquor.  The Sol Island is supposed to mimic a Long Island Iced Tea but since a traditional LIT has so much alcohol, this doesn’t quite get there.  It’s a tasty drink, but it’s definitely not a Long Island.

A portion of the proceeds go to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and the Zoo, which is a great entity to support.

If you’re looking for a bite to eat, Poacht sides beside the Cargo Bar.

 

Poacht
Street Side Catering
204-793-0302
info@poacht.ca

As the name suggests, most of the menu items come with a poached egg on top. Rather than sit in a bowl, The Poacht Cloud Poke comes on a bed of fried wonton covers.  The avocado mash tastes rich and augments the black beans well, a la classic Mexican dishes.  The vegetables taste fresh and crisp and the delicious egg drips umami onto everything.  The seared tuna comes flash fried and wonderfully raw in the middle.  I would like to see a few more slices of tuna to boost the size of the dish.  For the $18 price tag, you don’t get a lot of food. 

Similarly, the Tortilla Chips with Pico de Gallo comes with a hefty price tag of $10.  If you’ve ever been to a grocery store, you know that tortilla chips cost pennies.  The pico de gallo tastes deliciously fresh and tart, crispy on the bite and zesty on flavour.  It tastes excellent but this little cup isn’t worth $10. 

 

Poacht is the only food truck here; I would like to see a couple more trucks, or even just a burger/hot dog stand to offer more choices and variety. 

The shared patio is dog friendly, bike friendly, and games friendly, including a table with a souped-up Connect 4 game, and cornhole.  The atmosphere here is wonderful, with a beautiful backdrop and the constant sound of the water fountain in the background.  Sitting back in the shade and enjoying some beverages, I feel like I’m on vacation.  It’s a great place to be.

 

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As usual, thanks for reading and good food to you!

Ray Yuen, Pit Master / Grill Master
Certified Kansas City Barbecue Society Judge – Badge #97736
Certified Steak Cook-off Association Judge – Badge #7788
Canadian Barbecue Society Member