LCBO Food and Drink Holiday 2015

FOOD  ENTERTAINING

Verdejo is the key grape variety of the white wines of northwest Spain’s Rueda region. This wine is intensely aromatic with hints of herbs, citrus and a char- acteristic almond note that combines with crisp acidity to lift and enhance the flavours of this soup. Rueda is medium- bodied with a richness that matches the texture of the soup. The almond notes on the wine’s finish play well with the serrano ham and sheep’s cheese toppings. Marqués de Riscal Rueda LCBO 36822, $12.20

ZUCCHINI PURÉE WITH CRISPY HAM & SHEEP’S CHEESE recipe on page 230

BY LUCY WAVERMAN  •  PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB FIOCCA spanish Accents

Spanish cuisine, both traditional and groundbreak­ ing, is the cuisine of the moment. Recently, Spanish chefs have been preaching the return of the vege­ table, rather than a protein, as a centrepiece of the plate, which is becoming a world-wide movement. Our Spanish New Year’s Eve menu highlights this trend, and the sophistication of the flavours will stay with you as we settle into winter.

THIS NEW YEAR’S EVE, RAISE A GLASS AND A FORK HONOURING SENSATIONAL SPANISH FLAVOURS—NO WONDER THEY’RE ALL THE RAGE—WITH A MENU THAT IS EASILY DIVIDED UP AMONG FRIENDS, PROVIDINGLAVISH SAMPLING OVER THE WHOLE EVENING.

FOOD & DRI NK HOLIDAY 2015 47