The sixth annual Barney Bentall and The Cariboo Express benefit concert takes place this Friday, and since this year’s iteration is occurring exclusively online, we couldn’t think of a better way to take part in supporting such a great cause than by doing so with a nice evening of takeout from some of our favourite local restaurants.
The two-hour variety show, which will be hosted by CBC’s Ron MacLean, starts at 7 p.m. MST and will showcase Bentall and The Cariboo Express along with a number of Canadian artists throughout the evening. Special guests such as Olympic gold medalist Tessa Virtue are also set to make appearances.
In addition to a night of heartfelt roots, folk, and rock favourites from the likes of Jim Cuddy, Corb Lund, and Matt Masters Burgener, the entirety of sponsorships, ticket sales, and donations will go directly to Classroom Champions, a charitable organization that connects Olympians and Paralympians to K-8 classrooms through a social and emotional based curriculum and mentorship experience.
Tickets for the variety show can be purchased online. In a time when both charitable organizations such as Classroom Champions and small businesses across the country need our help more than ever, enjoying a fun night of entertainment and delicious local cuisine can go a long way toward ensuring a better future for our community.
Though there are no shortage of options for takeout across Canada, here are some cream-of-the-crop suggestions from coast to coast to get you started.
Toptable Group (Vancouver, B.C.)
Acclaimed Vancouver-based restaurant group Toptable have combined the talented culinary minds of Elisa, Blue Water Cafe, CinCin, and Thierry to create a menu of housemade provisions, prepped meal kits, and farm-to-table produce curated for cooking at home.
Everything from salads, small plates and pasta to seafood, steaks, and desserts are on offer in this comprehensive takeout menu, along with wine pairings and a number of grocery essentials.
Deane House and River Cafe (Calgary, AB)
The Deane House’s rotating weekly takeout menus are a great call on any night of the week, but the tandem group packages from Deane House and River Cafe seem to have been designed for socially-distanced celebrations like this.
Multi-course dinners, sommelier-selected wine pairings, and cocktail kits are available in a several sizes, constructed to allow groups to enjoy the same culinary experience without actually having to occupy the same space.
Primal Pasta (Saskatoon, SK)
Primal Pasta has always been one of our favourite Saskatoon dining destinations, but since renowned chef Christie Peters began directing her full attention exclusively to the 20th Street West eatery, it seems to have somehow ascended to a new level.
Peters’ takeout menu is as exceptional as it is expansive, offering starters such as the pickled farm eggs, pasta dishes like tagliatelle with locally-pastured pork and beef heart bolognaise, and mains that include a pork scallopini with citrus, fennel, chicory, mushrooms, and bagna cauda.
Clementine (Winnipeg, MB)
Winnipeg has been enjoying some of the warmest weather in Canada over the last few weeks, but if you could still use an extra dose of delicious comfort food, Clementine never fails to impress.
Chef Christopher Gama and his talented team of chefs have assembled a takeout menu packed with elevated comfort food classics like braised bacon Benedict, seared Albacore tuna, duck chilaquiles, and the famous Lucky Strike burger. Also on offer is a large selection of takeout beverages that span from hot and iced coffees to zero proof cocktails.
Pai (Toronto, ON)
We recently got our hands on the new cookbook from Toronto’s Pai and Kiin chef/co-owner, Nuit Regular, and we have barely been able to put it down ever since. If you’re lucky enough to be located in relative proximity to the acclaimed chef, she and the team at Pai have put together a fantastic array of Northern Thai takeout options.
In addition to starters, soups, salads, and desserts, the Pai takeout menu features a selection of favourites from chef Nuit such as the Kanom Jin Nham Gneaw (Northern Thai pork rib and tomato soup served with rice vermicelli noodles, home made pork rinds and fresh lime) and the Khao Soi (fresh egg noodles in a golden coconut milk curry topped with crispy noodles, coriander, green onions and your choice of braised beef, chicken breast, tofu, or veggies).
Time Out Market Montreal (Montreal, QC)
If your group tends to have a tough time deciding on one type of cuisine, Time Out Market Montreal is one of the best options out there. The Time Out brand recently made the majority of the market’s fare available to order via the Time Out Market app, including Il Miglio, Paul Toussaint, Le Red Tiger, Moleskine, and more.
Julep Kitchen and Cocktails (Halifax, N.S.)
Whether your ideal dinner experience involves forgoing mains to enjoy a slew of starters and shareable snacks or you simply want to treat yourself to a single spectacular entree, then the newly-launched sister restaurant to Halifax’ acclaimed Unchained Kitchen is likely the way to go.
The takeout menu at Julep Kitchen and Cocktails offers a wide assortment of great options, from comforting classics like tuna tartare cannoli, chevre and sweet corn dip, and fried hot chicken, to more elevated options like the seared scallops with sazerac jelly, sweet hay creme, crispy turnip spaghettini, and torched lavender and the scorched asparagus d’aligot in caviar butter, shaved egg, and Parmigiano foam.
