LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2021

EDITOR’S NOTES

Happy holidays from our team!

When we started planning this issue, we couldn’t know for sure (for the second year in a row) what the holi- days would look like. But if the past 20 months have taught us anything, it’s how to improvise, taking the best-laid plans and adjusting them to whatever the situation requires. We hoped this year would mark the start of a return to holiday hosting beyond our bubbles, and that is the optimistic approach that runs through these pages! One of my favourite stories in this issue is “Good and Plenty” on page 128. It features four holiday roasts that make perfect centrepieces for any feast—plus the ideal side dish to serve alongside. In addition to all that, I love that recipe developer Jennifer MacKenzie suggests carving off enough of the roast before you serve it to make a delicious dinner in the following days—such a tremendous idea at this time of year! Leftovers are one of the greatest perks of the holidays—they make future meal prep a snap—and you’ll find them starring in a couple of other stories in this issue too: “Remains of the Day” on page 241 and “Waste Not, Want Not” on page 207. Gifts are of course top of mind during the festive season, and there is nothing more meaningful than a homemade gift from the heart. First stop should be “Sweet Delights” on page 49. There you will find four dec- adent chocolate treats—including our cover stars—that are sure to please the chocolate lover on your list. For a more ambitious project, gather some friends

and plan a day of baking any of the savoury pies starting on page 191: all the lucky recipients will have to do is heat and serve on any cozy Sunday this winter. On the drinks side, there are bottles scattered throughout this issue that make perfect gifts (in- cluding all things local on page 87), but let’s pay special attention to the premade cocktails featured in “Bottled Up” on page 199. Pre-mixing big batches of cocktails makes good sense when hosting a party—meaning more time spent with guests and less bartending—but also make unique gifts to bring to a party or as tokens of appreciation throughout the holidays. Whether it’s nightcaps with small bites (page 117), delicious and nutritious dishes that will help keep your energy up (page 79) or a modern Hannukah dinner (page 95), we’ve tried to think of something for every holiday moment. Whatever the occa- sion or the size of your gathering, we hope you’ll be inspired—and please be sure to tag us @lcbofoodanddrink when you are sharing on Instagram— especially if you give any of the holi- day houses starting on page 103 a try. From all of us at Food & Drink , we wish you a happy and safe holiday season full of good cheer, good food and good friends!

PORTRAIT BY JAMES TSE

Shop early to avoid disappointment You’ll find an amazing selection of wines, beers and spirits available on lcbo.com right now— including some unique holiday-themed products. If you see something you like, don’t hesitate to click “buy now”—limited release products tend to go quickly, and potential inventory delays mean

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there may be some availability issues.

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HOLIDAY 2021 FOOD & DRINK