EDITOR’S NOTES

While Canada’s 150th

birthday celebrations are just around the corner, we think a milestone birthday like this should be celebrated all summer long. So whether you’re looking for inspiration for what to bring to a backyard BBQ, planning a block party for the whole neighbourhood or even pondering a day trip or vacation, this issue of Food & Drink is full of great ideas—many of them with a˜Canadian˜twist.

You’ll be seeing plenty of red and white this summer, including in “True Colours” on page 80, where we have developed five delicious dishes in the colours of our flag—without an artifcial ingredient or drop of food colouring in sight! Those same colours inspire the décor for our Canada Day Block Party on page 72. Featuring an array of favourful dishes that are sure to please the palates of adults and kids alike, the menu is easy to divide up amongst neighbours, or can be scaled down to smaller gatherings with friends and family.

Speaking of friends and family, we know you’ll be making plans with them, especially for the three precious long weekends our Canadian summers provide. Afternoons and early evenings spent enjoying the sunshine (we hope!) are made for long drinks—loweralcohol cocktails that are light, fresh and delicious. “Long Weekend, Long Drinks” on page 51 suggests three recipes to try that highlight classic products, along with a couple of new ones on LCBO shelves. If you’re heading out for a night or weekend away, packing up the cooler may be in order. Starting on page 133, “Cool˜It” suggests which products—in four favour categories— are ideal to tote along.

And fnally, whether you prefer to stay closer to home or venture farther afeld in this great country of ours, we’ve got some suggestions on both those fronts too. In “Small-Town Brews” on page 117, Stephen Beaumont highlights several independent Ontario breweries that are worth a day trip to visit. To further entice you, he has also included other local attractions that will make the trip even more worthwhile. With Canada being named the top travel destination for 2017 (and the aforementioned sesquicentennial celebrations), there may be no better time to make plans to see it yourself. Amy Rosen o˙ers up “Oh˜Canada!” on page 86, an eclectic mix of Must Stops, Hidden Gems and Bucket List items to add to your travel itineraries.

Happy birthday Canada—and here’s to a great summer!