Last Blast of Summer Splash

As summer's days wind down and notions of heading back to school and regular

work schedules start weaving their way back into our thoughts, now's the

time to enjoy one last blast of summer splash with friends and family.

 "With fresh produce at its peak and grocery stores and local farmer's

markets shelves overflowing with the tastes of summer sunshine, now's the

day to grab your friends and family and prepare a feast to celebrate summer

at its best," says Chef Neil Baxter, Master of Cuisine at the famed

Stratford Chefs School in Stratford, Ontario. He offers these tips for

pulling together a fast and easy get-together.

. Look for the freshest local produce and you'll be sure to serve up plates

of summer flavour. Peppers, onions, mushrooms, eggplant, zucchini, sweet

potatoes and baby squashes are all at their summer peaks and are great

served fresh or grilled with a light oil and vinegar dressing drizzled

across them.

. Everyone's summer favourite, corn on the cob, is ripe and ready to serve.

Cold salads and hot corn from the barbeque make a great tasting and easy

summer dinner.

. Look for light, crisp and refreshing wines to pair with the flavours of

summer. Chateau la Tour de L'eveque from Cotes du Provence, France recently

introduced a new Rosé perfect for pairing with summer tastes according to

Chef Neil. Oyster Bay's Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand offers the zesty

taste of crisp fruit, a perfect match for a grilled fish.

. Pinot Noirs and Gamay Noirs are great red wines that pair nicely with the

lighter tastes of summer foods. The wine connoisseurs at the Stratford Chefs

School recommends chilling them for 15-20 minutes to bring out the fresh

fruit flavours, perfect for savouring summer's last sunny days.

. New potatoes are the perfect side dish to accompany any summer meal. No

peeling equals no mess and easy preparation. Dress the potatoes in a fully

flavored vinaigrette with some freshly cut herbs and sautéed bacon for a

more decadent dish.

. Easy, breezy desserts like strawberry shortcake, lemon custard tarts and

roasted peaches with vanilla ice cream are easy to make ahead and whip

together at the last minute.

More cooking tips and a glimpse of life as a chef at the Stratford Chefs

School can be had this October when the Stratford Chefs School will be

featured in the 12-week reality TV show Chefs School, airing on the Food

Network. Visit www.stratfordchef.on.ca for more information on the show and

the Stratford Chefs School.

-30-

To download a high resolution JPEG, please visit:

http://www.communitynews.ca/files/releases/Chef_Neil_BaxterHeadshot.JPG