The F Spot!

Meinhardt Fine Foods sells gourmet sandwiches for a song.

THE TURN ON: Nothing says summer like a picnic outdoors, but with the hot languid days we’ve been experiencing lately who has the energy to put together any kind of repast, let alone produce one and then cart it off to the beach or park or wherever. What we want is gourmet takeaway, clever sandwiches wrapped and ready for consumption, and we’d like it at a giveaway price.

WHAT’S THE DEAL: Every day, Meinhardt Fine Foods, Vancouver’s gourmet grocery store, makes a dozen or so different kinds of gourmet sandwich fillings served up on ciabatta buns or sourdough bread. Every evening at 7 p.m. (an insider tells us the selloff can start as early as 6 p.m.) whatever sandwiches remain unsold go on sale for half price. The goal is no sandwich (or pastry) left behind. And it works.

WHY WE’RE EXCITED: Quality and convenience get us going; so does price: after 7 p.m., their most expensive sandwich sells for $3.50 a pop.

HOW LONG WITH THE PLEASURE LAST: It’s ongoing. Meinhardt’s sandwiches are made fresh every day, and everyday they must replace the previous day’s stock.

WHERE’S THE F SPOT: In Vancouver, Meinhardt Fine Foods is located at 3002 Granville St. (604-732-4405), and 3151 Arbutus St. (604-732-4405). For more about Meinhardt Fine Foods visit www.meinhardt.com