LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Summer Issue 2014

I broke the forbidden rule.

Do.not.read.the.LCBO.Food.and.Drink,magazine.when.you.are hungry.

The Summer issue of the latest LCBO Food & Drink magazine is a companion piece for our amped up social lives during this long awaited sunny season. The chill of our long winter is a faded memory. School is out. The cottage is the main event. Parties and festivals are everywhere and we keenly try to catch up with friends.

What I like about this issue is the play on simple, easy summer staples, like hot dogs, that can feed a range of tastes from the very young to the very foodie.  One rendition shared in Hot Diggity Dogs by Christopher St. Onge gives the weiner an extra bit of pizazz with truffle mayo and garlicky mushrooms. His mashups with the Korean Chicken Wing Dog and the Balsamic-Braised Short Rib & Burrata Dog have high appeal too. Even more importantly, where did he get those stellar buns??!! Anyone?

'Fast' is the name of the game when preparing food in the summer. Heather Trim teases me with her Chicken Caprese Salad in Quick & Easy 30-Minute Marvels as I impatiently wait for my own urban garden tomato plants to bear fruit.

A favourite feature article is Robert Hercz's Food Origins. This issue he tells us all we need to know about Potato Chips. Did you know that ketchup-flavoured potato chips are a Canadian invention?  (A pretty brilliant flavour, I thought, when it hit the stores back in the day.) And the average Canadian eats 2 1/2 kilos a year - the equivalent of 60 single-serving (43-gr) bags. I'm not doing my bit so that means someone out there is having even more. This fact is a real stunner. I remember the Canadian chip enterprise Hostess, which was the chip company in Canada before Lay's (really the PepsciCo empire) bought them out in the 90's.  I also remember the short-lived flavour of Roast Chicken.

If you only read one article this time around, the most super fun piece is Nice Ice by Kristen Eppich. Besides the stylish and flavourful cubes, she shares practical tips to set you up for icy success. Use purified water and boil it first to remove the air. This will give your cubes a more professional look plus shiny bling power.

Again, their Summer issue is including Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide 2014 with its very handy Official Map of Ontario's Wine Route. A great planning tool. Put it in your car right away.

Trend spotted by cocktail lover Charlene Rooke is Ottawa's own Harvey & Vern's sodas. She highlighted other Ontario craft sodas and appears to have a thing for ginger beer. Bring on the Dark 'N' Stormy!

As a seafood lover, my 'Gotta Make' list is full of it:

•  Lobster In A Saffron Broth with Baby Bok Choy, Tomatoes & Noodles (From Lobster Made Easy by Monda Rosenberg)
• Smoked Salmon Tostadas (From Quick & Easy 30-Minute Marvels by Heather Trim)
• Crab Linguine with Chili and Cilantro ( From Matchmaker - Provincial Brews by Michael Fagan)
•  Wok-Steamed Mussels (From Oh, Canada by James Chatto & Lucy Waverman)
• Cameroon Spiced Shrimp with Peanut Sauce (From World Cup BBQ by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)

Plan ahead: The Autumn issue hits the stores in a little over 8 weeks on Wednesday, September 3rd.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Holiday Issue 2013

My Holiday holiday is Christmas and I loved all the gold and red glitter of last year's LCBO Food & Drink's festive season issue.  I am always hopeful for a cover that gets me in the Christmas party spirit. A warmth that draws me in. 

I have to say that wasn't my reaction when my eyes made contact with magazine in the store. I wondered about the casual setting, as the holidays are a time to put on the Ritz, get out the finery and fuss over the littlest of details.  Having now read the magazine cover to cover, I love so much of it.  The fancy and the bling is there.

I do love the look of those smørrebrød-like bites - Horseradish and Smoked Trout Paté on Rye Croutons.

It wasn't until I read editor Jody Dunn's welcome that I found out Emerald Green is the 'IT' colour for 2013 says Pantone. I glanced back at the cover and noticed the colour of the logo. The masthead. The skin on the cucumber. The feathering of microgreens.  All Pantone's Emerald Green. There is more of that beautiful green inside.

Tradition is that I weigh the holiday issue of LCBO's Food and Drink. 890 grams. 1190 grams with all the inserts. Heftiest ever!

