Vancouver Picnicking in Style.
June 07 2021, Mercedes-Benz Vancouver
The days are heating up quickly in anticipation of summer’s arrival, and there’s no better time for an al fresco picnic. To help make it easy, local restaurants are putting together kits of tasty fare, and we’ve compiled a handy list of favourites. So, grab a blanket and hit the nearest beach or park with cuisine that is sure to impress.
European Flair
Ladurée
Create a chic Parisian picnic to remember with the savoury and dessert menu at Ladurée. You simply can’t go wrong with any order. Why not box up some Croque-Monsieur with emmental cheese, an order of delicate Strawberry Millefeuille, then a few Milk Chocolate Eclairs for good measure. Oh—and some pastel-hued macarons, of course.
Railtown Cafe
Railtown Cafe is also channeling the City of Love with their new Paris-inspired picnic menu that includes a house-made baguette, tarragon-dressed Salad Niçoise with seared albacore tuna, a selection of fine French cheeses, and more. Add a bottle of Beaujolais for a truly perfect nuit.
The Graze Company
Known for their stunning charcuterie-cheese-fruit-nut-olive boards, The Graze Company also has a picnic package on offer, served in a classic wicker basket. It is outfitted with ceramic plates and cotton napkins to help you feast on as many Mini Graze boxes as you’d like to order, with vegan, vegetarian, original, and dessert options.
Crowd Pleasers
Fresh Ideas Start Here
Seafood lovers will go wild for the FISHcuterie Box from this beloved seafood market. Available in two sizes, the beautifully presented box includes delicacies like smoked wild sockeye lox, maple smoked salmon candy, and salmon spread with crackers.
Fat Mao Noodles
Get your noodle soup al fresco by taking some Fat Mao favourites to the park. We love the Braised Duck Noodles, Fried Egg Salad, and rich Mapo Tofu (Sichuanese-style meat sauces on house tofu with rice).
JUKE Fried Chicken
A summer fried chicken picnic? Yes, please. Order a 10-piece box of spicy chicken and some sweet and spicy wings with pickled chili and peanut-furikake, then add some corn chicken fritters on the side. Lay it all out on your blanket and feast until the sun goes down.
Cafe Specialties
Field & Social
If you’re as serious about eating salads as Field & Social is about making them, you already know they have some of the heartiest in town. Perhaps you’ll take out a picnic-ready Bacon & Egg Miso Bowl (made with deliciously local One Arrow bacon), or a fresh-as-can-be Nourish Bowl with tempeh, yams, and kale—the choice is yours.
Honolulu Coffee
Perhaps an unexpected choice for a picnic at first, Honolulu Coffee is impressing us this year with brand new picnic kits. Think fresh-fruit açaí bowls, caprese ham croissant sandwiches, boxes of macarons, and some Hawaiian coffee-based drinks, too.
Artigiano
Local cafe favourite, Artigiano, has partnered with some best-of-the-best local suppliers, such as the all-vegan Blue Heron Creamery and Two Rivers Specialty Meat, to arrange a picnic kit program, which includes house-made organic dips and breads. Pro tip: Those ordering from Artigiano’s North Van locations can add a bottle of wine to accompany their meal.
This summer, leave the barbecue at home and treat yourself to a picture-perfect picnic prepared by local restaurants using artisanal ingredients. You won’t regret it.
