Cookin’ on the Coast: The Ultimate Fiesta Pairing
Please! Grapefruit Paloma with Build-Your-Own Burritos
S14, E1
Welcome back to a brand-new season of Cookin’ on the Coast! We’re kicking off Season 14 with big flavor, serious comfort food, and an unforgettable pairing designed to turn home taco night into a restaurant-worthy feast. In our season premiere, Chef Heidi brings pure culinary magic to the kitchen with a masterclass in custom burritos—packed with smoky spiced chicken, velvety smashed black beans, and an incredible lineup of fresh toppings wrapped in warm, pillowy tortillas.
The Beverage: Please! Beverage Co. Grapefruit Paloma
A dish with this much personality needs a drink that can hold its own. Enter the Grapefruit Paloma from Vancouver’s own Please! Beverage Co.
Crafted in small batches with natural ingredients, low sugar, and zero shortcuts, this 6.9% ABV cocktail is a masterclass in local craft. Please! partners with a local juice company to upcycle spent grapefruit peels into a house-made tincture, infusing every bottle with vibrant, authentic citrus flavor while cutting down on food waste. Blended with real grapefruit and lime juices, quality agave spirits, and a deliberate touch of salt, it’s crisp, tequila-forward, and wildly refreshing.
Art Inside and Out
Please Beverage Co. builds their entire ethos around local roots, small-batch spontaneity, and real ingredients—low sugar, no shortcut flavors, just pure imagination. Even the label tells a story: the bottle features original, eye-catching artwork by Vancouver multidisciplinary artist Mega McGrath, blending graphic typography and bold color to match the vibrant liquid inside.
Ready to recreate the pairing at home? Head to your nearest Liquor Plus liquor store to pick up a few cans of Please Grapefruit Paloma!
The Dish: Chef Heidi’s Build-Your-Own Burrito Feast
This isn’t a quick-fix wrap; Chef Heidi’s recipe is all about building layers of intentional flavor. The star of the show is thin-cut chicken marinated in a punchy mix of ancho chili, chipotle, ground cumin, garlic, and fresh lime juice before getting grilled or broiled to juicy, charred perfection.
Beside the chicken, canned black beans get a major upgrade: sautéed with sweet onions, garlic, and warm spices, then lightly mashed in the skillet for a texture that hits the sweet spot between smooth and chunky. Add red rice, creamy guacamole, sharp pickled red onions, fresh salsa, and a sprinkle of crumbled cheese, and you have a customizable spread where every single bite delivers a new hit of flavor.
The Perfect Pairing: Why It Works
Tequila and street-food flavors are a natural duo, but this specific pairing creates a whole new level of culinary synergy on the palate:
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Citrus vs. Creamy Fat: Between rich guacamole, melted cheese, and the oils in the spiced beans, burritos carry plenty of delicious weight. The bright, tart hit of real grapefruit and lime cuts straight through those fats, acting as a natural palate cleanser after every bite.
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Salinity Meets Spice: The subtle, saline finish in the Paloma works like a liquid seasoning agent. It highlights the earthy ancho chili, coriander, and smoky chipotle marinade on the chicken without fanning the flames of the jalapeño heat.
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Agave Meets the Grill: Agave spirits carry natural pepper and herbal notes that sing when paired with charred protein. The smoky grill marks on Chef Heidi’s chicken latch right onto the tequila-forward backbone of the cocktail.
- Effervescence as a Refresh Button: Starchy wheat tortillas and dense beans can feel heavy over the course of a meal. The fine carbonation of the Paloma lifts that density, keeping the entire pairing light, bright, and lively.
Whether you’re feeding the family or hosting friends for the weekend, this pairing brings bright, sunshine-filled flavor straight to your table. Stop by your local Liquor Plus to grab a few bottles of Please! Grapefruit Paloma, gather your burrito ingredients, and tune in to Season 14, Episode 1 to cook along with us!
Grab the recipes below and all the ingredients at your local Country Grocer: Chef Heidi’s Build Your Own Burritos
Liquor Plus Sponsors Cookin’ on the Coast
Each week, Liquor Plus sponsors the Pairings segment of Cookin’ on the Coast on CHEK. The show features unique food and drink pairings offered by BC suppliers, with recipes created by Chef Heidi Fink and sponsored by Country Grocer. All of the beverages featured on the program can be found in Liquor Plus stores across Vancouver Island.
