LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2017

NEIGHBOURHOOD F E A S T

BY ERIC VELLEND  •  PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES TSE

These diverse dishes are designed to be portable and appeal to many tastes, ideal for a neighbourhood block party or a backyard potluck—whether you divvy them up to make them all or choose a favourite to bring along.

THE DATE IS SET, permits are secured, and the bouncy castle is rented. It’s time for a street party! Since this kind of neigh- bourhood fete only happens once a year, we’ve got a fresh, summery menu to save you from the crutch of juice boxes and fro- zen pucks of beef.     As the kids roll in, their eyes will bug out for icy watermelon limeade sprouting fragrant sprigs of mint. At the house next door they’re shaking up peachy mocktails garnished with ripe local fruit. There are burgers, of course: juicy chicken patties topped with peak-season tomatoes, crisp

bacon and thick smears of avocado purée. The feast continues with Mexican-style street corn salad, succulent hoisin-glazed ribs, and lemongrass shrimp skewers hot off the grill. As the sun goes down, set out the sweet table with s’mores two ways: gooey sandwich cookies with homemade graham crackers and mini sundaes topped with hot fudge sauce and torched marsh- mallows. It’s a fitting finale to a blockbuster of a party.     To help set the mood, with an upbeat mix of Canadian pop, rock, dance and in- die artists, visit lcbo.com/canadaplaylist.

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72  FOOD & DRI NK SUMMER 2017