LCBO Food & Drink Spring 2021

INSIDE SCOOP

TRENDSPOTTING

The next time you’re scanning the hot sauce shelf at an Asian supermarket, keep your eyes out for the Godmother. As company founder, Tao Huabi graces every bottle of Lao Gan Ma’s legendary Spicy Chili Crisp (210 g, $2.99, tntsupermarket.com), a Guizhou- style chili oil packed with crispy bits of hot pepper, onion and fermented black beans with a hint of Sichuan pepper. It’s spicy, savoury, crunchy and well- deserving of its cult status. Try it on everything from tofu to noodles to broccoli. A few local outfits are making in-house versions, including St. Catharines’s 06 Chengdu Noodles—their excellent Chengdu Chili Oil (210 mL, $9.99, 06chengdunoodles.com) is rich with sesame seeds and pecans. Some like it hot

SEASONAL SIPS Irish spring

When you’re raising a glass to St. Patrick’s Day, it doesn’t necessarily have to be filled with whiskey or stout. Here are four under-the-radar Irish drinks to sip on March 17.

FAUX BETTER Winging it

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin LCBO 635508, $54.50 The “gunpowder” refers to a type of green tea used as the main botanical. The citrusy gin is terrific with tonic.

Coole Swan Superior Irish Cream Liqueur LCBO 17464, $47.95 Available for a limited time, this sublime liqueur is made with premium ingredients, includ- ing single malt Irish whiskey and Belgian white chocolate.

Irish Mist Honey Liqueur

Guinness Hop House 13 LCBO 536227, 500 mL, $2.85 From the makers of the

If you’re looking for a heat-and-serve snack (or side dish) that’s both vegan and gluten-free, then stock your freezer with the cauliflower or broccoli “wings” from Toronto-based Wholly Veggie! (whollyveggie.com). A yin-yang of crunchy and soft textures, they maintain that wonderful crust long out of the oven—not that they’ll last that long! The sauce is almost superfluous with these tasty bites, though we did like spicy, tangy buffalo the best. Wholly Veggie! Buffalo Cauliflower, 375 g, $6.99, metro.ca

LCBO 20768, $36.95 Floral, herbal and complex, this divine honey liqueur can be sipped straight- up, on the rocks or in a Black Nail with an equal part of Irish whiskey.

iconic stout, this malty lager has grapefruit aromas and a pleasantly bitter finish.

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SPRING 2021 FOOD & DRINK