A SPLASH OF BEER

BY HEATHER TRIM • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB FIOCCA

THE PROOF IS IN THE FLAVOUR WHEN YOU COOK WITH BEER.

BARBECUED PLANKED CHICKEN NACHOS

recipe on page 148 My Canadian summer includes beer. Which is no surprise—Canadians have been drinking beer a long time. Iconic Canadian brewers Labatt and Molson have been around longer than we’ve been a country. As for the beer itself, Labatt Blue (LCBO 696468, 473 mL, $2.10) and Molson Canadian (LCBO 904409, 473 mL, $2.55) share personalities much like that of our nation. They’re easygoing, fun to be with, unfussy and go with pretty much everything.

While nachos aren’t usually grilled, they are typically served with beer. The cold refreshing taste of the beer ofsets the spicy nature of the dish. This summer, skip the oven and try planking chicken nachos on the barbecue. And why not use beer as an ingredient, not just as a go-to drink? The beer adds favour to the marinade and tenderizes the chicken. As for the cheddar cheese drizzle on top, the favour has been amped up with a splash of beer, which a full-favoured aged Canadian cheddar can easily handle. The plank makes for an attractive serving platter as well as adding smokiness to the dish.

There really is no better way to enjoy our too-short Canadian summer than with friends, good food and a refreshing beer. Happy birthday, Canada!