WHERE TO GET PICNICS TO GO

Southern fried chicken? Check. Coleslaw? Check. Potato salad? Check. Tapenade and crostini? Check. The best brownie recipe I know? Packed. Corkscrew, wine, stemless wineglasses? Present.

For me, one of the best parts about going to the Bowl is planning the meal with friends. It’s usually a group effort, with menus and recipes bandied about endlessly.

But on a night when you don’t feel like cooking or don’t have the time, you can always pick up something from one of the following:

Joan’s on Third, 8350 W. 3rd St., L.A.; (323) 655-2285, joansonthird .com. Picnic entrees range from $25 for chicken Milanese to $31 for beef tenderloin with horseradish creme fraiche or $17 for a trio of salads. Add in some coconut cupcakes or bar cookies. You can also pick up a bottle of wine at the shop. Order 24 hours in advance.

Clementine, 1751 Ensley Ave., L.A.; (310) 552-1080, clementineonline .com. Build your own picnics, from $12 for a three-salad combination to $25 for a poached wild king salmon picnic with two salads. Get a quart of their homemade ginger limeade and some homemade cookies and brownies.

La Brea Bakery, 624 S. La Brea Ave., L.A.; (323) 939-6813, labrea bakery.com. Terrific sandwiches, $6.75 to $8. Add in some of the almond or Linzer torte cookies and you’re done.

Press Panini, 4389 Tujunga Blvd., Studio City; (818) 487-2564, press panini.com. Sandwiches with any soup, salad or chips and a drink, $14. Try the classic prosciutto with provolone and olive tapenade or the classic Italian with pistachio-studded mortadella, salami and prosciutto.

La Bottega Marino, 11363 Santa Monica Blvd., L.A.; (310) 477-7777; 203 N. Larchmont Blvd., L.A.; (323) 962-1325; labottegausa.com. Panini freddi (cold sandwiches), $7.50 to $9.50. Try the Italian club sandwich made with prosciutto, pancetta, turkey, avocado and fontina cheese. And don’t forget the ricotta cheesecake.

--

virbila@latimes.com