We were having big talk at the dinner table recently about horseradish.  We all love it and love it strong.  Clean your nose out strong.  The Food Trends article by Lucy Waverman is called Horseradish. Lucy says, "Horseradish is the ingredient of the moment." Happily I am dialed in to what's the latest for once. I agree with Lucy that the best result comes from using fresh root, peeling it and microplaning on the spot.  Jars of horseradish can be handy, but their kick dissipates over time.

A hometown shout out for Steve Robinson.  He is chef Marc Lepine's sommelier at critically acclaimed Atelier restaurant here in Ottawa and he is featured in Sommelier Selections by Nancy Won.

 This issue is loaded.  Why I love it maybe more than other Holiday issues is that it revisits a lot of the classics. A few twists to make them new.  But nothing really wild.  The holiday season is steeped in food tradition for many of us.  Those coming to our table expect some specific once-a-year favourite dishes. The recipes here are not meant to make them so different.  Just better.

Did you know that in 2005 Forbes.com selected the knife as the single most important tool in human history? I learned that from Robert Hercz in his in-depth article called Knives. Thankfully my dining partners have dispensed with the "stuff-and-cut" method of eating meat. Read every word of it. And apparently it "remained acceptable to carry food to the mouth with a knife until the early 20th century." Believe it or not, I still see people do it today.  Stop please! Having an excellent knife is a wonderful gift but consider a gift certificate to a quality cutlery and cookware shop and let them pick their own.

I have parties to attend and food to plan and so I am appreciative of the suggestions in this issue.  Here is what is on my food play list:

• Butter-Roasted Pear & Apple Compote with Mascarpone Cheese and Deep-Fried Eggs with Asiago, Spinach & Tomato (From Before The Feast by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
  
• Roasted Vegetables with Horseradish Vinaigrette (From Horseradish by Lucy Waverman) 
• Key Lime Shooters (From Drink Matchmaker - Sensational Sippers by Julia Aitken)
• Garganelli with Ricotta & Blistered Cherry Tomatoes and Abalone Mushrooms with 6-Minute Egg and Romesco Sauce ( From Small Plates by Lucy Waverman and James Chatto)
•  Sparkling Elderflower Ice (From White Wonders by Victoria Walsh)
• Lobster Diavolo (From Deep Sea Dining by Emily Richards)
• Herb-Roasted Rutabaga Batons & Cipollini Onions (From Tried & New by Jennifer MacKenzie)
• Salmon Rillettes (From Late Night Supper by Lucy Waverman)
• Gruyère & Cranberry Risotto (From Finding Favour with Flavour by Tonia Wilson-Vuksanovic)

I heard there were printing and distribution issues that meant some stores did not receive the magazine on time for Wednesday opening.  I hope you have yours.

Plan ahead: The Winter issue hits the stores in ten weeks on Wednesday, January 15th.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Summer Issue 2013

Happy Canada Day long weekend.  The Summer issue of the LCBO Food & Drink magazine came out on Wednesday and its timing couldn't be more perfect.  It is exploding with food inspiration for our multi-day celebrations.

The cover photo gives no hint of the constant splash of big colour inside - pink, purple, orange and green.  So much to get your juices flowing.

Did this happen to you too? I bet it did. The first delight that jumped out at me was the Ale-Braised Cheese Dip with Caramelized Onions & Maple Bacon in the feature, A Splash of Beer. Truth. I was feeling a bit of the hometown pride to see the recipe showcasing our local Beau's LUG•TREAD Lagered Ale.  Who crafted this creation? Why, Ruth Gangbar, super talented food stylist, whose work is regularly found between the pages of Food & Drink and is now also heading up food styling workshops in Prince Edward County. Read more at Food•ographyPEC.

I snuggled on the couch Wednesday evening to soak up every word of Robert Hercz's essay Popsicle. I had no idea that the world's most famous ice pop was invented in 1905. It has had a tumultuous history over the past 108 years. Definitely read it. If you were ever a kid, you will re-live at least one memory. Me? Sharing a lime-flavoured two-stick Twin Popsicle with my as-far-back-as-kindergarten friend at the local Becker's.

This issue is extra meaty. Included in your cellophane is the Wine Country Ontario Travel Guide 2013. It includes a very handy Official Map of Ontario's Wine Route. We used it extensively when we traveled to Niagara-on-the-Lake last week.  A great planning tool. Put it in your car right away.

