LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2024

INSIDE SCOOP

Trendspotting A roundup of what we’re into this season.

BACON CRACKERS SPICY CANDIED

PERFECT FOR PARTIES

DRINK OF THE SEASON

This year, we’re giving the Negroni a Yuletide makeover. First, we swapped in rum for gin, bringing a little tropical warmth. Next, we added freshly squeezed OJ to make it more of a punch. Finally, we topped it with sparkling wine and soda for some festive fizz. It’s batched for a crowd (and easily doubled), so it’s a snap to greet your guests with a glass of Rum Negroni Sbagliato Punch (p.190) this holiday season.

LOCAL Pantry Paradise

SMOKED SALMON & CRÈME FRAÎCHE TATER TOT CUPS WITH

Tired of five-hour stints in Toronto’s notorious traffic to find the more unique items on her grocery list, food stylist and Food & Drink contributor Eshun Mott was inspired to open Flavourfull, an online source for high-quality, hard-to-find specialty ingredients. With products like fruit powders, pearl sugar and vanilla bean paste, it’s a goldmine for home bakers. You can also find all kinds of stocking stuffers for food lovers, including Diaspora Co.’s coveted South Asian spices and Fly By Jing’s chili crisp. And if you’re not much of a baker, order Mott’s amazing shortbread and pass it off as your own. flavourfull.ca

SnackTok Social media provides endless inspiration for quick, simple and delicious snacks. Two of our favourites would make perfect hors d’oeuvre during the holiday season. Tater Tot Cups with Smoked Salmon & Crème Fraîche (p. 189) uses a mini muffin pan to turn the tiny hash browns into crispy cups to fill as you please, a yummy start to a Hanukkah party or Boxing Day brunch. Viral Spicy Candied Bacon Crackers (p. 188) transforms five ingre dients into crispy, zippy, salty-sweet bites that will be the talk of any Yuletide fête.

Milking It BY CHRISTINE SISMONDO

Sparked by the popularity of both classic winter cocktails and Southeast Asian coffee culture, condensed milk has found its way into drinks at contemporary cocktail bars. Used judiciously—a little goes a long way—it adds a sweet creaminess and silky texture. It can bolster an Espresso Martini or Brandy Alexander, and some bartenders even use it in sours. So, if you’re stuck with leftover condensed milk after a hol iday baking spree, use it up in our La Lechera (p. 188), a rich, delicious eggnog fortified with tequila and sherry.

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———————— HOLIDAY 2024