SIDEKICKS

Locally made small-batch condiments and snacks to spice up your next picnic

Kimchi The Heirloom Kitchen Theheirloomkitchen.ca

Forget sauerkraut! Kimchi is finally getting its due as the fermented condiment of choice to add kick to summer sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers. Healthy, colourful, and crunchy. What’s not to love? About $10/500 mL.

Dill Pickles Lowertown Canning Company Lowertowncanning.com

Nothing beats the classic dill pickle, and Lowertown Canning Company — the brainchild of The Courtyard’s head chef, Simon Brière-Audet, and his partner, Beth Evans — makes a doozy. Slice it on a burger or enjoy as a stand-alone picnic snack. These babies are tangy, crunchy, drippy, and dense, with just the right amount of mustard and dill. Pickle nirvana. $7/500 mL.

Tomatillo Salsa Top Shelf Preserves Topshelfpreserves.ca

Kick up your salsa game with Top Shelf’s spicycitrusy version, made with locally grown tomatillos, serrano peppers, cilantro, and garlic. Pair with corn chips and get dipping. Bonus: Since there’s no added sugar, classify this salsa as health food. About $10/270 mL.

Spicy Nuts Beer Snacks International Beersnacks.ca

Think of it as a drinkingsnack upgrade, the perfect complement to a cold beer or fizzy lemonade. The lineup by this local duo includes S& S (that’d stand for sweet and spicy) Malay Mix, and “fiercely hot” Sichuan Peanuts. For traditionalists, classic Beer Nuts round out the offerings. $7/145 g.