The number of turned down corners this time around means my issue has almost doubled in size but here are a few of the recipes that are being tagged as 'Gotta Make':

•  Ale-Braised Cheese Dip with Caramelized Onions & Maple Bacon (From A Splash of Beer by Ruth Gangbar)
• Watermelon Gazpacho (From What's Fresh For Dinner by Lucy Waverman)
• Grilled Steak, Buffalo Mozzarella & Tomato Tartine and Thai Mussels ( Both from 30-Minute Marvels by Heather Trim)
•  Strawberry & Pineapple Curd Bombolini and Buttermilk Jelly With Wine-Stewed Strawberries (Both from Strawberry Sophistication by Christopher St. Onge)
• Baba Ghanouj and Baklava Tarts with Walnuts & Pistachios (Both from Dinner on Location by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
• Canuck Mojito (From Global Mojitos by Michelle P.E. Hunt & Laura Panter)
• Queso-Stuffed Jalapeño Poppers (From Peppery Pleasures by Victoria Walsh)
• Spinach & Feta Galette (From Alternative Grill by Jennifer MacKenzie)

Plan ahead: The Autumn issue hits the stores in 10 weeks on Wednesday, September 4th.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Holiday Issue 2012

Confused? The Holiday issue of LCBO Food & Drink Magazine came out at the beginning of November after all. I picked it up on release date and never really cracked the cover.  Did that happen to anyone else? The last of the Christmas decorations are being boxed up today. In and among the piles to be tidied, I found my old friend.

Although the party season has passed, shouldn't I look anyway? Often the Holiday issue has gems that suit just any old cold frosty day.  No need for tinsel to make it complete.  So for those of you early readers that may have forgotten about it's hidden treasures, consider a re-read to pull out some of the winter's bests.

My page corners are turned down at:

• Chèvre & Pistachio Polenta Soufflé (From Pistachios by Victoria Walsh)
• Rich Oxtail and Orzo Soup with Madeira (From Strong Marriages by Michael Fagen and Julia Aitken)
• Coconut-Spiked Squash Soup (From Spicing Up Christmas by Victoria Walsh)
• Creole Seafood Gumbo and Thai Seafood Cakes (From Twelve Nights by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
• Lemon Grass & Lime Lobster Noodle Bowl (From Naughty or Nice by Jennifer MacKenzie)
• Salad with Confit of Pears (From What's Fresh for dinner by Lucy Waverman)

I also enjoyed Flour Power by Robert Hercz. I did not know that the Romans produced the world's first white flour using fine sieves made of linen. Hercz's piece also includes a primer on a number of the types of flours.

And for those that like to know, the hefty Holiday issue, the biggest of the year, weighed in at only 855 grams.

Plan ahead: The Winter issue hits the stores in TWO DAYS on Wednesday, January 16th. 

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Early Summer Issue 2012

The Early Summer issue of the LCBO Food & Drink magazine was released today and I don't feel 'ready'. I am still waiting to get all rhubarb-y with the last issue but have yet to source a local harvest. Is anybody else feeling behind with their Food & Drink reading? Thankfully today's glossy complements well with the still ever so active Spring mag.

Maybe what had me the most fired up in this issue was seeing Vicki Emlaw of Vicki's Veggies featured in Cynthia David's Spotlight segment called The Accidental Gardener. Vicki's Veggies is located outside of Milford in Prince Edward County. Not only is she well-known in the County, her produce is used by many chefs cherishing 'local' goodness and she is active at two markets in Toronto on Saturdays. Last year, I FINALLY picked up some of her famous heirloom tomato plants, as well as a flat of young basil seedlings. My favourite plant was the Yellow Perfection.



It's featured here in this showy heirloom tomato salad.



Watch for her seedling sale in May. It's a great excuse to visit the County. Congratulations Vicki!

