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player ready...Picnicking is fun and carefree.
Cooking for a picnic? Not so carefree.
Luckily, many restaurants, hotels and shops (such as gourmet grocer Fox & Obel and Fairmont Hotel) are happy to sell pre-made picnic baskets to you. But you already know about those. Here are three shops with picnic basket options that you might not have considered:
Pastoral, 2945 N. Broadway, 773-472-4781, www.pastoralartisan.com: This Lakeview cheese shop assembles scrumptious-sounding picnic baskets. Particularly drool-worthy is the $34.99 “Costa del Sol” basket for two: Jamon serrano, spicy chorizo sausage, olives, almonds, pickled garlic, pequillo peppers, Zamorano and Mahon cheeses, fig cake, olive oil torta and a baguette. Mmm. Call 24 hours in advance.
Provenance Food and Wine, 2528 N. California Ave., 773-384-0699, www.provenancefoodandwine.com. Put together a light picnic at this new Logan Square foodie hangout, which sells baguettes, cheeses, meats and other savories in addition to wine and beer. On July 12, there’s even a class on packing the perfect picnic.
The Goddess & Grocer, 1646 N. Damen Ave., 773-342-3200, www.goddessandgrocer.com: This Wicker Park storefront serves picnic-perfect sandwiches and salads. Groups can order box lunches (of sandwich or salad, cookie and potato chips, $10.50). Finger-licking sandwiches include smokin’ brisket (brisket in barbecue sauce with grilled onions and Cheddar cheese on a kaiser roll). Call 24 hours in advance.
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