FINANCE

A summer picnic offers a chance for more than just takeout

By Mark Woolsey

Something about a picnic can seem quintessentially American, especially this time of the year.

A charcuterie tray, a fresh-made sandwich, chilled fruit, cold side salads, side munchies and a bottle of wine--all those seem a perfect accompaniment to spreading a blanket out on the lawn and dining in the open air while listening to patriotic music and speeches and oohing and ahhing over fireworks.

But if you’re not up for a crowd (and many seniors are not this year as they try to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic) metro Atlanta offers a wide variety of take-out fare to take to more socially distanced spots.

If you want to load up a hamper and hanker for something more adventurous than the standard boxed lunch, here are some places to check out that offer picnic-friendly foods.

Alon’s Bakery

With outposts in Virginia-Highland/ Morningside and Dunwoody, Alon’s sets the standard for takeaway and picnic fair. The Dunwoody location is a bright, cheerful and

bustling spot that has a dizzying array of cold prepared foods that are ready on the spot.

How about a meat and cheese tray? Prepared sandwiches are also in the mix. And there are crab cakes, Moroccan chicken skewers with hints of garlic, dill and other spices artfully crafted together, sides such as pasta salads and green beans. For dessert, there was fudge or chocolate chip cookies that tasted like they’d just rolled out of the oven. (They make their own).

Manager Maegan Bufffington says they’ll gladly help you assemble a package for your excursion. Beautiful picnic spots are just minutes away at the Dunwoody Nature Center.

The Fickle Pickle

Ensconced in a converted house on a leafy street near downtown Roswell, the Pickle provides a prime spot for grabbing gourmet sandwiches for an excursion, or you can picnic right there. Their outdoor dining area includes picnic tables shaded by a giant sugar hackberry tree. The restaurant offers more than a dozen artfully crafted sandwiches. Owner Andy Badgett says their biggest sellers are the Chicken Avocado (chicken marinated in garlic and cilantro piled onto multigrain bread and served with avocado, lettuce, onion and pickle) and the Brie BLT (with arugula lettuce that gives an old standard additional character) that is made panini-style on a sourdough bun. The Creole Cuban teams up smoked turkey and ham with Cajun pickles and a remoulade sauce.

True to its name, the restaurant offers four varieties of homemade pickles: Cajun, dill, bread-and-butter and “sweet little devils.” Appetizers include -- yes, indeed -- fried pickles.

Star Provisions

A longtime Atlanta favorite, Star Provisions offers one of the top cheese shops in the South, says manager Robby Cunningham. If your preferred picnic fare includes a favorite or hard-to-find cheese (and facebook.com/AtlantaSeniorLife