Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Pop Soda combines food, fully equipped art studio
By: Maureen Scurfield / The Insider
Posted: 09/28/2011 1:00 AM
"IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE? "It's like Rogues Gallery and Tomato Pie had a baby," says chef Pelligrino Santorelli of the new 7,000-square-foot Pop Soda's Coffeehouse and Gallery, which opened with a come-and-go bash Saturday.
It pulled more than 500 curious guests to 625 Portage Ave. Doors opened to the public Tuesday at 11 a.m. to show off their muralled walls, retro furniture and worldwide food offerings.
"We wanted to do Rogues on steroids," says Santorelli, best-known for the screamin' lime-green arts bistro on Assinboine Avenue.
My spy says guests at the opening were gasping, "Look at that! What the heck is that?" while pointing at a fully equipped art studio that lets customers create art for themselves when they drop in.
Jazz artist Chet Breau is the house entertainer, playing 7 p.m to 9:30 p.m., Friday to Sunday. Jam sessions start Saturday at 2 p.m.
Santorelli was raised in the food business, as his dear departed mother was "Mamma" (Annamaria) of Mamma Mia's on Corydon Avenue. He's now creating Cuban, Mexican and European dishes with fellow chef Marsden Fleming."
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