Recipes dog-eared in this issue:

• bang bang chicken noodle salad (From Coriander in the kitchen by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
• Roasted Black Cod with Spicy Paella (From Flower Power by Sarah Goddard and Lucy Waverman)
• Baked Scallops with Herbed Crumbs (From Matching Up by James Chatto and Lucy Waverman)
• White gazpacho with green grape granita (From ice & easy by Christopher St. Onge)
  
• Shaved Asparagus Mimosa Salad (From What's Fresh for dinner by Lucy Waverman)
  
• Canadian Cheddar, Bacon and Tomato Stratas (From A Layered Approach by Monda Rosenberg)
• Coffee Molasses Barbecue Sauce (From Coffee Breaks by Heather Trim)
  

Rick Shurman and Earl Torno are setting you up for Olympic Party hosting success with their British Invasion playlist. So clever. When Canada is walking all over our competition, dare you crank Another One Bites The Dust by Queen? (I for one will be fixated on our rowing crew come late July.) Check it out on iTunes.

Brenda Morrison draws your attention to Belvoir fruit farms' traditional English fruit drinks in Inspired Ideas. They make cordials, pressés and fruit crushes. I have seen their product in shops (Jacobson's on Beechwood in Ottawa to name one) and think they are a nice treat item for your bar when entertaining those choosing not to imbibe. They are imported from the UK though. Anybody have a lead on a similar Canadian product?

Are you still feeling rhubarb-y too? Then you may want to work the the Spring and Early Summer issues in tandem over the next month.

Plan ahead: The Summer issue hits the stores 8 weeks from today on Wednesday, June 27th.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Spring Issue 2012

Spring has sprung
The grass is riz;
I wonder where the birdies is.

Although many think that Ogden Nash penned this little ditty (or a variation of it), in fact its true authorship is unknown. Whoever created the cheerful rhyme may have done so on a day like today, where we have been liberated from a deep freeze and skyrocketed to a blistering 12ºC. Sunny and almost too bright, I might add.

What a perfect day to pick up the newly released Spring issue of the LCBO Food & Drink magazine.

I have my copy marked up already with my wishlist of dishes to try in the weeks and months ahead as produce comes into season:

• Rhubarb Punch and Lemonade Punch (From Bowled Over by Michelle P.E. Hunt & Laura Panter)
• Golden Beet & Fennel Soup with Fennel Horseradish Cream (From Signs of Spring by Christopher St. Onge)
• Fresh Rhubarb Chutney (From Hamming It Up! by Monda Rosenberg)
• Risotto with Braised Short Ribs and Porcini Mushrooms (From Risotto Rapture by Michael Fagan)
• Maple Pecan Squares and Salmon with Hoisin & Maple (From Sweet on Maple by Heather Trim)
• Warm Spring Slaw (From Cuts Above by Monda Rosenberg)
• Pot Stickers with Mango Sauce (From Mango by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)

Trend Spotting by Nancy Won highlights the hottest foods and drinks for the coming year. My take on her list?

• I AGREE ABSOLUTELY: Bitters; Offal 2.0; Root to Leaf; Snack Food
• I'M A DOUBTING THOMAS: Bottle Aged Cocktails; Greek Wines
• NEEDS TO TAKE A BACK SEAT: Bacon
• MISSING: Artisan Doughnuts (the new cupcake); Slaw (any thing, any time, any way); Arancini Rice Balls; Artisan Meatballs; Preserving
  

It is a fun read. Of course I felt wooed by some of the delicious accompanying recipes (even if I have to wait until late June for those garlic scapes) -Sweetbread "Double Down"; Garlic Scape and Spinach Salsa with Chicken; Bacon Smoked Cheddar and Tomato Crostini with Asparagus; Fire Roasted Shrimp with Guacamole and Chili Honey.

Are there any trends you see coming that should be added to Nancy's list?

Lastly, I have to give a shout out to Sandra Van Aert, organic & free-run egg farmer from Watford, Ontario. (Approximately 60 kms west of London). She is a second generation farmer at that! Sandra is featured in Cynthia David's Spotlight segment called The Shell Game. I just can't imagine housing 24,000 hens. Back in my day, all our hens had names. Unfortunately you will not see 'Van Aert' on an egg carton. Something that I hope will change as more and more consumers are wanting to know their food source and who is being entrusted to deliver a superior product. Hey Sandra, I prefer my eggs soft-boiled too!

