Picnics and lobsters

Enjoying local delights in Atlantic Canada

BY SHELLEY CAMERON-McCARRON

When you travel to Cape Sable Island, at the southernmost point in peninsular Nova Scotia, you’ll find a weathered, historic lighthouse towering in the distance, working wharves, and countless photo opportunities, especially at the Hawk, where it’s fascinating to walk along the white sandy beach and see a 1,500-year-old drowned forest. It’s an otherworldly area of petrified tree stumps, exposed at low tide and still rooted in the original soil. And for the first time in almost 20 years, you’ll find an eat-in restaurant on the island.

The Salt Banker, a 45-seat Italian seafood bistro, opened Aug. 1, 2022 in the former Royal Bank location in Clark’s Harbour after two local seafood exporters, Atlantic ChiCan Seafood Ltd. and Clark’s Harbour Seafoods Ltd., bought the building.

The Salt Banker’s welcoming committee.

Photo: Submitted by Salt Banker

Photo: Submitted by Salt Banker

Here in the “Lobster Capital of the World,” seafood is a menu staple. The restaurant overlooks an active fishing village where many make their living off the sea.

The owners “wanted to bring in a restaurant to showcase the local seafood, and so that people could see all the bounty we have here in the South Shore,” says chef Corey Rose, noting the local fishing area accounts for about 25 per cent of Nova Scotia’s entire lobster catch. Lobster season runs from the last Monday of November through May. The crustacean, along with local scallops and haddock, stars in many dishes at the Salt Banker, which also has a live lobster tank.

Rose says the menu is a balancing act. “We feel like we need to offer something for the locals, and not just for tourists,” says Rose. “Something to build the community … We want to keep it busy all year long.”

The lobster and haddock bake is a menu highlight. Also popular are the scallop carbonara, shrimp scampi, and eight-ounce striploin steak dinner. “Everyone is going on about” that last offering, he adds.

In season, the Salt Banker has a walk-up window for milkshakes and house-made ice cream. Come winter, the sweet treat is available inside at the dessert bar. “We have a guy who comes in every day for the coffee ice cream,” says Rose.

In season, the Salt Banker has a walk-up window for milkshakes and house-made ice cream. Come winter, the sweet treat is available inside at the dessert bar. “We have a guy who comes in every day for the coffee ice cream,” says Rose.

At press time, plans were in the works to offer lobster picnic takeout in summer 2023. Rose says they’re still ironing out details; one option is offering fresh, steamed lobster with potato salad, a choice of canned wine or beer, and a map to Cape Sable Island beaches for dining inspiration.

The island has gorgeous sandy beaches, says Rose — a cool place to explore. The Hawk, for instance, is part of the Cape Sable Important Bird Area, making it one of the best birding areas in Nova Scotia. From the beach, view the Cape Sable Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Nova Scotia, standing almost 31 metres.

Picnic Pleasures

Photo: Tourism Nova Scotia/James Ingram

Hungry for more picnic opportunities throughout Atlantic Canada? Read on.

In Prince Edward Island, those looking to dine al fresco will want to check out the stylish offerings from Cordial Picnics, the island’s first luxury picnic experience. Its setups are swoonworthy. Or perhaps you’ll want to enjoy a lobster dinner or lobster roll on a fishing boat? P.E.I. has excursions for that too, with options such as The Fiddling Fisherman, Top Notch Charters, Joey’s Deep Sea Fishing, and Captain Nate’s Murray Island Adventures striploin steak dinner. “Everyone is going on about” that last offering, he adds.

In Nova Scotia, the Sou’Wester Restaurant at Peggy’s Cove offers a picnic package (including a lobster roll option) with a side of amazing scenery near the province’s famed lighthouse, and at Tangled Garden in Grand Pré in the Annapolis Valley, diners can take advantage of afternoon tea-style plein-air picnics. In Halifax, Better in Boxes prepares grazing boxes for on-the-go meals.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, whales and seabirds may keep you company at Lighthouse Picnics while you dine by the lighthouse on the Ferryland headland. Across the province, have mug-up or boil-up fun (dining on the beach) with Experience Twillingate, plus prime snacking over an open fire with Bonavista Adventure Tours, which offers a tour and a traditional beach boil-up. In Western Newfoundland, Taste of Gros Morne does picnics for various experiences, including a build-your-own option, and Chef Ange at The Florian Hotel in Forteau, Labrador does special order picnics for hikers of the Frontier Footpath.

In New Brunswick, in St. Martin’s, book your lunch pail in advance from the Fundy Trail Heritage Cookhouse (built in a replica late-1800s cookhouses, one of the most important buildings in a lumbering village where workers gathered for meals) and set off on the Fundy Trail to find a spot to enjoy your lumberjack feast. In Edmundston, find a pastoral picnic experience at the New Brunswick Botanical Garden. Peony Socials & Company in Moncton serves luxury picnic options. And Chess Piece Market, sister business to popular Parisian-style Chess Piece Patisserie & Café in Fredericton, offers grazing baskets and traditional picnics with sandwiches and sweets.

Additionally, Parks Canada, home to many dreamy Atlantic Canada locations to explore, will also pack lunch for your adventure too with its Perfect Picnic package, available at many locations.