Seattle's Picnic Supply Mecca

When the sun does come out in Seattle, a great way to spend an afternoon with the family is with a picnic. Instead of relying on the standby sandwiches and chips, stop by Picnic: a food + wine boutique in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood. The shop is owned by Anson and Jenny Klock, both of whom are chefs who wanted to offer restaurant-quality food without the fuss of a more formal restaurant.

Picnic has a deli counter that offers great cheeses, charcuterie (pictured), fresh salads, sandwiches and soups. Sandwich selections range from a simple ham and cheese (great for picky eaters) to a mortadella with aged fontina. Picnic offers a house-made corned beef, too, and a quiche of the day. The choices do change with the season, so call ahead if there’s something specific you’re hoping to get. The retail section is stocked with wines and specialty food items, such as crackers, dried pasta, condiments and more.

Picnic is located near the Woodland Park Zoo, so you can easily stop by to pick up something prior to visiting the zoo. If you have tickets for Zoo Tunes, you can put together a sumptuous spread from the offerings at Picnic or call ahead and Picnic will have your order ready to pick up.

— Hsiao-Ching Chou