Warm weather beckons us to eat outside. Locally, my favorite picnic opportunity is in Austin Gardens while watching a performance of the Oak Park Festival Theater – this year it was Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
The sun is dipping on summer, still there is time to sip, nibble and savor the out-of-doors.
In my household, we call how much better food tastes al fresco “the Dinty Moore effect.” You needn’t subject yourself to that kind of learning curve. You can skip immediately to suppling yourself with mouthwatering options available in our area.
Feast your eyes, clockwise from the top:
1. Smoked Salmon
Carnivore, 1042 Pleasant St., Oak Park
House smoked salmon is the number one item flying out of the cases – which also include meat, seafood and select produce.
2. Neal’s World Hefeweizen
Kinslahger Brewing Company, 6806 Roosevelt Road, Oak Park
This local brew is a pale straw color with distinct flavors, including a hint of banana. Also in the bucket is Nelson’s Light, a pale summer lager with passion fruit overtones.
3. Focaccia
Ciro, 1048 Pleasant St., Oak Park
Chef Ciro bakes bread daily with high-quality ingredients from Italy. This pocket-sized restaurant practically radiates an authentic Italian regional cuisine experience.
4. Quiche
Carnival Grocery, 824 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
Grab your own quiche in a variety of flavors from the freezer case. These pies are made in-store and are almost fully cooked. They await the final warming touch at home.
5. Apple pie
Happy Apple Pie Shop, 226 Harrison St., Oak Park
Tastes good while doing good. This shop is a blended work environment with employment opportunities for people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
6. Duck Prosciutto
The Meat Counter, 7406 Madison St., Forest Park
This new, whole-animal butcher shop also sells its own dry aged beef and pork sausage. This delectably cured duck breast comes from Smoking Goose of Indiana.
7. Pasta Medley Salad
Starship Restaurant, 7618 Madison St., Forest Park
Pair this side with one of the shop’s more than two dozen options of hot and cold sandwiches. But wait, there’s more – a rotation of more than 150 varieties of soups.
8. Cookies
Twisted Cookie, 7401 Madison St., Forest Park
All the cookies the monster in you craves: cookies, cookie cake, cookie pie, cheesecake cookies, cookie bark, and cookie’s cousin, brownies. Need we say more?
9. Luigi Giordano Vino Rosso
Anfora Wine Merchants, 128 S. Marion St., Oak Park
From the rolling hills of the Italian Piedmont, this wine is 20% white and 80% red grapes making it darker than a rosé, but still appropriately fresh, juicy and easy drinking.
10. The Alpine sub
Alpine Food Shop, 7538 W. North, Elmwood Park
When they name it after the shop, you know it’s a classic. Ham, salami, capicollo befriended by provolone cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, oil & vinegar and hot or mild giardiniera.
11. Wine glasses, serving pieces, napkins
Careful Peach, 1034 North Blvd., Oak Park
Acrylic wine glasses look the part but reduce picnic stress. Go wild with style mixing a William Morris napkin against a traditional gingham tablecloth, paired with chic serving pieces.
12. Malted Rye
Publican Quality Bread, 211 Harrison St., Oak Park
Malting the rye renders a sweeter taste to this traditionally hearty bread, making it a surprisingly friendly foundation for a wide variety of charcuterie, cheeses and other satisfying noshes.
13. Delaforce Rosé Port
Famous Liquors, 7714 Madison St., Forest Park
Start or end your picnic with this fortified wine from Portugal. Savor the floral notes and raspberry aroma, then taste sweet and fruity tones of cherry, honey and grapefruit.
