LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2020

INSIDE SCOOP

Go big SEASONAL SIPS

When shopping for beer over the holidays, consider some of the large- format bottles at the LCBO. Not only do they make an affordable gift for the beer drinker in your life, they’re also perfect for sharing over a leisurely weekend lunch. If you want to try one of the world’s highest rated beers, grab a St. Bernardus Abt 12 (LCBO 346197, 750 mL, $11.45), a dark quadrupel (aka quad) style ale from Belgium that’s a perfect balance of malty, bitter and sweet. Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout (LCBO 222315, 750 mL, $14.95) is a rich, full-bodied stout flavoured with local cranberries—pour it with any chocolatey dessert. Finally, when it’s party time, plop a magnum of Grolsch Premium Pilsner 1.5 L (LCBO 292417, 1.5 L, $13.95) in a snow bank then repurpose the iconic green bottle as a stylish water jug.

KITCHEN SKILLS Razor’s edge Don’t let a dull carving knife ruin your holiday roast. Here’s how to keep your knives sharp.

Stone A sharpening stone (some- times called a whetstone) is the tool of choice among chefs, butchers and fishmongers. The rectangular stone has a coarse side, which will bring back the dullest of blades, and a fine side, which will revive a knife that’s lost a little edge. It takes some instruction and practice, but once you get the hang of it there’s no going back. Learn how to use a sharpening stone at youtu.be/ØfxL8v2dMho.

Sharpener There are hundreds of

Steel Contrary to popular belief, a sharpening (or honing) steel will not sharpen a dull knife. The hand-held rod hones and maintains a relatively sharp blade. A ceramic “steel” does a better job than one made from stainless or carbon steel, though it can break if dropped.

Pro Please don’t let the guy in the converted ice cream truck sharpen your knives. You will regret it. Expensive knives, especially carbon steel or Jap- anese, need the delicate hand of a professional. In Toronto there is chef-trusted Tosho Knife Arts (toshoknifearts.com), and if you live in the Ottawa area, count on Knifewear Ottawa (knifewear.com). Both shops will also sell everything you need to sharpen your knives at home.

sharpeners on the market, but if your knives are relatively new or the blades are still true to their original shape, the low-fi Wüsthof Two Stage Pull-Through Knife Sharpener ($39, wusthof.ca) will do the trick. Bonus: the fine setting negates the need for a honing steel. However, if you want your knives razor sharp, it’s time to learn how to use a stone or hire a professional.

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HOLIDAY 2020 FOOD & DRINK