WINNIPEG — Public health inspectors in Manitoba are cracking down on foodservice establishments failing to meet sanitary requirements, resulting in a string of closures.

Last April, the province assumed responsibility for public-health inspections and Manitoba’s Auditor General promised more frequent restaurant inspections in the suburbs and the same level of inspections in urban areas.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton branch of the Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC) is preparing for upcoming workshops about charcuterie and “The Flavours of India.”

The charcuterie boot camp (Jan. 12) at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) will include a hands-on, all-day workshop explaining how to break down primal cuts of meat for charcuterie. The workshop, presented by NAIT’s Dan Westgeest, will include instruction on how to preserve meat through salting, smoking and curing.

SASKATOON — The smell of hickory smoke is attracting diners to a new barbecue joint on Second Avenue South in Saskatoon.

Woodfire Grill, which opened in December, boasts two Red Seal chefs and a menu of barbecue nosh that includes dishes such as bacon-wrapped scallop and shrimp skewers ($14) a home hickory-smoked burger, topped with horseradish aoli, smoked applewood cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onions and mustard ($14).

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg sushi restaurateurs have reportedly been fined by the Employment Standards agency for allegedly failing to pay employees holiday pay or overtime, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.

The paper reports that several sushi restaurants received warnings following random spot checks by Employment Standards inspectors; nineteen sushi restaurants were reportedly fined with wage violations.