LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2019

INSIDE SCOOP

Q&A

Many home cooks are intimidated by smoking. Any confidence-boosting advice? “When done properly, smoking is no different than baking. Like an oven, a smoker uses indirect heat at lower tem- peratures, so it’s even harder to mess up.” Which smoker is a good starting point for beginners? “I like Traeger smokers for cooks of any level. They’re automated, use a thermostat, and are fairly simple to clean and maintain. They’re more of an investment but worth it.” What should they cook to break in their new smoker? “A great starting point is a whole butterflied chicken. A 3-lb (1.36-kg) bird will cook beautifully in roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes at 300°F (150°C). This is considered “hot and fast” in the barbecue world!

Burning Questions Sauce Boss

David Neinstein—chef and co-owner of Barque Smokehouse (barque.ca) in Toronto and Burlington, Ont., and Barque Butcher Bar in Toronto—gives advice on backyard smoking and shares his secret recipe for Barque’s Barbecue Sauce.

Barque’s Barbecue Sauce Recipe on page 160

28

SUMMER 2019 FOOD & DRINK