Plan ahead: The Early Summer issue hits the stores 8 weeks from today on Wednesday, May 2nd.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Holiday Issue 2011

Curious. I didn't jump into the much coveted Holiday issue of the LCBO Food & Drink magazine like I usually do. Plus 15ºC today likely had something to do with it. Oddly, my bottle shopping confreres were decked in wool pants, socks, heavy shoes, fall coats and scarves when cruising through the liquor store this morning. I, on the other hand, dressed more appropriately for the weather Light weight fashions in keeping with a dreamy Disney vacation. And I was still hot. Wouldn't they be sweltering?

So everything wintery and frosty and jingly about Holiday just isn't working for me yet. It is important to know that the rule in my house is that Christmas starts the day after Remembrance Day. In 3 more days I should be contemplating putting up my tree. I now know what it feels like to do Christmas in Florida.

I peeled through the pages hoping to be captured and launched into the season. Eventually I did let go. Partly aware of my hosting obligations soon coming on me. Plus my strong desire to be ready and awesome. I do love the Holiday issue for the inspiration it lavishes on us as we go about planning our feasts of this and nibbles of that.

My list of wants ended up being many, and here are a few of my top picks:

• Garlic Chicken on Bok Choy Rice Cakes and Black Pepper & Asiago Fricos with Serrano Ham (From Sugar and Spice by Christopher St. Onge) * In fact ANYTHING from this feature looks smashing.

• Hot & Sour Soup and Stir-Fried Beef with Black Beans and Rice Noodles, Steamed Rice (From Fine China by Lucy Waverman) * Another feature where every recipe appears genius. Check them all out.

• Bubbly Sangria (From Spirited Sangria by Michelle P.E. Hunt and Laura Panter) * 5 hard-to-choose Sangria recipes. 5 parties? Or 5 punch bowls at the one? A difficult decision.

• Coconut Lime Clouds and White Chocolate & Clementine Shortbread Sandwiches (From White Delights by Christopher St. Onge) * Christopher is running away with this issue with 5 knock out choices for the cookie platter. Look at them all.

• Hot Boxty and Lemon Posset (From Boxing Day Specials by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley) * Have you ever heard of Boxty and Posset?
  

• Spiced Scallops with Blood Orange Salsa and Chilled Orange Salad with Honey and Grand Marnier (From Citrus Season by Lucy Waverman) * Please, please, please pay attention to her tip on how to do 'special cut oranges'.
  

There is a section entitled Thank You! by Cobi Ladner and Victoria Walsh. It is wonderful to labour over making high quality homemade gifts for your many hosts this season. But I have seen some real fails. Remember, it is not about you but your host. No fudge for the diabetic or spicy nuts for the wildly allergic. Nothing smelly for the asthmatic. You get the idea. Make it all about her/him. Make it very special. And for sure, it can still be homemade.

I favour the old familiar holiday jingles that should be belting out everywhere in just a few weeks. The Holiday Playlist by Rick Shurman and Earl Torno took a departure from tradition and focused on a theme more in tune with 'reconnecting with family and friends'. A cute idea. Though I am still puzzled by the choice then of Let's Call The Whole Thing Off by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong. I guess some reconnections just aren't meant to be. Check it out on iTunes.

In Inspired Ideas by Brenda Morrison, is a definite GOTTA HAVE. Cool Ideas, showcases the Prepara Ice Balls. I am a faithful user of Lee Valley Tool's Ice Lantern, filling them over and over with boughs of pine and cedar and a few fresh cranberries. So it is no surprise that I would shape shift to orbs filled with slices of lemon, mint leaves or rose petals. Now, to go about sourcing them in Ottawa.

I have to think there is extra sweat that goes into making the Holiday issues extra glamorous. Food styling is everything. It has the very important role of conveying the seduction of the dish glossed up in the pages before you. When successful, you can smell the dish and want to lick the pages. A tip of the fork to the food styling team of: Ruth Gangbar, Terry Schact, Heather Shaw and Christopher St. Onge.

If you need something to rev your Holiday engine, you might try starting with the latest LCBO Food & Drink magazine. Weighing in at a hefty 865 grams (25 grams lighter than last year), not only will you be ready for your holiday party plans, you will find lots of great ideas that suit the chilly days that are inevitably coming ahead.

What tickled your fancy in this issue?

Plan ahead: The Winter issue hits the stores 9 weeks from today on Wednesday, January 11th.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Summer Issue 2011

At present it is 16ºC. Going to a high of 18ºC. UV Index of 3. Cloudy and a 70% chance of showers. Since this past Friday, the days have started their descent into darkness. The only thing summer at my house is the LCBO Food & Drink magazine. With the latest issue being released today, I intend to spend my morning warming up in its gloriously colourful pages.

