LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Spring Issue 2014

As I toy with whether to write up my Coq au Vin recipe with spring just a stone's throw away, the LCBO Food & Magazine's Spring issue sports a big fat roasty toasty stick to your ribs chicken dinner on its front cover.

Who hasn't said that this has been Ontario's longest winter ever?  Magically winter is the same length every year but as far as the conditions, we have endured more than our fair share of storms, deep freezes, and dark days.

This particular chicken photographed by James Tse, fronts Jennifer MacKenzie's article Chicken Coup. Jennifer helps us through the new chicken lexicon - heritage breeds, organic, free-range versus free-run, grain fed, chilling.  No quiz at the end but you might want to brush up on the chicken lingo popularized by our Small Flock Farmers in Ontario. Jennifer has included mouth-watering recipes for us to snack on while we study.

Fear not.  This issue is more than chicken.  Spring awaits you inside with colourful jam drinks, Easter feasts, and brightly coloured dishes, including the ubiquitous beet. You will even find tulips housed in glass.

The other must-read article is Better With Bitters by Charlene Rooke.  She says "bitters are often called a bartender's salt and pepper."  We recently purchased bitters (lemon and also cranberry) from Dillon's Small Batch Distillers in Beamsville since this seems to be a The Decade of The Cocktail. Lucy Waverman shares with us a range of recipes to make sure our bitters don't all go to drink. For Ottawa shoppers, the Ottawa Bagelshop and Deli on Wellington carries a decent selection of Fee Brothers bitters.


My Must-Try recipes have me seeing red. Rhubarb Red.  I have 10 pounds in the freezer I need to use up before the new crop sprouts forth this spring.  I welcome their ideas.

• Rhubarb Raspberry Bundt Cakes (From Best Bundts by Joanne Yolles)
• Rhubarb Custard Tart (From Easter Lunch by Lucy Waverman)
• Bitter Orange Cake with Rhubarb Compote, Candied Orange & Goat Cheese Ice Cream (From Better With Bitters by Lucy Waverman)

Plan ahead: The Early Summer issue hits the stores in eight weeks on Wednesday, April 30th.
 

LCBO Food & Drink Magazine - Early Summer Issue 2013

I am feasting on the Early Summer issue of LCBO's Food & Drink magazine just released last Wednesday. James Tse's eye-catching cover shot of Victoria Walsh's lamb chops, asparagus and tzatziki gives you a hint that this issue is chocked full of straight forward and flavour packed dishes.

Everybody must be talking about Christopher St. Onge's stunning Lemon Poppyseed Chiffon Cake with Candied Citrus and Ricotta Filling in Birthday Confections. Birthdays, yes, but as the article suggests, these creations say 'celebration', whether a graduation, anniversary, wedding or baby shower. Rolled fondant is very popular and the polka dot cake is for those wanting a show.

Cocktails are big, big, big this year so don't miss the tutorial by James Chatto, A Guide To Garnishing. At a minimum, at least learn how to do the twist! I for one, love it when my Caesar comes with a mini salad. So if you are serving me, bring on the pickled green bean, pickled garlic scape, celery and bacon.

I try to resist being drawn in by Brenda Morrison's Must Haves. This time she was very tricky.  First the Pin Table designed by Scandinavian designer, Andreas Engesvik. It comes in white, black, yellow, neo red and neo green.  I couldn't find it at Bergo Designs but I did see them on Amazon.  Then there are the Two's Company String Lights. I wondered if I could hang them from my fence. Swinging from the trees could be risky business with an open flame and a bit of breeze.

Other torn pages from this issue:

• Sherry-Glazed Mushroom Tart with Peppery Salad (From A Splash of Sherry by Jennifer Crinion)
• Radish & Roasted Beet Salad and Strawberry Basil Balsamic Jam (From Garden Delights by Jennifer MacKenzie)
• Chipotle Crab on Croissant (From Lunch on the Patio by Heather Trim)
• Grilled Lemon-Lime-Ade and Barbecue-Poached Rhubarb Topping (From The May 24 Cookout by Victoria Walsh)
• Grilled Flank Steak with Roasted Tomato Pesto (From Tasting Party At Home by Lucy Waverman and Tonia Wilson-Vuksanovic)
• Chilled Strawberries with Hot-Lime White-Chocolate Sauce (From What's Fresh For Dinner by Lucy Waverman)

By now, finding a copy of the Early Summer issue in major centres could prove to be tough. But if you are in the smaller towns, you might have luck. It has been my strategy in the past. So if you find yourself in Merrickville, Pakenham, or Sharbot Lake, pull into the LCBO and try your luck. It is serious stuff to be pilfering the issue from your best friend's powder room magazine stash. That should be your last resort.

Plan ahead: The Summer issue hits the stores in a little over 7 weeks on Wednesday, June 26th.