International Barbecue Day

Posted by Jill Harris Jul 30, 2008

A friend forwarded me Anita Stewart’s Flavours of Canada website, suggesting a long weekend barbecue. Not a bad idea, especially since they promote local environmentally-friendly food.

But Barbecue Day is the brainchild of a Canadian beef industry lobbyist. This changes my view…a day dedicated to cooking up animals? Local food is good, but meat is bad for the environment. Should I protest? Join in? Ignore it? Or start my own Barbecue Day?

I decided to invite my veg-friendly family and friends to a barbecue celebrating local food and Canadian cuisine. Even for omnivores, trying new things and vegetarian BBQ is never a bad thing. Where I live in Ontario, Canada, there is plenty more to grill than meat.

I plan on submitting my story to the website’s “stories” section, where I so far have seen only one reference to vegetarian foods. If you participate (it’s not just for Canadians!), please do the same. It’s time for vegetarian grillers to gather and rally for meatless grilling!

What will I be cooking? I have a few ideas on the table. And as long as the food tastes good, I know my family and friends will embrace and enjoy it, vegetarian or not.

Here is my tentative menu:

Appetizers:

• Antojitos (tortillas layered with cream cheese, bell and hot peppers, rolled up and sliced) or
• Square pizza

Main Dish:

• Portobello mushrooms or burgers. My omnivorous family absolutely loves President’s Choice Portabella Swiss Burgers. They’re meatless but juicy and thick, dripping with cheese and mushrooms. Not particularly healthy, but a wonderful and filling indulgence.

Side dishes:

• Grilled corn
• Stuffed bell peppers
• Spring rolls made with kale leaves instead of rice paper wrappers
• Fresh garden tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and basil

Beverages:

• The best part of a barbecue is the local Ontario-brewed beer and Niagara Region wine. Find something local in your town to complement the dinner.