BRAMPTON, ON, May 15, 2014 /CNW/ - (TSX:L) – The President's Choice® team has partnered with some of Canada's top foodie influencers and chefs to create provincially inspired burgers that are sure to be a hit during backyard barbecues across the country. But just because the burgers are designed by chefs doesn't mean you can't create them at home. Your local Loblaws® and Real Canadian Superstore® locations have everything you need to pull off these mouth-watering creations, not to mention everything else to host the perfect summer barbecue.
"Ontario is such a multicultural province, it's composed of a beautiful and harmonious blend of the world's cultures," says Rob Bragagnolo, executive chef at Marben Restaurant in Toronto. "So when I was challenged to develop the Ontario Burger for the President's Choice® brand, I knew it had to incorporate the wonderful international influences you find so often in Ontario."
Chef Rob certainly delivered, creating the "Great Lakes Guac and Gouda Burger" that brings together many traditional summer flavours, with a little international twist. Rob started with the PC® Loads of Gouda, Mushrooms & Onions Burger, with big chunks of Gouda, mushrooms and roasted onions for a big burst of flavor with every bite; he stacked even more slices of smoked Gouda and the new PC® Naturally Smoked Bacon Rounds which offer everything you love about bacon strips but in a round shape (the rounds don't just fit your burger better, but curl at the edges when cooked to better hold your toppings); he combined avocado, cilantro, lime juice, PC® black label Peperoncini Piccanti peppers, PC® black label Spiced Tomato Condiment, and a touch of salt to create a fantastic guacamole topping; and, he piled it all onto a PC® Ciabatta Burger Bun, slathered with PC® black label Caramelized Red Onion Chutney. Voila – the perfect summer burger for Ontarians!
While the President's Choice® team challenged Rob to make a burger perfectly suited for Ontarians, the range of burgers and toppings at Loblaws® and Real Canadian Superstore® allows anyone to customize a burger uniquely based on their province, neighbourhood, or family tastes. Whether you add a dollop of the new PC® Not-So-SecretTM Burger Sauce, smother it with PC® Memories Of® Alabama Creamy Barbecue Sauce or pile it high with PC® Beefsteak Pink Tomatoes, the possibilities are endless. But there's a lot more to enjoy when it comes to eating and entertaining this summer. From refreshing eats to cool treats President's Choice® products have you covered. Learn more about all things summer at pc.ca and join the conversation using the hashtag #pcsummer.
Lighter Bites
Sometimes on those really hot days, we look for foods that are less heavy than our traditional barbecue fare. So why not skip the beef and try PC® Blue Menu® Thick and JuicyTM Wild Sockeye Salmon Burgers? Made with mild-tasting, sustainably sourced wild sockeye salmon, it's 75% lower fat than our regular PC® Thick and JuicyTM Beef Burgers as well as a source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fats as well as a source of omega-3 and polyunsaturated fats. Pair it with a refreshing salad topped with PC® Roasted Garlic Salad Dressing and finished with PC® Tortilla Chili Lime Salad Topper for a guilt-free summer dinner.
Looking for something vegetarian that's still great on the grill? Thanks to the high melting point of PC® Halloom Semi-Soft Unripened Cheese this mild tasting Mediterranean-inspired cheese resists melting and holds its shape on the grill. That means you can add smoky, delectable cheese to your kebabs, summer salads and sandwiches. Or, if you're looking for a lighter, veggie twist on your classic summer burger, try the PC® Portobello Mushroom Caps. They're dense and meaty so the texture makes them a natural for the grill.
Beyond the Burger
If you're a meat-eater at heart, you're probably looking for variety this summer that goes beyond the burger. So change things up with the new PC® Chili Cheese All-Beef Frankfurters. We've made chili frankfurters a cinch by loading black beans, Monterey Jack cheese and mildly spicy chili seasoning right into a 6-inch all-beef frankfurter. You get the big-wow flavour you're after even before you add any toppings.
For something more gourmet to impress your guests, try fresh lamb chops right off the grill. The PC® Australian Lamb Indian Masala Loin Chops are consistently tender and mild in taste. Even those who usually pass on lamb may be won over by the ever-so-delicate flavour.
Summer Sippers
No day on the deck or summer party is complete without some killer cocktails. The sweet watermelon flavour of PC® Sparkling Watermelon Lemon Soda is tamed with lemon flavour for a refreshing balance. Try it as a mixer and wow your guests with vibrant presentation and colour. The key to choosing the right selection of drinks is to look for options that are delicious on their own but can also be easily enjoyed in a variety of mixed drinks, like PC® Pineapple Coconut Water, an excellent hydrator and high in potassium. The PC® Cranberry Black Cherry Cocktail is sure to be a crowd pleaser too. It's an intensely fruity bevvie that's excellent straight up or in dazzling cocktails.
Sweet Endings
Cool eats are essential on sunny days. Stock your freezer with yummy treats that are sure to satisfy sweet tooths both big and small. At 80 calories, PC® Blue Menu™ Pineapple Coconut Water Ice Pops are the perfect flavourful alternative to high fat dairy-based frozen treats. Or try the PC® Blue Menu™ Power Fruit Mini Greek Yogurt Smoothie Bars, a luxurious mini smoothie bar with a wicked crunchy Greek yogurt and granola coating with a hint of cinnamon. If your family's favourite summer treat is ice cream, they'll go crazy for the new PC® "Eat The Middle First"® Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich or the new PC® Ice Cream Shop Flavours Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream – both perfect for cooling down on hot days.
When entertaining, don't spend time that could be spent with guests baking in the kitchen. Instead, serve desserts that are both delicious but take no prep time at all. The PC® Key Lime Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Lollipops are made with 0-per-cent milk fat Greek yogurt and concentrated key lime juice, and a crunchy coating with graham crumbs. Or slice up PC® Banana Cream Pie with Dulce De Leche that boasts a silky smooth layer of dulce de leche beneath a luscious layer of banana cream filling topped with whipped cream and nestled in a graham crumb crust. So unforgettable, it's the perfect choice for entertaining.
Check out pc.ca for more sensational summer treats and entertaining ideas. In Ontario, President's Choice® products are available at Real Canadian Superstore®, Loblaws®, Your Independent Grocer®, Fortinos®, Zehrs Markets®, nofrills® and valu-mart®.
Website: www.pc.ca , www.loblaws.ca
Facebook: President's Choice
Twitter & Instagram: @PresChoice #PCSummer
Chef Rob's full recipe and accompaniment suggestions, as well as product samples and high-resolution images are available.
About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unit holder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.
Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations; PC Financial® no-fee banking; affordable Joe Fresh® fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand®, no name® and President's Choice®. Through the PC Plus™ and Shoppers Optimum® loyalty programs, more than one in every three Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.
SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Public Relations Department, 905-459-2500/ pr@loblaw.caCopyright CNW Group 2014