LCBO Food and Drink Holiday 2015

Party Favours Whether a hostess gift or party favour, breakfast goodies—think granola, breakfast cookies or mini loaves—are a pleasure to wake up to after a late night of celebrating. Contributor and styl- ist Corinna vanGerwen suggests using simple containers with a festive touch. “Just tie a gold or silver ribbon around them,” she says, “then add a few jingle bells and it’s instantly festive.”

LIGHTING Fill on-trend terrariums with battery-powered mini twinkle lights for a modern alternative to candles that’s easy to DIY, suggests Corinna. Just place the light-filled glass vessels—available at stores such as West Elm, in round and geometric shapes—on a sideboard, tabletop or mantel. As an optional add-on, first pour a layer of white sand or pebbles on the bottom of the terrarium, she adds, “then add a miniature bottlebrush tree or two for a magical, snowy holiday landscape.”

Ontario cheese plate BOOST THE LOCAL CRED of your cheese selection with some of these Ontario-made picks from Liz Payne of Stratford cheese shop The Milky Whey. (Check with your local cheesemonger for availability—some may need to be ordered ahead.) Madawaska soft sheep cheese from Back Forty. “It’s an unpasteurized soft sheep cheese that’s spreadable. It would look beautiful on a cheese board.” (1) artisancheese.ca Wild Nettle Gouda from Mountainoak Cheese. “It’s very vegetal with a creamy texture, not an aged gouda—a good snacking cheese. It’s got little green flecks and would look pretty in a holiday cheese selection.” (2) mountainoakcheese.com Fenugreek gouda by Thunder Oak. “It’s not a sweet cheese but there’s that caramelly note to it from the fenugreek.” (3) cheesefarm.ca Five Brothers by Gunn’s Hill. “A Swiss-style cheese, very easy to get along with.” (4) gunnshillcheese.ca Highland Blue by Back Forty. “A very crumbly, firm, strong blue—a blue for people who like blue cheese.” (5) artisancheese.ca

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158  FOOD & DRI NK HOLIDAY 2015