This issue is brimming with salads, salads and more salads. As the bounty is already starting to come off the fields (my first CSA pickup with Roots and Shoots Farm starts tomorrow!), there are so many wonderful combinations that can make the colours and tastes on your dinner table pop.

I loved seeing the many strawberry recipes as well. The season is well underway in our zone, but it won't last long. So if there is something in the Strawberry Social segment calling out to you, make it without delay. I hope you will have good luck finding beautiful, juicy local berries.

What caught my attention in this issue? Here are some of the highlights.

• Strawberry Parfaits with Cheesecake Cream & Lime Curd (From Strawberry Social by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
• Sesame Grilled Baby Bok Choy Salad (From Party Platters by Jennifer MacKenzie)
• Grilled Chicken Satays (From Sweet Sensations by Sarah Goddard and Nicole Young)
• Planked Salmon with Ginger-Mirin Mayonnaise (From Top Tips For The Grill by Lucy Waverman)
• Grilled Zucchini & Buffalo Mozzarella Salad and Raw Kale Slaw (From Simply Irresistible by Christopher St. Onge)
• Crostini with Shrimp Ceviche & Spanish Gazpacho Shooters (From Fishing For Complements by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
• Baby Back Ribs on Maple Planks (From What's New On The Q by James Chatto and Robert Rainford)

The Summer Playlist is solid with great tunes meant to make you relaxed and mellow. With the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Fontella Bass and James Brown, I recommend not using glassware for your drinks. You are are high risk of melting blissfully away in your lawn chair. The only one missing seems to be Barry White. Rick Shurman and Earl Torno have done it again. If you have to have it, you can get it on iTunes.

Do you have a soft spot for 'sensible decor touches'? In Inspired Ideas by Brenda Morrison, I was immediately attracted to the colourful Västlig Gardening bags from IKEA. They look very sharp used as vases!

Kudos to Ruth Gangbar for her food styling work!

Plan ahead: The Autumn issue hits the stores 10 weeks from today on Wednesday, September 7th.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Early Summer Issue 2011

The Early Summer issue of the LCBO's Food & Drink Magazine was released in stores today!!

For those that may have caught a glimpse of the cover on their website recently, I can only assume that you have your own hardcopy in your hot little hands as we speak.

Being a bit of a fact hound, I happen to know that I am exactly 1.7 kms from 3 different outlets. It does seem a bit 'DanBrownesque' that I am in this equidistant triangle. My house is some sort of liquor mecca perhaps? For those that know me, you would agree that it is a bit overzealous coverage for my party needs. But there are times when such closeness serves me well. And today was one of those days. My favourite outlet at Kirkwood and Richmond had empty magazine racks when I dropped in at 9:30 this morning. (The Easter holidays had slowed things up. Perhaps by Noon they said.) This could have been very unsettling, but in my case, I just carried on down the road to option two. And voilà!

The Early Summer issue is my second favourite next to the Holiday edition. It tends to scream new season in a way you can actually trust and believe. The winter fatigue is loosening its hold and we are pushing forth from our stale cocoons much like the buds and blooms around us.

This issue is more than pretty. It is packed with tempting recipes perfect for family time and party time. As I was racing through the pages I was struck by how dead easy so many recipes appear to be. Perfect timing with Mother's Day just weeks away.

I may just refer to this as 'The Lucy Edition' with so many of Ms. Waverman's creations tucked between the pages.

The highlights for me:

• Lemon Roulade with Whipped Cream Limoncello & Lemon Thyme (From What's Fresh for Dinner by Lucy Waverman)
• Fettuccine with Pancetta, Pine Nuts & Arugula Sauce (From Dressing Up with Greens by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
• Honeyed Grapefruit Gelée with Orange Blossom Water Syrup & Fresh Fruit (From Blossom Season by Christopher St. Onge)
• Shrimp with Caramel Sauce (From Australia's Regional Cuisine by Lucy Waverman)
• Japanese Chicken Curry (From Global Chicken by Lucy Waverman)
• Creamy Barley Risotto with Asparagus & Porcini (From Meatless Marvels by Michael Fagan)
• Ale Braised Short Ribs (From Opening Weekend by Julia Rogers and Tonia Wilson)
  

I had a good chuckle at The Family Weekend Playlist. Rick Shurman and Earl Torno included some oldie goldies like When You're In Love With a Beautiful Woman by Dr. Hook and Let Your Love Flow by The Bellamy Brothers. Family Weekend Playlist? More like Making Family Weekend Playlist! They did include some dock rockers like Sunny Days by Lighthouse, Down On the Corner by Creedence Clearwater Revival and Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles. A great list nonetheless and worth a look. You can purchase it online.

