With the summer season well underway, eating a meal in an open park or along the river should definitely be on your Calgary summer bucket list. Here are a few Calgary businesses that offer delicious takeaway meal options that would be ideal for picnics.
Cluck N Cleaver Chicken Family Pack
What better way to enjoy a fried chicken meal than under the summer sun with friends and family? The family pack at Cluck N Cleaver comes with enough fried chicken for a family of four, plus biscuits, gravy and a side for $52, or $55 if you opt for a rotisserie chicken.
1511 14 St. S.W., 403-266-2067, cluckncleaver.com
East Village Picnics
In an effort to promote and celebrate the many draws of Calgary’s East Village area, five restaurants and businesses in the neighbourhood are featuring picnic options for the summer season. Sidewalk Citizen, Connie + John’s Pizza, King Eddy, Chix Eggshop and 8 Cakes all offer special picnic meals, packed up in an East Village cooler bag that’s yours to keep. These picnic choices provide everything you might need for an afternoon along the river or in one of the beautiful parks in the area. Picnic baskets range from $20 to $65.
River Café Picnic Baskets
The picnic baskets from this Prince’s Island Park restaurant are completely customizable — you can pick and choose from a picnic menu that features some of River Café’s most popular dishes, like the red lentil hummus or chicken liver parfait, as well as a selection of sandwiches, charcuterie and cheeses. There’s even caviar on offer, if you’re in the mood for a particularly elevated picnic. Enjoy your basket in the restaurant’s fully licensed picnic garden or at your own favourite picnic spot.
25 Prince’s Island, 403-261-7670, river-cafe.com
Pacific Poke Sushi Sets
Pacific Poke in Marda Loop recently launched new box sets of sushi featuring classic rolls and rolls inspired by poke bowl flavours. Along with options like spicy tuna and California rolls, there are specialties like the Maui roll, topped with red onion, mango and a jalapeno vinaigrette drizzle. The sushi comes in two-, three- and five-roll combos.
3554 Garrison Gate S.W., 587-864-9299, thepacificpoke.com
Charcuterie Picnic Boxes from Fraser and Fig
This store specializes in all things charcuterie and cheese, with new selections every month to choose from. The shop’s “Perfect Picnic Graze” box is enough for two people and comes with four cheeses and four meats, as well as fruit, crackers, pickles and jams from local purveyors — all for $37. There’s also a no-meat box for $33. If you’re going out with a larger group of people, consider “charcusicles” (a charcuterie skewer with everything on one stick) available in minimum orders of 20.
2010 34 Ave. S.W., 403-542-9779, fraserandfig.com
[Note: This story previously stated that Cluck N Cleaver had locations in West Springs and the Beltline. The West Springs location has now closed. The story has been updated.]