LCBO Food & Drink Summer 2023

HEAD TK THE BACK PAGE

A Splash of Pale Ale Beer-steamed mussels, juicy tomatoes, rustic bread and delicate herbs come together for a sensational summer salad.

Serve with a ramekin of chili flakes for some optional heat.

PANZANELLA WITH ALE-STEAMED MUSSELS & CRISPY BACON (P. 156) Panzanella, the classic Italian salad of stale bread and ripe tomatoes, gets a few alluring twists, including smoky bacon, chickpeas and mussels steamed in pale ale. In the spirit of this humble dish, the mussel liquid is reduced and forms the briny base of a vibrant dressing. Serve it as a side dish with grilled seafood, or make it the main-course star of a leisurely weekend lunch.

WHAT WE USED The herby and hoppy Nickel Brook Naughty Neighbour American Pale Ale (LCBO 398693, 473 mL, $3.55) has a crisp, dry finish, making it the perfect steaming liquid for mussels. Its botanical flavours work well with the lemony dressing and fragrant herbs, and its bitterness gives the dish a beguiling edge. —By Megan Powell

+ Drier day-old bread works best to soak up the dressing. + Use a sturdy bread like cia batta, baguette or sourdough.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB FIOCCA; FOOD STYLING BY DAVID GRENIER; PROP STYLING BY ANDREA McCRINDLE

160 FOOD & DRINK SUMMER 2023