LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2022

INSIDE SCOOP

Summer Beer Pairing Guide When it comes to food pairings, wine tends to hog the spotlight. In fact, beer is equally food-friendly, especially in warm weather. To celebrate suds, here’s a roundup of favourite summer dishes with their perfect brewed companions. By Victoria Walsh 101

BOILED LOBSTER

WHEAT BEER Delicately sweet lobster needs something with a light touch, like a fragrant, herbaceous wheat beer with summery fruit flavours. Bench Brewing Stone Road White Ale LCBO 647867, 473 mL, $3.35

FAUX BETTER

SAY “CHEESE”

The plant-based revolution has ushered in a new era of quality vegan cheeses. One brand to look out for is Nuts for Cheese (nutsforcheese.com), a company founded by Margaret Coons in London, Ont. Made from organic cashews, these smooth, creamy dairy-free “cheeses” are fermented, which brings out complex savoury flavours. We love the aptly named Un-Brie Lievable on a summer snack platter, and the smoky Chipotle Cheddar is outstanding melted on veggie burgers. All styles are $10.99/120 g and are available at Sobeys, Farm Boy and voila.ca

CHIPS & DIP

CRAFT LAGER Few can resist the retro pairing of creamy onion-soup dip scooped up with salty potato chips and washed down with a fresh, malty lager. The Daily Pilsner LCBO 27008, 473 mL, $3.45

FISH TACOS

TROPICAL INDIA PALE ALE Fish tacos conjure up a dreamy, laid-back beach vibe and beg for a beer with citrus and tropical notes. Left Field Brewery Pina Power IPA LCBO 26986, 355 mL, $3.80

GRILLED SPICY SAUSAGES

INDIA PALE ALE Cool off fiery flavours and lift the palate with a frosty glass of brazenly bitter India Pale Ale. Bellwoods Brewery Wizard Wolf Pale Ale LCBO 26920, 473 mL, $4.50

PANTRY RESCUE

RELISH, THE OPPORTUNITY

You opened a jar of relish for the family barbecue and … no one touched it. Fortunately, there are many delicious ways to use up the sweet green condiment. Mixed with mayo it becomes instant tartar sauce for a tray of fish sticks. It brings its pickly punch to old-school potato salad with celery and hardboiled eggs. You can even try a thin layer inside your next grilled cheese sandwich. Before you know it, the jar is empty!

DRY-AGED STEAK

SOURS The rich intensity of dry-aged beef, especially topped with blue-cheese butter, calls for a tart, fruity sour that’s equally funky. Bellwoods Brewery Jelly King

with Raspberry and Peach LCBO 26881, 500mL, $7.50

PHOTOGRAPHS BY (LOBSTER) PICTURE PARTNERS/ISTOCK; (CHIPS & DIP) BAIBAZ/123RF; (TACOS) BELCHONOCK/123RF; (SAUSAGES) VINICEF/ISTOCK; (STEAK) ANTONIOTRUZZI/ISTOCK

38 FOOD & DRINK SUMMER 2022