LCBO Food & Drink Spring 2024

INSIDE SCOOP

KITCHEN QUERY MATZO

THE BLUEPRINT The

While many are familiar with matzo ball soup, most people don’t know much about matzo itself. Here’s the scoop on the Passover staple. What is matzo? Matzo is a square, cracker-like flatbread made from flour and water, for which mixing and rolling must happen in under 18 minutes. It’s eaten during the Jewish holiday of Passover, when all other grain prod ucts (called chametz) are forbidden. What does it taste like? Matzo tastes similar to a water cracker. It’s on the dry side, but it’s delicious slathered in butter and jam or used to scoop up tuna or egg salad. Because it’s very plain, matzo is also excellent with cheese. What can you make with it? The most popular matzo dish is Matzo Brei, a breakfast staple made from softened pieces of matzo fried in butter then scrambled with eggs. Some like it savoury (seasoned with salt and pepper), and some sweet ened with sugar or maple syrup. What are matzo meal and cake meal? Matzo meal is coarsely ground matzo, which is the key ingredient in matzo balls and can also be used as a bread crumb substitute. Cake meal is finely ground matzo, which is used instead of flour during Passover.

Collins Family The beloved Tom Collins has spawned many delightful variations. To introduce you to its extended family, we’ve put together a handy chart. Just shake 2 oz liquor with 1 oz citrus, 3/4 oz sweetener and 3 ice cubes for 5 sec onds. Strain into a chilled highball glass filled with ice and top with 3 oz chilled soda water. Stir, garnish and enjoy!

COLLINS

SPIRIT

CITRUS

SWEETENER

GARNISH

TOM

Orange wheel and cocktail cherry

Gin

Simple Syrup (recipe p. 105)

Lemon juice

Lemon wheel

BOBBY

Scotch

Honey Syrup (recipe p. 105)

Lemon juice

Lime wheel

JUAN

Agave syrup ( 1/2 oz)

Blanco tequila

Lime juice

Grenadine (recipe p. 105)

Mint sprig

PINKIE

White rum

Lime juice

Master recipe and variations, p. 105

GIFTING BON WICK

For a unique hostess gift and a real conversation starter, check out the amazing food candles at Toronto’s Baa Baazaar (baabaazaar.com). Crafted in Italy by a sixth generation family business, the startlingly realistic paraffin candles come in a range of common foods, from a green apple to a wedge of cheese. Don’t worry: they smell like wax, not food!

22 FOOD & DRINK SPRING 2024