Where to pick up tasty picnic supplies in Vancouver
With picturesque views, plenty of green space and numerous beaches, Vancouver offers some of the best picnic venues in the world. But since the city is also known for its rainy weather, it’s best to come prepared. Here are some local eateries that’ll help make you the perfect picnic basket, and even supply you with the perfect outdoor dining essentials.
Picnix Al Fresco - To Go
Stanley Park Lot 62, Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4Picnix gives you everything you need for a picnic, from the food and blanket to an umbrella in case it starts to rain. Order online and choose from a diverse menu. Then head on down to Stanley Park where you’ll pick up a wheeled bag full of your pre-ordered picnic goodies. You can take it wherever you want, set up and dig in to your personalized picnic. All you have to do is show up and enjoy – it’s that simple! Drop off the supplies when you’re done and away you go.
The Dirty Apron Cooking School & Delicatessen
540 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3Famous for their delicious delicatessen gift baskets, The Dirty Apron recently expanded into the world of picnic baskets. Visitors can build their own picnic basket with a variety of sweet and savoury items, including sandwiches, freshly baked desserts, drinks, and samples of different meats and cheeses. The baskets come with utensils and are packed in reusable, grab-and-go bags. Just be sure to place your order online by 4:00 pm the day before to give these picnic masters enough time to prepare and pack up your ideal spread.
GIOVANE CAFE + EATERY + MARKET
1038 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9Famous for their delicious Italian-inspired meals, Giovane has developed a delicious picnic basket program that you can simply pick up and take wherever you want. The café offers two picnic options: the standard and the gourmet. Both come with foods made fresh in the café with ingredients found in their deli. Expect delicious panini sandwiches, salads, cheeses and some of their famous pastries, all carefully packaged in a transportable thermal tote.
La Brass
100-4473 10th Avenue W, Vancouver, BC V6R 2H8Provence has adapted their famous antipasto menu into a picnic experience that you can take with you. Enjoy piquillo peppers, Merguez sausages, and pissaladière in your basket, as well as fruit, dessert, drinks and a fresh baguette. Their online ordering system is easy to use and helps you customize your experience. Provence’s picnics also come with an optional picnic kit. For a small deposit, they’ll give you a wicker basket or backpack, plates, cutlery and glasses to take on your journey. As long as you return it within 24 hours, you won’t have to pay for the extra supplies.
La Grotta Del Formaggio
1791 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4A4Specializing in high-end Italian favourites, La Grotta del Formaggio has everything you need to create an elegant Mediterranean-style picnic. You can easily build your own charcuterie board, choosing from top quality olives, pickled vegetables, and of course their wide selection of prepared meats and cheeses. The friendly staff will happily cut up portions to your liking, helping to keep your costs low and your basket manageable. You can even add a bottle of wine.
Oyama Sausage Co
126-1689 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9The Granville Island Public Market has absolutely everything you could possibly need for your picnic. But if you’re heading to the market for supplies, be sure to visit Oyama Sausage Co. Their house-made meats are the perfect picnic food and the foundation of a stellar portable charcuterie board. Oyama’s meats are great for sharing, especially if you sneak a bottle of wine along to complement the flavour. Round it out your meaty spread with a few choice cheeses from Benton Brothers and some fresh fruit from one of the market stalls.
Stock Up Café & Catering
6019 West Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6M 3X2With sandwiches and hot meals ready to go, Stock Up will help you build a gourmet picnic basket in minutes. Their toasted sandwiches are a picnic favourite and made to order with ingredients from the store’s high-end deli selection. The smoked turkey or tomato bocconcini are probably the most travel-friendly choices, but any option can be boxed up with fresh fruit, a cookie and drink. Hot meals available in secure to-go containers are also available. Try the chilli con carne or lamb osso bucco for a warmer spin on the usual cold picnic fare.
Meinhardt Fine Foods
3002 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3J8The team at Meinhardt has been building cellophane-wrapped towers of specialty foods for years, and you can easily adapt these gorgeous gift baskets to suit your picnicking needs. Choose from their wide selection of locally sourced pickled vegetables, meats, cheeses and more. The impressive options here will put a high-end spin on your al fresco meal, especially if you add some of their delicious pastries. The store also has flowers if you want to make your picnic extra special.
Nosh
101-510 Georgia St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 0M3Nosh is a grab-and-go downtown bistro that’s a perfect spot to visit when you’re building a picnic basket. You’ll have to bring your own supplies, but the staff will bundle up whatever you choose in easily transportable boxes to make the journey easier. You can choose from sandwiches and salads for your mains, which feature unique and delicious ingredients like Moroccan-spiced chicken and candied salmon. Be sure to grab some of their famous macarons for dessert too. For those who want to be extra prepared, you can beat the lunch crowds and order ahead of time via Nosh’s website.
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