The Pick of the Picnics

It’s flat-out warm-evening Hollywood Bowl season, which means it’s also Bowl picnic box season. Many fine restaurants are featuring ready-made picnic boxes designed for Bowl noshing. If you order a bottle of wine, some places will throw in a corkscrew and even plastic wine glasses.

Most restaurants require 24-hour advance notice and a credit card number and prefer that you pick up after 4 p.m. Many are willing to fax you their menus. Here are some suggested spots. Prices listed are per person.

Engine Co. No. 28 offers three-course meals consisting of a choice of appetizer, main course and dessert, ranging in price from $16.50 to $19.25. To go with your entree (perhaps fried chicken, grilled vegetable salad or ahi tuna sandwich), you can choose appetizers such as garlic bread, couscous and gazpacho. Desserts include pecan pie, cheesecake, rice pudding and mixed berries. Checking our calculator here--yes, the total number of possible meal combinations is 150. Engine Co. No. 28, 644 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles; (213) 624-6996.

Jackson’s Farm also offers American-cuisine boxes, but it requires only two hours’ advance notice. There are five box selections ($18 to $24) with chicken, salmon, ahi and vegetarian choices. Grilled vegetables and potatoes abound, and desserts are all comfort foods: peach cobbler, strawberry shortcake, fudge brownie. Jackson’s Farm, 439 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 273-9792.

JoeJoe’s Restaurant has picnic boxes ($12 to $15) of barbecued chicken salad, roast beef, lamb coulotte, poached salmon and more. All meals come with bread and butter, salad and dessert (tarte Tatin, lemon tart with berries, brownies, cookies). (Note: JoeJoe’s will be closed today and Friday.) JoeJoe’s Restaurant, 13355 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks; (818) 990-8280.

Koo Koo Roo has a cute wrinkle: a picnic box that opens into a checked “tablecloth” for serving. You can get family meals serving two to five ($14.95 to $26.95) in the box, or any chicken or turkey entree and sides you want, or, darn it, just the cute box all by itself, empty ($2.50). Koo Koo Roo, 8393 Beverly Blvd., L.A., (213) 655-9045; 301 N. Larchmont Blvd., L.A., (213) 962-1500; 12175 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 590-1600; and other locations.

For Southwestern fare, give Sonora Cafe a call. Its cutely named picnic boxes (Painted Desert, Mojave Moon, Starlight Serenade) range from filet mignon to tostadas (chicken or vegetable) to fish dishes. Price: $16.50 to $33.50 including dessert. Sonora Cafe, 180 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles; (213) 857-1800.

If you love Italian and hate to plan ahead, call any one of the five Rosti L.A. locations as little as one hour ahead for Tuscan picnic meals priced between $9.75 and $14.25. The Firenze, Livorno, Siena, Pisa, and Lucca boxes offer panini, grilled chicken and antipasto choices (salads, grilled vegetables), with desserts such as tarts and tiramisu backing up the main courses. Rosti, Beverly Hills, (310) 275-3285; Los Angeles, (213) 938-8335; Santa Monica, (310) 393-3236; Brentwood, (310) 447-8695; Encino, (818) 995-7179.

In the mood for Caribbean flavors under the stars? Try Cha Cha Cha in Encino or its sister restaurant, Calypso, in West L.A. The various boxes, named after Caribbean Islands, include salads (including Cobb and barbecue chicken and shrimp), lots of chicken (yes, there’s jerk), plenty of fresh fruit, rolls and dessert. Prices: $16 to $23. Note: Calypso is closed on Sundays. Cha Cha Cha, 17499 Ventura Blvd., Encino; (818) 789-3600; Calypso, 2255 Sawtelle Blvd., West L.A.; (310) 477-4255.

For a quickie Indian dinner of samosas, biryanis and any tandoori-roasted meats you can imagine, paired with raita (cucumber-yogurt salad) and naan bread, call India’s Tandoori in L.A. You only have to give an hour’s notice. Just $7.50 to $10.50. India’s Tandoori, 5947 W. Pico Blvd., L.A.; (213) 936-2050.

If you’d rather go more highbrow, Michel Richard’s Citrus Bowl boxes carry fancy painter names (Matisse, Van Gogh, Picasso) and feature French dishes. Entrees of roasted chicken, salmon and veal are accompanied by terrines and salads. Desserts consist of mousses, rice pudding or fruit salads. Prices range from $12 to $39.50. Citrus, 6703 Melrose Ave., L.A.; (213) 857-0034.

The old reliables are still around too: Jean Francois Meteigner has Bowl gourmet picnic boxes from La Cachette, for $24 to $26, (310) 470-4992. And Joachim Splichal’s Patina and Pinots all offer bowl boxes: Patina has the most expensive gourmet selections ($28 to $46) with Pinot Hollywood, Cafe Pinot (downtown) and Pinot Bistro (Studio City) somewhat less expensive ($22 to $27). New to the box scene is Pinot at the Chronicle (Pasadena), with three menu selections for between $20 and $24.50. Last, and least expensive, is Patinette at MOCA, offering boxes for between $14.95 and $23. Call (888) BOWL-BOX for more information and to order.

If all this sounds a little complicated or overwhelming, there’s always the eight-piece bucket of chicken at Kentucky Fried Chicken that comes with two large sides and four biscuits for only $13.79. We’re told it’s finger-lickin’ good.