LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2020

INSIDE SCOOP

WORTH the splurge?

The grass is greener

Compared to regular butter, grass-fed carries a hefty premium. Is it worth it? Here in Ontario: yes. Made from the milk of cows raised mostly on pasture, grass-fed gives you the opportunity to try distinctive butters from only a few herds, in some cases just one. Among our favourite local brands, Emerald Grasslands Grass-Fed Butter ($9.50/250 g, mamaearth.ca) has a gorgeous deep yellow colour and a sublimely smooth texture. Thornloe Grass Fed Butter ($6.29/250 g, thehealthybutcher.ca) has an earthy, almost cheesy flavour and gets bonus points for value. While these butters are too pric- ey for chocolate chip cookies, they’re wonderful smeared on baguette or slathered on corn. Bundt club Used mostly for coffee cake, a Bundt pan moon- lights in summer as a clever tool for taking corn off the cob. Simply steady it on the counter with a wet towel, then place the corn, raw or cooked, perpendicular to the pan with its tip in the hole. Using a sharp knife, cut down along the cob and the kernels will fall right into the pan for salads, salsas or succotash. kitchen hack

More commonly used for fried chicken or holiday roasts, brining usually gets the cold shoulder in summer. Let’s change that. Brining is a wonderful way to inject deep flavour and seasonings into chicken, pork and even fish before they hit the grill. Get your brine on with salty-sweet Huli-Huli Chicken & Pineapple or Brine-Smoked Salmon with Potato Salad & Green Tartar Sauce. Recipes at lcbo.com/fdsummer20. Summer brining

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SUMMER 2020 FOOD & DRINK