We can only rationalize so many prolonged lunches before the boss's eyebrows go up. Which means our noon-hour options are quickly reduced to fast food, salad bars and the occasional frenzied shop stop at Holt's.
Then we heard about Italian Kitchen to Go. Nestled inside the Burrard Building just west of Italian Kitchen, it serves up takeout nosh inspired by its big sister.
We're loving the Venice panini ($7.50), which tucks Italian Kitchen's legendary Kobe meatballs between slices of ciabatta, melted provolone and just enough tomato sauce to tantalize without dribbling down our sweaters. We're thrilled to find lunchtime servings of their legendary beet and tomato bocconcini salads ($3.50 for small, $5.50 for large), and though we already know the menu by heart, we still check out the daily fresh sheet for the zuppo del giorno ($4.50). Of course, it’s hard to leave without a biscotti ($1.50) or two, and on casual Fridays, we can't resist the tiramisu ($5.50).
We're seeing the lunch hour quickie in a whole new light.