LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2021

FROM THE CHEF’S KITCHEN

“ When we have family gatherings, we always have a big mix of food—Chinese, Indian and English.”

CURRIED BEEF CROQUETTES

Anna Chen, chef and owner of Alma

Recipe on page 252

almatoronto.com

Chef Anna Chen cooks a singular type of modern Chinese cuisine. “I always incorporate my background and my heritage,” she says. “I’m Hakka Chinese, born and raised in India, and there are also a lot of English influences in India.” At her Toronto restaurant, Alma, chef Chen says the menu is dictated by what grows locally during summertime, with things turning decidedly Moorish in winter. “I love curry, but I also use the techniques I’ve learned in kitchens over the years.” Her curried beef croquettes, a tradi- tional dish from the Hakka region, are always part of a holiday spread. “It’s

kind of like a big snack,” she says. They are your gateway to dinner.

PORTRAIT BY SARAH KOHLER

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HOLIDAY 2021 FOOD & DRINK