Well, it looks like we’re full into summer. Steak season extraordinaire. One of my personal favorites for a backyard summer BBQ is a gorgeous t-bone, from o’Brien farms, with grilled corn on the cob, and a nice heaping bowl of guacamole.
For steaks, I always salt the meat about an hour before I cook, and let it come up to room temperature so as not to shock the steaks once they go on the grill.
Grilled corn is probably one of my favorites of the summer, and is even better over a campfire. Buy fresh corn on the cob, and soak it for an hour in water. Drain, and cook right in the husk over a medium heat for about ten minutes. Once cooked, unhusk, butter, a little fleur de sel, and a squeeze of fresh lime.
Guacamole, while not exactly local, goes absolutely wonderful with grilled meats, and a lot of the non avocado parts can be procured at the farmers market. All you really need for a good guac is avocado, lime, onion, garlic, cilantro, and salt. If you want to be a little more colorful about it, add some diced field or cherry tomatoes for color.
This summer is breeding it’s own particular set of problems. With the high heat and the low rainfall, a lot of farmers are buying water for irrigation. Corn is few and far between, some crops are really short season right now, and we are seeing price increases as the costs increase. This won’t end with the end of produce season, as meat producers are relying on corn and hay crops that are failing.
On a positive note, local chili peppers are thriving in the heat, tomatoes are full of flavor, and as a whole in Canada we seem to be supporting our local food systems more and more. Enjoy the summer, the steaks, and pray for rain (overnight rain, of course)!