ABOUT RAW:almond

RAW:almond is a 21-day fine dining festival hosted on the frozen rivers of Winnipeg, Manitoba in a one-of-a-kind temporary structure. World class chefs gather to create a pop-up restaurant experience like no other. RAW:almond is co-founded by Deer + Almond Chef, Mandel Hitzer and the founding director of RAW:Gallery of Architecture and Design, Joe Kalturnyk.

Mandel Hitzer

Mandel has always had a deep connection with food and feeding people. Influenced by great women in his life, food traditions became gospel in the homes he grew up in. Now serving Winnipeg food lovers for 27 years, he has made deer + almond his home. Since it began in began in 2012, deer + almond has twice been named one of Canada’s 100 best restaurants (2017, 2018, 2022) and received numerous accolades from food critics and fans alike for the restaurant’s food, atmosphere and culture. Over the years Mandel has played a vital role at notable Winnipeg restaurants such as, Bridgeport, Step ‘N Out, Gluttons, Fresh Café before carving out his true passion for building temporary dining experiences which all started with “thesecretdinner.” Whether he’s cooking on a frozen river, building a table for 1200 people, picking mushrooms with friends, or collaborating on the next farm dinner, he always dreaming big with a playful spirit.

Joe Kalturnyk

Joe Kalturnyk was trained as an Architect and has been a builder for over 20 years. In 2009 Kalturnyk founded RAW:Gallery of Architecture and Design, a gallery focused on contemporary architecture and design - featuring work by architects, designers and artists. The gallery has been nominated for outstanding programming and featured in numerous publications. RAW:Gallery enjoyed its tenure as a gallery space in Winnipeg's Exchange District until 2015. Kalturnyk also founded AUX: Projects - a design, fabrication and installation company specializing in unique and challenging art and architectural projects. In 2013 Kalturnyk conceived an idea that began the journey both Hitzer and Kalturnyk have been on ever since.