LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2020

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NIAGARA BOUND

Top Niagara food artisans

Although Niagara is home to many world-class beverage producers, it is also quickly becoming a place where many food makers are establishing roots. Meet the artisans who are using local seasonal in- gredients to create unique food products, from butter tarts to pies. Here are three places to plan to visit for a snack or to bring a taste of Niagara home. 13 th Street winery & Bakery The best butter tarts in the region, say locals. You’ll also find an assortment of jams, jellies and preserves made using local ingredients. 13thstreetwinery.com, St. Catharines The Pie Plate  An assortment of freshly baked pastries and seasonal pies are all the rage at this small family-run shop. During summer months look out for custard pies. thepieplate.com, Virgil The Bagel Oven  A local secret for many years, this Beamsville gem gives a real taste of Montreal-style bagels. thebageloven.ca, Beamsville

Local spirits Recent years have seen a boom in local distillation. Here are two producers worth checking out.

Dillon’s Rose Gin LCBO 400234, 375 mL, $24.95

Wayne Gretzky Red Cask Whisky LCBO 472332, $39.95

Beamsville-based Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers quickly gained a cult following for its small-batch gin products. This is its signa- ture spirit, a beautifully floral gin made with seven botanicals. True to its name, the gin has a pronounced floral bouquet with a touch of sweetness. Makes a great French 75, or enjoy it alone on ice.

The Wayne Gretzky Estates distillery produces memorable spirits using locally grown grains. One standout is this ruby-hued spirit that inherits its colour from time spent in red wine casks. It hints of baking spices, oak and almond and will certainly add a new dimension to your next Old Fashioned cocktail.

13TH STREET IMAGE BY NATASCHIA WIELINK; THE PIE PLATE BY JASON CHOW AND MADELEINE SCHRIEFER; THE BAGEL OVEN BY DR. RONALD CLAVIER

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SUMMER 2020 FOOD & DRINK