by: Meghan Kirsch

Contrary to popular belief, teriyaki sauce isn’t just for stir-fry dishes, nor does it need to come in the bottled form sold in your local grocery store. Making your own is fast and easy, and lets you make a smaller amount to use immediately, or a large batch to store in your fridge for later use.

Teriyaki Sauce

• 1 cup light soy sauce
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stalk green onion
• Pinch of sesame seeds
• 1 clove of garlic (previously or hand minced)

1. On low heat combine soy sauce, garlic, sugar and green onion in a small sauce pan. Stir slowly and monitor closely as the sugar burns easily.
2. When all the sugar has dissolved, add the sesame seeds.
3. Remove teriyaki sauce from the heated element and let it sit until it cools slightly and thickens.

Overnight refrigeration makes for a thicker consistency, but the sauce can also be enjoyed right away.

Some easy ways to use teriyaki sauce, outside of stir-fries:

• Glaze chicken breasts with it in the last stages of barbecuing for a sweet finish
• Spoon over grilled fish (salmon is always a great choice)
• Roast some vegetables, and use it as a dipping sauce

by: Meghan Kirsch

With the hot weather finally here, the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time slaving over a hot stove. An easy recipe to make and share is mussels – minimal time spent at a hot stove, maximum time relaxing with your friends on a back patio!

Drunken Mussels

• 2.5 pound bag of mussels (about 1 pound of mussels per a person should be sufficient)
• 3 cloves of garlic or a heaping spoonful of pre-minced garlic
• 1 whole onion (chopped or diced)
• 1 tsp seasonal salt (or sea salt)
• ¼ cup of white wine (the rest of the bottle should be consumed before, during and after the making of the mussels)
• ¼ cup olive oil

1. In a large pot sauté onions, garlic, and salt in the olive oil on medium heat until the onions turn a light brown.
2. Wash the mussels in cold water, and remove any mussels that have opened.
3. Ensure that all excess water is strained from the mussels and then add the mussels to the large pot.
4. Add the white wine, then cover and let steam for approximately five minutes or until the mussels are cooked (the fleshy portion of the mussel should feel soft but not moist)
5. Serve with fresh baguette to sop up the juices, and some brie cheese on the side.
   

   For an extra kick you can add fennel, tomato, and chili pepper to the sauté prior to adding the mussels.

By Mikhail Saavedra

(From Festival of Beer’s press release)
Toronto’s Festival of Beer Runs August 6th – 9th at Exhibition Place

Beer lovers rejoice! It’s time to kick back with a brew (or two!) at the 15th annual Toronto’s Festival of Beer. Over 30,000 people will descend on Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place to sip, sample and socialize at this four-day celebration of everything BEER. Sponsored by bet365.net, Toronto Sun, Pizza Pizza, the Bier Markt, Four Points Sheraton, Napoleon Fireplaces & Grills, Contiki Holidays, Hero Certified Burgers, Ted’s World Famous BBQ, St. Louis Bar & Grill and the Ontario Craft Brewers, the Festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary and promises to be even bigger and better than previous years.

As always, beer will take centre stage, while live entertainment will set the vibe at this worthwhile event. Guests will mingle with Brewery owners and Brewmasters, and sample from over 250 beers available! Over 95% of Ontario beer brands will be represented, celebrating the best in local brews. High energy musical acts from across North America will hit the stage to delight Festival-goers. Some of the acts for this year’s festival include: 54-40, three-time Grammy Award winners Arrested Development, Cuff the Duke and Elliot Brood.

Back by popular demand to entertain and instruct a crowd of avid beer and food connoisseurs is the “Napoleon Grilling Tent” featuring Ted Reader’s and friends, showcasing Demonstrations, seminars and food and beer pairings.

With the Festival’s relocation from Fort York to Exhibition place this year, more consumers and vendors will have access to this one-of-a-kind event. Ideally located in downtown Toronto alongside the scenic shores of Lake Ontario, Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place provides convenient access to TTC and GO Transit links. Increased access to public transit allows the Festival to further support their message to brewers and consumers alike; Respect Beer. Respect Yourself. Drink Responsibly.

Tickets for Toronto’s Festival of Beer sell out in advance every year. This year’s Festival is already proving to be no exception as tickets for Saturday August 8th are already sold out! Tickets for the Festival can be purchased online at www.beerfestival.ca . Thursday August 6th tickets for the bet365.net Beer Garden Gala are $50, while August 7th and 9th are $45 each. All tickets include 5 sample tokens, a commemorative sampling cup and a Festival Pocket Guide. This is a 19+ event.

For more information about this year’s Festival of Beer, please visit www.beerfestival.ca

Taste of the Danforth is one of the big summer event that no foodies should miss. The festivities kick off tonight at 6pm, and end Sunday at 8pm. Aside from the food, there are live entertainment, shops with bargains, contests and wine + beer samplings.

Each year, I would have three shifts: Fri, Sat and Sun, each with a different set of friends. My foodie pals and I would start at around Donlands, eat our way all the way to Broadview, have a break at Willows Mexican Restaurant for a nice Sangria, chat a little, then nibble our way back with desert stands along the way.

Game Plans:

Friday —  early birds: if you don’t like too many crowds, as the vendors are just getting set up, but not everything is in place yet

Saturday — the gong show: if you love a good crowd, and you want to have an eating marathon.  The day starts from 11 am, you will have time to eat, drink, rest, shop and repeat it a few times, then head over to the local bars for more partying after 11pm.

Sunday — bargain hunters: if you like a good bargain, as they are trying to clear all of their inventory before the end of the festivities.

See you all there!!!