LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2020

INSIDE SCOOP

DRINK OF THE SEASON Starting pitcher

EXPERT ADVICE Make life more of a picnic To plan a backyard picnic, we’ve enlisted Sheila Whyte, owner of Thyme & Again (thymeandagain.ca), an Ottawa-based caterer with two locations, for some inside tips. First off, howdo you avoid soggy sandwiches? Use thicker buns and wraps instead of sliced bread. We insulate our sandwiches with thicker dips, which helps create a barrier between the bread and all the other ingredients. Or build your sandwiches in the backyard and skip sogginess all together! What’s the best way to keep cold things cold? Use an insulated bag and some key placement of cold items around your proteins. Try freezing ice cubes with chopped mint or edible flowers and fill up a Mason jar with lemonade. Looks beautiful, helps avoid trips into the house. What are the best sustainable tableware options to use? Reusable plates and cutlery keep waste minimal, and for a backyard picnic, that’s easy. Bamboo is a great solution too—over single-use plastics. Place salads and beverages in Mason jars, and use reusable food wrap for leftovers. Any other picnic tips to share? Bring a portable speaker to add a fun soundtrack and make sure you have a large colourful bedspread to stretch out on with lots of pillows.

Sweet, tart and refreshing, an icy glass of lemon- ade hits the spot during a heat wave like nothing else. Get started with our Classic Lemonade (page 119) then amp things up with any one of our simple, fun twists below.

ElderBerry sparkle

Gin-Cuke Add 3/4 cup (175 mL) gin to finished lemonade. Garnish each glass with thin cucumber rounds.

Julep Add 3/4 cup (175 mL) bourbon to finished

Substitute sparkling elderflower water for water. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

lemonade. Garnish each glass with a mint sprig.

Lemon twists

PORTRAIT BY MICHELLE VALBERG

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SUMMER 2020 FOOD & DRINK