LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2016

2 pkgs (each 341 g) mix of red and orange cherry and grape tomatoes Olive oil Sea salt and pepper to taste 4 slices sourdough bread (or Italian Calabrese, or your choice of firm bread) ¼ cup (60 mL) crispy shallots (found in Asian markets, or fry your own) 1 In a small bowl, mix together cream cheese, wasabi paste and ginger until smooth. 2 Slice beefsteak tomatoes into wedges, keep cherry and grape tomatoes whole. 3 Preheat broiler on oven. 4 Place foil on a baking sheet, add cherry and grape tomatoes and drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Broil until just starting to pop and blister, around 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven and lift foil from baking sheet. Refrigerate tomatoes to cool. 5 Place bread on baking sheet and toast until slightly charred. 6 Spread each toasted slice with an equal amount of wasabi-ginger cream cheese, then

sprinkle evenly with crispy shallots and arrange fresh and broiled tomatoes in a colour­ ful ombre composition, moving from reds into oranges. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serves 4 WHAT TO SERVE Masi Bonacosta Valpolicella Classico DOC LCBO 285585 $16.45 Bright cherry fruit, spice and earthy herbal flavours provide an excellent complement to the tomato, gin- ger and smoky grilled elements in these flavourful bites. The wine’s fresh, fragrant nature, crisp acidity and juicy fruit will make for a great foil to the rich fla- vours and textures in the dish. Vineland Cabernet Franc VQA LCBO 594127 $14.95 Ripe berry fruit and characteristic bell pepper and herbaceous tones will complement the tomato in the dish. The wine’s lively fruit, medium tannins and fine acid structure also make for a great foil to the richness of the cream cheese as well as to the pungency of the shallots and wasabi.

OMBRE FRESH & ROASTED TOMATOES ON CHARRED BREAD

Juicy red and orange tomatoes sit on a schmear of wasabi-ginger cream cheese sprinkled with crispy shallots, for the easiest and most fla- vour-packed appetizer this side of a Caprese salad. ½ pkg (125 g) cream cheese, at room temperature 2 tsp (10 mL) wasabi paste (if you have powder, mix it with water into a paste) 1 tbsp (15 mL) freshly grated ginger 3 small beefsteak tomatoes

KEG S I Z E N I GHT S SUMMER DAY S

There are many reasons to get together with friends and family during the summer months. Whatever yours are, we’ve got cocktails, shareable plates and mouthwatering steaks for the occasion. With over 40 locations across Ontario, you’ll never far from The Keg Steakhouse + Bar.

FOOD & DRI NK SUMMER 2016 147