Labour Day long weekend… or as we call it: The Unofficial Official Summer Send Off.
Over here at the Savour Ontario kitchen, we’ve been busy curating a list of great tips and even greater recipes to help you cherish these final summer moments. We know that no matter the picnic, camping trip, or backyard BBQ, your moments are best spent with family, friends and food - and these recipes are sure to reflect that! Crafted for sharing and serving additions, we want you to keep the party going with all your favourite people and a full belly, so check out our favourite ways to send off the season…
Picnic Ideas
As something we all think about doing but never actually get around, this is your sign! Picnics are the perfect way to microdose nature and embrace that glamping lifestyle for the afternoon. No matter your style, we’ve got just the thing!
The Spinach & Cheese Filled Samosa Bites lend themselves perfectly to anyone looking for a sharable, snack-esque lunch that can be pre-prepared for a hassle-free picnic. With a creamy mint chutney dip that adds freshness and a blast of flavour with each bite, you can serve these bites as is, or pair them a green salad for a refreshing, healthy meal in the park.
Looking to elevate your picnic with the perfect, pic-worthy meal? Check out our Ontario Local Cheese & Charcuterie piece for individualised portable boards using some of the province’s best artisanal cheeses - paired with cured meats and accoutrements? Voila! A lunch made in heaven. Grab the pieces on the go or assemble in advance.
Not cutting it? Go all out with our Edible Ontario: Foraging for wild ingredients article to learn how to find foods on the go! Though this picnic may be a little less filling, it’s the experience that makes it. This resourcefulness can not only make for a fun afternoon of foraging but unlock food knowledge that allows you to further elevate the foods we all know and love.
Camping for Foodies
The first rule of camping with Savour Ontario? No plain food allowed! … Unless it’s on a stick. Campsite cooking gets considerably easier and much more delicious with just a bit of planning, and we’ve laid out a Travelling Kitchen to help! From multi-use tools, to essential herbs, to zero food waste, this list of camp kitchen essentials aims to elevate your dining experience.
A key piece to starting out on any outdoor culinary journey is to allow pre-prep! Not only does this minimize on-site waste, but saves the hassle of packing single-use tools, or unrealistic appliances… because who's lugging a food processor to the campsite? And to those that do, we applaud your commitment to the game. Try this Grilled Steak Pitas with Blue Cheese and Homemade Olive Hummus recipe on the fire and follow it up with some late night snacks! Like we said before, Primitive Pleasures: Food on Sticks is most definitely Savour Ontario camping approved.
Backyard BBQ
We don’t know about you but we think every dinner party is better outside surrounded by twinkly lights and as such, this is the year we start Embracing the chaos of elevated outdoor culinary experiences! This article provides amazing tips for those new to outdoor dinner parties, from meal ideas and cooking challenges to decorating your space for an elevated experience to enjoy with all your favourite people.
Though we do concur, sometimes the grill does the trick! If an afternoon BBQ soaking up the sun is more your speed, we can’t argue - but we can make it 3 courses! Make 5 o’clock ‘Appy Hour’ with Tim Schulte’s Baked Ontario Double Cream Brie with Nuts, Cranberries, Caramelized Honey, and Thyme, coupled with amazing Ontario wine suggestions, it may just be ‘Happy Hour’ after all. The main event is one embracing local, using cheese, beef, produce and more from Ontario producers to create Gouda Beer Cheeseburgers paired with Grilled Halloumi and Peach Brochettes. Don’t forget to finish it off right with a velvety, rich Raspberry Crème Brûlèe.
Whether it be simple, or elevated, day or night, glamping or camping, we’re here to make your summer send off a great one with life’s simple pleasures: A rooted dining experience with the people who mean the most! Visit our Recipes page for more seasonally inspired and local focused dishes for your next outdoor dining experience.