If there isn’t much time to get dinner on the table this week, here are five places to go for great gourmet-to-go.
Boxwood Cafe
The next best thing to sitting inside this cozy downtown park cafe is ordering a one of the juicy, free-range roast chickens to go. Couple that with some sides like red lentil hummus or lemon-and-herb roasted cauliflower and you’ll be pretty embarrassed that you ever considered putting KFC on the table.
(340 13 Ave. S.W., 403-265-4006, boxwoodcafe.ca, @boxwoodcalgary)
Calgary Co-op’s Fresh To Go
Co-op is slowly unrolling its line of gourmet take-home dishes. Choose between hearty made-from-scratch mains like braised beef short ribs, hunter chicken stew with sides like braised cabbage and scalloped potatoes. No one will ever know you didn’t spend hours in the kitchen slaving away. (Two locations: 8818 Macleod Tr. S.E. and beginning this Thursday at 35 Crowfoot Way, calgarycoop.com, @calgarycoop)
The Main Dish has a great selection of healthy options, plus gluten- and dairy-free choices.
The Main Dish
With several locations, this health-conscious gourmet meal to-go hotspot is always reliable when you’re running short on time. Check out the sun-dried tomato turkey meatloaf or the curry apple quinoa. (903 General Ave. N.E., 403-265-3474, tmdish.com, @themaindish)
When you pick up Notable’s Happy Chicken, you can also pick up some delicious sides to make a complete dinner.
Notable
It doesn’t matter if there’s a table or not if you look to chef Michael Noble’s takeout offerings including the artisan burger, ribeye, tuna nioise salad, rotiserrie chicken and much, much more. (4611 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-288-4372, notabletherestaurant.ca, @notablecalgary)
Red Tree
Marda Loop’s Red Tree is not just about the catering – it has a little something for everyone in the shop. From dips and olive tapenade to more filling dishes like tandoori chicken legs and ginger-lime pork, you’ll easily find a tableful of food here. (2129 33 Ave. S.W., 403-242-3246, redtreecatering.com, @redtreekitchen)