Take A Picnic: NYC's Best Pre-Made Gourmet Baskets
Here are five places that are making it easy to take a picnic with pre-packed meals and to-go options. By Carly Petrone.
Chef-Curated Sustenance from Park South Hotel
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Enjoy a picnic in Madison Square Park with chef-curated picnic baskets from Park South Hotel's Covina restaurant. Locals and guests can enjoy baskets filled with all kinds of epicurean goodies recommended by James-Beard Award-winning Chef Tim Cushman. Cool down with a Counter Culture coffee cold brew in a thermos or get your vitamins with a bottle of Juice Witches. Snack on homemade Babka Knots before biting into the main course. Options include everything from hummus with crudite and bread, to freshly-made salami sandwiches. Satisfy your sweet tooth with matcha confetti cookies. Learn more about The Rose Basket, Brunch Basket, and Park South Basket on their website.
Sips + Bites From New York Hilton Midtown
Before making your way to Sheep Meadow in Central Park, stop by the New York Hilton Midtown and grab a picnic basket from their gourmet market, Herb N' Kitchen. Each one is filled with two sandwiches, two signature salads, New York cheesecake and items from local vendors (think Murray's Cheese). Plus, you'll get to sip on a bottle of sustainable wine. A blanket, plates, and glasses are also included, so you don't have to worry about making another stop. Learn more here.
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Stop into this iconic New York market and stock up on everything from fruit spreads and olives, to assorted cheeses and chorizo. Grab a Lined Wood Picnic Basket for $32 and fill it to your heart's content. If you'd rather not do the work yourself, stop by and pick up a European Picnic ($125), which is filled with a perfect spring meal including rosemary crackers, Comte St. Antoine and aged Manchego cheese, green Leccino olives, orange blossom honey, apple tatin jam, and Galettes Brettone shortbread cookies. Another option is The Endless Summer Picnic – the granddaddy of all baskets. It's filled with everything from double smoked Irish salmon and Swiss-Italian mountain cheese to Vermouth-spiked olives and a half-dozen bialys. This one will cost you around $250, but we have a feeling you'll have plenty of leftovers. Learn more here.
Tarallucci e Vino's Italian Picnic
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Grab your favorite person to eat with and hit the town! Chef Cara Hermanson from Tarallucci e Vino has packed up an Italian picnic for two just for you. Stop by their Cooper Hewitt location and grab this $24 curated basket of goodies. It's filled with assorted Italian cheeses and salumi, honey with walnuts, fresh fruit, homemade focaccia, cured olives, and the dessert of the day. Wine and beverages are available for an additional purchase – just know that the bottle will be opened on the premise and given out in to-go cups. Bottoms up!
Davio's Picnic Basket
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Park-goers can call ahead and place an order for the Davio's Picnic Basket this summer. This incredible meal includes three courses for $115. Nosh on two fresh salads – choose between arugula, farro, spinach, or chicory – as well as your choice of sandwich on a French-style baguette, rye baguette, or roasted garlic focaccia. A simple dessert of fresh fruit and berries or assorted Italian cheeses is the perfect way to end this Italian meal. Don't worry about bringing your own blanket – they've already thrown one in there for you. Enjoy your picnic in the park and then return your basket for a refund of $50 -- or feel free to keep it for your next culinary adventure.
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Carly Petrone is the founder of Petrone on the Rocks, a lifestyle site about food, drinks, beauty, travel, and more. She lives in New York City.
