Grandpa's Cafe Hosts Alice in Wonderland Upside-Down Dinner in Blumenort

BLUMENORT, Man., May 21, 2026 — Grandpa's Cafe in Blumenort, a small community in southeastern Manitoba, hosts an Alice in Wonderland-themed immersive dinner called "Alice in Blunderland" on May 31, where guests eat savoury mains that look like dessert and desserts that are plated to resemble dinner courses, all while costumed characters from the story move through the dining room.

The event is the first major culinary-entertainment offering from Cornelius Petkau, a trucking company owner who runs the cafe and says he intends to develop Blumenort into a regional entertainment destination through a series of food experiences and concert events.

Upside-Down Dinner Flips the Plate at Grandpa's Cafe

The "Alice in Blunderland" dinner inverts the traditional meal format. Dishes served as the main course are designed to look like dessert items, while the dessert course arrives presented as a conventional savoury meal. The concept is billed as an immersive experience for guests of all ages.

Actors take on named roles from the Alice in Wonderland story during the event. CBC Manitoba published a photo from a preview session showing a performer playing the Mad Hatter interrupting a diner portraying Alice as she attempts to eat what the restaurant calls an "imposter cherry pie" — a dish that appears to be a classic pie but is built around savoury ingredients.

Owner Sets Sights on Making Blumenort an Entertainment Hub

Petkau said the Alice in Blunderland dinner is an opening act in a broader plan. He is developing a programme of culinary events and concerts at Grandpa's Cafe with the aim of drawing visitors to Blumenort, which sits approximately four kilometres north of Steinbach in the Rural Municipality of Hanover.

The cafe is located at 100 Center Avenue in Blumenort and is listed on the Travel Manitoba events calendar for the May 31 event. Bookings and inquiries can be directed to reena@grandpascafe.ca or by calling (204) 381-4992.

Tickets Priced for Families and Adults

Admission for the Alice in Blunderland dinner is $50 per adult and $30 for guests 12 and under. The pricing structure positions the event as a family-accessible outing while covering the cost of the full character entertainment programme alongside the meal.

Blumenort, with a population of approximately 1,700, is a Mennonite-heritage community founded in 1874. Its economy has historically centred on agriculture and the service industry. Petkau's push to develop an entertainment offering at Grandpa's Cafe reflects a broader trend of small communities in Manitoba building culinary events to attract visitors from larger centres, including nearby Steinbach and Winnipeg.