Great gourmet meals-to-go across Canada

With weddings, social parties, and work functions on hold this year, Canada’s top catering companies have pivoted from serving large event crowds to providing gourmet at-home culinary experiences. If you fancy taking a break from your old recipe routine, these six creative caterers across the country offer gourmet meal kits, ready-to-eat entrées, and virtual cooking lessons that are sure to please your palate.

[Photo Credit: Savoury City Vancouver]

Savoury City Catering founder Donna Wadsworth has been a fixture on Vancouver’s corporate and event catering scene for almost two decades. In 2020, she adapted her business model and began preparing her signature cuisine in a convenient take-home format. Locals can now stock their freezer with Savoury City’s frozen meals and hors d’oeuvres packaged in oven-safe foil containers with reheating instructions. The bite-sized appetizer menu includes party favourites like coconut prawns and crab cakes while full-sized entrée options range from creamy mac-and-cheese and beef short rib bourguignon to butternut squash lasagne and eggplant parmigiana.

Montreal-based catering company À la table specializes in colourful party platters that are almost too pretty to eat. Available for local delivery in a variety of sizes, signature grazing boxes contain a curated compilation of local and imported cheeses, charcuterie, premium crackers, and artisanal accompaniments like seasonal fruit, honey, and nuts. Customers can also order beautifully styled fruit boxes or a plant-based vegan box that includes dairy-free cheeses, spreads, and veggies all packaged in an eco-friendly container.

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With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Toronto-area catering and event planning company Elle Cuisine swapped high-end weddings for weeknight meal prep. Head chef Lauren Mozer has developed a comprehensive at-home menu that’s equal parts approachable and elegant with a lineup of family-friendly meal kits, nutritious snacks, fresh baked goods, and desserts all available for local delivery. The diverse menu also includes vegan and gluten-free options, internationally inspired multi-course menus, and pre-mixed cocktail kits.

Want to step up your quarantine cooking skills? Halifax caterer Kitchen Door Catering is now hosting virtual cooking classes led by resident chef and culinary instructor Andrew Farrell. During each 90-minute workshop, at-home chefs learn how to make a creative recipe from scratch. Participants can pick up ingredients from a local grocery store ahead of time or purchase a recipe box from Kitchen Door with all the required ingredients pre-measured and ready to go. The catering company also offers a monthly menu of gourmet heat-and-serve dishes for easy family meals.

If you’re missing out on commemorating milestone events, Calgary’s Devour Catering Celebration Experience menu can help recreate the magic at home. These special occasion packages come with a full multi-course menu and instructions for warming and serving each dish – and can be enhanced with added extras like drinks and decor. The full-service catering company also delivers curated cheese and charcuterie boxes, bespoke family-style dinners for small groups, and convenient ‘freezer pleaser’ meals that are perfect for last-minute dinners.

Based in Regina, farm-to-table catering company Wallnuts offers a ‘Wicked Food to Go’ service that emphasizes event-quality presentation and fresh, seasonal ingredients. The rotating menu of hearty trays and packaged meals includes comfort food favourites like turkey pot pie, black bean chili, and Mom’s meatloaf. Meals are available in single, two-pack, and family-sized portions and can be picked up on-site or ordered for delivery within the local area.