Editor Pick
Railside food
- September 13, 2000
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Languedoc from Narbonne, France, -- Choose State --
This is in praise of the little cafes and bakeries along the railroad on the way to Churchill from Winnipeg. The train stops briefly in several towns along the route, and invariably a cafe or bakery is nearby. One should never let either escape when confronting them far out on the prairie. I found excellent chili to go in one restaurant, and in another that served pizza I told the owner that I'd bet she couldn't prepare a sausage pizza for me and have it ready before the train left. She asked if I wanted to make that double or nothing. I lost my nerve and instead ordered two pizzas for my traveling companions. She knew the train's schedule and I would have had enough time to write a letter home before the train pulled out.
My favorite dining experience, though, happened in an odd manner. I chose not to take a cab into Thompson with a group and went for a walk along the track instead. Soon I came upon a couple almost face down on the roadbed, looking like Moslems at prayer. They looked up, and laughing, told me they had found a bunch of wild strawberries. I dashed back to the dining car and borrowed some dishes. We filled them and took them to the kitchen, where we cleaned them and when the train got under way again, we served everyone strawberries and whipped cream. The train crew really is that informal and helpful.
From journal Across the tundra to Hudson's Bay