LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2023

THE NEW CLASSICS

Avocado Toast

1. For the Dressed Radish, add radish, rice vinegar, lemon juice, ginger and salt to a small glass bowl. Gently massage moistened slices with your fingertips until slightly softened, about 1 minute. Set aside. 2. Using a mortar and pestle (or spice grinder), lightly crush the sesame seeds. Add turmeric and salt. Pound once or twice more (or pulse in spice grinder) to combine. 3. Peel and thinly slice the avo cado. Add to a bowl and toss with the soy sauce and lemon juice. Drizzle the sourdough with the

oil and divide avocado slices overtop. Arrange drained radish slices over avocado, sprinkle each toast with half the sesame mixture. Crumble seaweed snack overtop.

At the risk of triggering bad memories of all the bad avocado rosettes we endured during the 2010s, it’s fair to say avocado on toast, and everything it represents, has entered its “classic” era. This beauty-and-brains social media bombshell tells the story of where we are right now. Born of our desire to be loved and to make all that striving look effortless , avocado toast fulfilled its promise. At once virtuous and indulgent, mindless and mindful, nice to look at and, when done right, pretty darn delicious. DRESSED RADISH 1/4 cup (60 mL) thinly sliced radish, watermelon radish or daikon

1 tbsp (15 mL) seasoned rice vinegar 1 tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice 1/2 tsp (2 mL) finely grated ginger Pinch salt 2 tsp (10 mL) toasted sesame seeds 1/4 tsp (1 mL) ground turmeric 1/2 tsp (2 mL) Maldon salt 1 ripe but firm Hass avocado 1 tbsp (15 mL) Japanese soy sauce 2 tsp (10 mL) lemon juice 2 slices good-quality sourdough, toasted 3 tbsp (45 mL) avocado, walnut or extra virgin olive oil 2 small sheets seaweed snack

Makes 2 toasts

WHAT TO SERVE Marqués De Riscal Rueda DO LCBO 36822, $17.50 Here’s a crisp Spanish Verdejo with the right amount of acidity to cut through the creaminess of the avocado, while the stone-fruit flavours enhance the avo’s sweetness.

92 FOOD & DRINK AUTUMN 2023