Canadian pantry finds, Gooderham & Worts Four Grain Whisky

Good morning,

Happy Canada Day to all! 

Today’s newsletter will be highlighting a few Canadian products allowing me to take a trip down memory lane and I feature a legend in the world of Canadian Whisky.

Well I’m off for a mini holiday in the garden where I will watch the birds flit by and the tomatoes grow. I swear they’ve grown so rapidly, you can almost see their progress as you watch.

Now let’s hoist a glass to this beautiful country we call home!

Ralf Joneikies, food and drink editor. [email protected]

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS

Canadian pantry finds

Having come from Europe, and when our family first arrived in Ottawa, we naturally enough discovered the ByWard Market. I loved the colours of the fruit and vegetables and getting to know the vendors was a bonus. It was also a place where we could get products from the old country.

There was one place however that I particularly enjoyed. Giant Tiger. It was always a jumble of all kinds of things for a kid to discover. I don’t know why, but I was particularly amused by the wooden floors of this shop. 

This original relic still stands on George St. and I guess I’ll always have a soft spot for it and now with another Canada Day upon us, I thought I’d highlight some Canadian foods that you’ll find at this Ottawa institution.

Whether you identify as a prepper or just want to insulate yourself a little against inflation, you may be filling your pantry with healthy foods that are good for you and easy to prepare.

Enter newbie Sprague Foods which is celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Established in 1925, Sprague has only in the last nine years re-doubled their efforts to put their name front and centre. 

What a pleasure to discover this company that is producing clean label foods entirely preservative free, gluten-free, vegan and keto friendly and often organic and certified kosher. They also indicate on their labels that they don’t use seed oils. It’s funny how what has always been traditional (ie, clean foods) is now seen as progressive. There you have it: Sprague Foods. Progressive for 100 Years. That should be the new mantra.

They use absolutely no preservatives and their cans have linings that are BPA and PFAS free and I encourage you to read the FAQ on their website.

I’ve had both the Campfire Beans and the Tuscan Minestrone soup and I’m a fan. The products are delicious and the beans still have a reasonable firmness (no mushiness) that makes eating a pleasure and the Canadian whiskey in those baked beans was a smart touch.

I purchased my products at the main Giant Tiger (attached to their headquarters) on Walkley. Yes, priced between two and three dollars a can, the Sprague products may have a slightly higher cost but just look at all those unpronounceables you’re not getting.

Since I was in a sentimental state of mind, I lugged home a few bottles of soda from that old classic The Pop Shoppe. 

Every so often my dad would take me to their location at the West Gate Mall where it seemed you could score a dozen bottles for what seemed like a buck. It was likely more than that, but hey this is my memory and it can be as flawed as it wants. For sentimental reasons.

I also came across a new line of sodas from Bear ‘n Beaver out of Surrey, B.C. 

I opened the Blue Creamsicle (raspberry flavoured) and was absolutely shocked to find that the drink in my glass was the colour of sparkling water. “Blue” Creamsicle? That was a first. I was actually glad for the false advertising.

Next I splashed their ginger beer over ice and it was more than a little spicy. That was a good amount of ginger and the addition of West Indies lime added brightness. For all its fire it was the nicest and most balanced ginger beer I recall having. Don’t forget that ginger beer is also the beverage to enjoy if you’re having fish and chips. 

Wonderful stuff and it worked like a charm with the Canadian whisky that follows!

CANADIAN WHISKEY

A Canadian whiskey legend

Gooderham & Worts Four Grain Whisky | Ontario | LCBO Code # 428417 | $42.75 | 44.4% alc. 750 ml

Gooderham & Worts distillery first established itself in the early 1800s but was dwarfed in output by the juggernaut known as Molson’s, which for more than 25 years was the largest distiller in the British Commonwealth. There’s a wealth of this history to enjoy in Davin De Kergommeaux’s book Canadian Whisky, which I can only recommend.

The original Gooderham & Worts still stands in some form and is now better known as Toronto’s Distillery District. Because of its roots, the district has often been used in both American and Canadian film and television for period pieces set in the 1800s.

As for the whisky, you’ll enjoy nosing this as there’s so much going on. Upfront a little buttery note, followed by sweet corn and caramel, followed by stewed peach which is also quite apparent on the palate. The four grains on the label include: rye, wheat, corn and barley.

On the palate, it also shows allspice, cinnamon and black pepper and a floral note that comes in at the finish. It’s a dry but fruity whisky that will make a fine end-of-day sipper or an elegant Manhattan

This is an all-rounder of a whisky. Good enough on its own but versatile enough for mixing. In case you’re wondering, it made a killer spiked ginger beer using the Bear ‘n Beaver from Giant Tiger. 

There are approximately 110 bottles in the Ottawa Market

QUICK BITES

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MEMBERS-ONLY

Joe’s Italian Kitchen sticks the landing

Six months ago the Preston St. institution Ciccio Ristorante was replaced by the third incarnation of Joe’s Italian Kitchen. 

People have often asked me if I’d eaten at Joe’s in Westboro, and it’s one of those unconscious biases that crops up when a restaurant has more than one location if it goes by the same name: “Mmm…I wonder if it can actually be good.”

I’m glad to have had my perspective adjusted because the answer is unreservedly yes. Joe’s Italian Kitchen has the recipes to impress newbies and experienced Italophiles alike.

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