Plan ahead: The Summer issue hits the stores 9 weeks from today on Wednesday, June 29th.

Now time to curl up for a more leisurely browse as I nurse my second Flat White.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Spring Issue 2011

The Spring issue of the LCBO's Food & Drink Magazine is out!

My local LCBO now opens at 9:30 am and guess who was first in line to snatch up the new glossy?

After the Holiday Issue, this is probably my favourite. Not so much because of the expected great recipes, but for what it represents. The Spring issue gives hope that winter is ending and with it goes all this snow! With a snow fall warning in effect as we speak, I need all the 'uplifting' I can get.

Some inclusions did seem out of place though. I suppose someone at the magazine is VERY keen to move winter along when I find myself reading about wild leeks (ramps) and rhubarb! The Early Summer issue is coming out on April 27 and it struck me that What's Fresh For Dinner by Lucy Waverman may have been better suited for contemplation in 7 weeks time. Where does one find a wild leek in March??? Bless her for getting us juiced up.

I still found plenty of fresh recipes to get me thinking about spring and the brighter days ahead.

• Sweet Pea Risotto Cake with Prosciutto Mascarpone Mousse (From Spring Fling by Christopher St. Onge)
  
• Lobster Thermidor in Parmesan Phyllo Baskets (From Making The Most of Mustard by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
  
• Pecan Bourbon Carrot Cake (From Carrots Take The Cake by Monda Rosenberg)
  
• Spring Pea Soup with Toasted Almonds + Savoury Bacon Biscuits with Herb Butter (From Fun Family Brunch by Jennifer MacKenzie and Cobi Ladner)
  
• Almond Oil Cake (From Untried But True by Christopher St. Onge)

I was nervous to see Whoopie Pies tucked into the pages. I hear it is the new cupcake. Yikes! Imagine Whoopie Pie stores popping up like dandelions all around town.

GOOD NEWS: Crate and Barrel's companion store, CB2 is coming to Toronto in the spring to the corner of Bathurst and Queen St. West.

Check out Natalie MacLean's Spring Wine & Cheese article where she pairs Chilean whites with some great cheeses. You will also want to brush up on the solid advice given for Hosting A Wine and Cheese.

The Spring Playlist is again by Rick Shurman and Earl Torno and available for purchase. They appear to have a continued fondness for Diana Krall, which I fully endorse! They included her Isn't This a Lovely Day? and I've Got You Under My Skin. Other favourites for me are Norah Jones, Boz Scaggs, Van Morrison and The Chieftains, and Eric Clapton.

Pick up your copy right away. Let it be your power play for getting out of this long winter alive!

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Winter Issue 2011

The Winter issue of the LCBO's Food & Drink Magazine was released today. As always, I made my pilgrimage to be there for the 10 am opening of my local outlet. With all household vehicles occupied already, it meant going by bus! Now that is dedication! As it turns out, it was a beautiful winter's day for being outdoors and walking around.

My test for what is hot in the Food & Drink magazine is to dance through the pages just before Noon and see which ones make my mouth well up. Not a bad test actually. Consider giving it a try.

What got me salivating this time?

• Vindaloo Meatballs (From Retro Revival by Heather Trim)
  
• Wild Mushrooms, Pear and Gruyère in Walnut Crêpes (From A Craving For Crêpes by James Chatto and Nicole Young)
  
• Warm Fruit Spice Cake with Brûléed Topping (From Dinners on a Dime by Monda Rosenberg)
  
• Sticky Oven Ribs with Smoky Roasted Sweet Potatoes (From Sweet & Savoury Molasses by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley)
  
• Port-Dressed Fig & Arugula Salad with Prosciutto Chips (From Table For Two by Michael Fagan and Julia Aitken)

Of course there are so many other delicious recipes full of temptations.

