LCBO Food & Drink Autumn 2024

COMFORT ZONES

BUREK WITH ROASTED PEPPERS & FETA P. 140

Sebouh Yacoubian

CHEF AND OWNER

TALINE, TORONTO

For Sebouh Yacoubian, the warm fragrance of burek wafting from the oven evokes cherished memories from his childhood. “Burek has a special place in my heart,” he says. “It was such a fail safe dish for my mom.” While the fundamental concept of a filo pastry filled with savoury ingredients remained unchanged, Yacoubian’s mother Taline—his restaurant’s namesake—continually modified the ingredients. Sometimes, she drew on her Armenian heritage or looked to the many styles of burek eaten across the Balkans, Middle East and Central Asia for flavour inspiration. Often, burek simply served as a cheesy, crispy vehicle for sneaking extra veggies into her kids’ meals. “You can eat it hot, you can eat it cold, you can have it for breakfast, lunch or dinner,” says Yacoubian. “It’s a comforting, stick-to-your-ribs dish.”

Kew Vineyards Organic Riesling Sparkling VQA LCBO 645309, $19.95 A brut bubbly Riesling with tangy acidity cuts through the rich, cheesy pastry; the grape brings its own intense flavours of fresh lime and yellow apple.

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———————— AUTUMN 2024