LCBO Food & Drink Early Summer 2022

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS

Our best tips, tricks and hacks for this luscious tropical fruit. Pineapple 101

[STEP BY STEP] NEXT-LEVEL PINEAPPLE Get a little more fruit and create a pretty pattern with this simple trick.

3 Lay pineapple on its side. Cut off the untrimmed bottom. 4 Take a look at the diagonal pattern that the eyes follow. Using a paring knife, angle your knife over 2 to 3 eyes, following their pattern, and cut a shallow V-shaped indent. Remove sections as you go, creating an indented spiral pattern.

1 Slice off the

leafy crown top. Stand pineapple upright on the untrimmed bottom (once trimmed it becomes slippery).

Reducing Waste Hacks

Get more bang for your buck and reduce waste by using up all—or most— of this tropical fruit.

2 Cut from top to

bottom, slicing off the peel. Continue peeling all the way around. Focus on just removing the peel— it’s fine for the eyes (little brown spots) to remain.

TREND ALERT

SHOW-STOPPING SERVING BOWLS Slice your pineapple

organic pineapple. Let stand for at least 6 hours or refrigerate overnight then fine-strain. Use in place of water in a punch recipe or freeze into ice cubes. Pluck out, wash and save leaves for an impressive cocktail garnish. AU NATUREL COCKTAIL CUP Before slicing away at your pineapple, consider using its empty shell as a cocktail glass. The easiest way to do this is to use a pineapple slicer/corer. This tool twists through the pineapple, slicing rings, while coring it at the same time. You’ll be left with an intact peel as well. Turn it into a cup for a smoothie or trim it down for a fun cocktail glass. UPCYCLED LEAVES

WHAT IS TEPACHE? Tepache is an agua fresca–style Mexican beverage that’s prepared by lightly fermenting in the sun. It’s commonly prepared with pineapple as the base, but can be flavoured with a range of spices. This versatile drink has caught the attention of bartenders across North America.

lengthwise and hollow it out to

create eye-catching pineapple “boats.” (Keep leaves attached to one half, if you like.) Once sliced, lay each half flat. With a paring knife, cut out core using a V shape. Using a long, flexible knife, carefully slice the flesh down each side of the peel into the centre at the bottom. Carefully pull out and slice flesh without piercing through the peel. Serve dishes (like our Sheet-Pan Pineapple Shrimp!) in these boats and enjoy the juicy flesh on its own or in recipes.

[HOW TO]

BUY AND STORE PINEAPPLE Choose a pineapple that’s heavy and has peel and leaves that haven’t browned too much, and avoid ones with soft spots. Store on the counter until ripe and ready, usually no more than 3 days. If refrigerated once ripened, they should last for up to 1 week.

Did you know that you can skip the peeling, slicing and coring of your pineapple and just pull it apart? Recently all the rage on TikTok, this method—in which you pull segments of pineapple apart with your bare hands—is not for the faint of heart. Experts seem to agree that it should be strictly reserved for desperate times when you have no utensils and you’re starving. We tested it and strongly agree. FYI: If you’re interested in attempting this technique, the pineapple should be extremely ripe. Pull-apart Pineapple

FUN FACT PINEAPPLE IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN NAMED FOR ITS SWEET APPLE-LIKE TASTE AND PINE-CONE RESEMBLANCE.

DON’T LOSE IT, INFUSE IT! Infuse water with the leftover core and peels from a well-scrubbed,

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID SPARSHOTT

154 FOOD & DRINK EARLY SUMMER 2022