I always have a soft spot too for the music playlist. The Sunday Morning Playlist by Rick Shurman and Earl Torno is available for purchase. It features some of my favourite heartache songs like So Far Away by Carole King and Cry Me a River by Diana Krall.

The issues are scooped up in no time. You need to get yours fast and find out what is going to get you through the winter blahs.

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Holiday Issue 2010

The Holiday issue of LCBO's Food & Drink magazine came out yesterday. My anticipation of its arrival every few months, borders on compulsive. Yep, I even set my alarm to get to my neighbourhood location at Richmond and Kirkwood for their 10:00 am opening. The Holiday issue is probably my most favourite. In our home, my rule is that the Christmas decorations can 'legally' go up the day after Remembrance Day.

Yesterday morning the mister took the liberty of adding the pickup task to HIS to-do list as a gesture of helpfulness but also to be 'efficient'. To not have that hot little number in my hot little hands at 10:05 am pushed me out of my comfort zone, for sure.

But now that I have it, I am dreaming of sugar plums. Okay, well maybe there aren't actually sugar plums dancing in my head, but I have to say the Suppli Al Telefono appetizer stopped me in my tracks. Party Apps by Cobi Ladner and Tonia Wilson will be a go-to article for amping up the yummies at our book club Christmas party. [These gals are regular readers of F&D too!]

Even better, I may finally conquer the construction of the Parisian macaron. I have had these Marie-Antoinette-style sweets straight from Laudrée in Paris, and I am now ready to follow every minute detail on 'mastering macarons' laid out in the article Macaron Magic by Dana McCauley.

A new dinner menu is forming as I ogle the Large Lobster Tails with Dill Butter & Pistachios on Saffron Risotto with Leeks from Dressed for Dinner by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley.

I know my turkey leftovers are headed for Curried Turkey in Naan Bread thanks to Remains of the Day by Signe Langford and Monda Rosenberg.

I could go on and on. The weight of this magazine alone at 890 grams says it all. This edition is PACKED with everything you need for the holiday season, including a Holiday Playlist on page 38 by Rick Shurman and Earl Torno that mixes the familiar traditionals with some up-beat, peppy numbers.

I am guessing that this is probably their hottest issue of the year. You need to get out now and pick it up!

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Autumn 2010

The Autumn edition of LCBO's Food & Drink magazine came out today. I have to admit I was reluctant to go get it because I am not ready for that word "Autumn". I am still craving, 'light' and 'fresh' and 'bursting with flavour'. Descriptors for me that are synonymous with Summer. When I think Autumn, I think 'comfort', 'colourful', 'cornucopia'.

But the Food & Drink magazine never disappoints and I did go to get my copy on release day because everyone else in the city seems to share this observation and I couldn't bare to be without.

As expected, 'comfort', 'colourful' and 'cornucopia' do pop out from the pages as their feature stories are: The Harvest Table by Jennifer MacKenzie, Bound to Please by Marilyn Bentz-Crowley, Ontario Wine Classics by James Chatto, Dinner from the Garden by Lucy Waverman and our own Ottawa-based wine expert, Natalie MacLean, Branching Out With Ontario Wine by Michelle P.E. Hunt and Laura Panter.

By the time I turned the last page, I was thinking that they had hooked me again as my saliva was welling.

The corners of some pages did get folded back. Pear and Gorganzola Tarts (Pg 15), Savoury Apple Tart (Pg 40), Scallop Potatoes with Porcini & Bacon (Pg 63), Zucchini Fritters with Roasted Tomatoes (Pg 88), Three-Onion Soup (Pg 89), Quinoa Risotto and also Jerusalem Artichoke Gratin (Pg 114), Rich Oxtail Soup with Madeira & Mustard-Thyme Cream (Pg 138) to name just a few.

And although we all seem to think "Food" and "Drink" when get this magazine, I just loved their Thanksgiving Playlist on Page 32. Their selection of songs seems like such a gentle way to ease us from Summer to Autumn as we leave one season with some remorse and approach the other with reluctance. This playlist does it in a way that says "It's going to be okay."

Be not afraid. Go into Autumn, embrace it and know that the passage of time means we are surely moving on to new adventures with food and drink.