LCBO Food & Drink Early Summer 2021

INSIDE SCOOP

SEASONAL SIPS

Stuck in a Pinot Grigio rut? There are plenty of interesting, affordable light whites to gently nudge you out of your comfort zone. From Austria, zesty Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner 13 ( LCBO 375022, $13.95) delivers grapefruit flavour and Grüner’s patented white pepper spice. Lightly effervescent Casal Garcia Vinho Verde DO ( LCBO 530261, $9.95) from Portugal is a juicy summer favourite—chill well and serve with grilled seafood. Finally, Spain’s remarkably consistent Marqués de Riscal Rueda DO ( LCBO 36822, $14.20) is fresh, medium-bodied and a great introduction to the Verdejo grape. Light whites

DAY TRIPS

Pick your own right now Ontario has an abundance of farms where you can pick your own fresh goods. We’ve rounded up a few great spots that go above and beyond loading up on freshly picked pints to offer DIY bouquets, must-try house-made sweets and food trucks, plus entertaining events. Each visit is worth making a day of it, but please do confirm hours before you head out! By Victoria Walsh

Andrews FarmMarket &Winery, Milton, andrewsscenicacres.com Go to load up on a haul of in-season options, like strawberries, rhubarb and asparagus. Stay for the walking trails, animal corral and playground, plus barbecue lunch and custom ice cream on weekends—request your favourite fruits, which are then pressed into ice cream or frozen yogurt (a combination of peach and raspberry is said to be life-changing). Mark your calendar for later in the summer so you can visit the Sunflower Kingdom for a stunning photo op and to pick some pretty peonies and dahlias. Kick off the season by picking your own luscious strawberries from this third-generation family farm—later, you’ll find raspberries and apples. Be sure to pop by the family’s neighbouring farm to check out their play area if you have littles. Pick up rotating offerings like rainbow fudge in celebration of pride, seasonal strawberry hard ap- ple cider and flavoured sparkling water, and don’t miss their specialty doughnuts, made with ingre- dients like strawberry, blueberry and pumpkin. Downey’s is famous for their pumpkin doughnuts, producing them all year (and even starting the baking process at 4 a.m. in the peak of fall). Downey’s Strawberry & Apple Farm, Caledon, downeysfarm.com

Brooks Farms, Mount Albert, brooksfarms.com

Love bramble- or mixed-berry pie? We’ve got just the stop for you. A visit to Brooks means you can gather classic strawberries, plus berries that aren’t as commonly available for pick-your-own, like saskatoon berries, gooseberries, and red and black raspberries. Plus, currants and fresh peas are ripe for the plucking too. Be sure to grab some maple muffins (made with syrup from Brooks’s sugar bush) and have the house-smoked pulled pork at their food truck. Check in on their events throughout the season, as they often have local vendor markets and visiting food trucks, and hope to host a food truck festival in the future.

PICK YOUR OWN IMAGE BY ©ISTOCK.COM/ZORANM

Strawberry Creek Farms, Newmarket, strawberrycreekfarms.ca

This is the perfect choice for a day of strawberry picking! If you want to add to your personally plucked pints, their market is an excellent one-stop shop for

when you’re going away for the weekend. Find Ontario meats, local Sheldon Creek dairy, fresh cheese curds, butter tarts and pies. Look out for special treats that pop up, like iced coffee. I once had the pleasure of enjoying tasty poutine from their food truck while watching pumpkins being catapulted into the field.

Check on upcoming farm events by visiting summerfunguide.ca/fun-farms-u-pick-markets.

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EARLY SUMMER 2021 FOOD & DRINK