WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A PICNIC?
When was the last time you packed a picnic basket and headed to a relaxing scenic spot? Well, if it’s been a while, what are you waiting for Little Red Riding Hood? With all the wonderful food and cheese shops like Formaggio Kitchen (which we’ve already featured) they’ve made is super easy to fill your basket to the brim. And once your picnic basket is piled up with goodies, here are a few spots we might suggest you take it for a relaxing summer afternoon. A picnic; it’s fun, its easy, and a bit old school and charming. In this crazy and rushed world, don’t you think it’s good to get back to basics once in a while....
Our Favorite Picnic Spots for 2023:
Halibut Point Reservation in Rockport: Somebody had to pinch us the first time we laid eyes on this spectacular place. It is stunning, and magnificent, and truly awesome. Those majestic renown quarries feature big sky views. Every inch of ground is an ideal place to set your basket and bask in this glorious setting. The backdrop to all this is the Atlantic Ocean!
Patch.com
The Stevens-Coolidge Place in Andover: This lovely place is filled with gardens, and woodlands and field views. 91 acres of splendor. For you history buffs like Devon, the historic summer home on the grounds was once owned by John Gardner Coolidge who was a diplomat descended from Thomas Jefferson and nephew to Isabella Stuart Gardner.
Lynch Park in Beverly: This is an ideal waterfront picnic spot. Some folks love this area so much they get married there. And if its good enough for a wedding, it’s perfect for a picnic.
Luxury Picnic Company Feature: Hola Picnic
Hola Picnic Company - Boston, MA
“Hola Picnic Boston offers a wide range of picnic services to cater to various occasions, including baby showers, birthdays, bridal showers, bachelorettes, proposals, corporate events, brunch with friends, sunset picnics, and more. Our team is dedicated to creating a uniquely crafted experience for each event, ensuring a memorable and enjoyable gathering for you and your guests. Entrust us with your special moments, and let Hola Picnic Boston turn them into unforgettable picnics.”
The Best Pies in Massachusetts
(Perfect for a Picnic!)
It may be summer but here at These Days with Devon we are still thinking about pies! Aren’t you? Any delectable, fresh homemade pie will taste good any day, any time of the year! Here are some of our suggested favorites:
Petsi Pies in Somerville
Like many great bakers, Renee McLeod, aka Petsi, has been making delicious things from sugar, butter, and flour since childhood. One favorite: her grandmother’s sweet potato pie, which is warmly spiced, sweetened with condensed milk, and very creamy. Salted caramel apple pie is the stuff of gourmet carnival-food dreams, and the chocolate bourbon pecan is heady, fudgy, and addictive. While you’re there, don’t miss the bacon, leek, and Gruyère quiche, or the sweet and savory scones. In 2021, Renee turned Petsi Pies over to operations manager Jill Remby, but don’t worry – both the name and the recipes are the same.
Verrill Farm in Concord
Verrill features farm to table dinners, special events, and an outstanding bakery with you guessed it, FABULOUS PIES! Even their mission statement is awesome: To nourish the body and soul of our customers by providing healthful food of superb flavor in surroundings of beauty. Through the use of sound and efficient farming practices, we strive to maintain our land and animals in good health, and provide a good living for our employees and a reasonable return to the owners.
And come by the farm on Saturday’s for SAMPLE SATURDAYS: from 11am-2pm they sample delicious products from all their local vendors!
Flour Bakery
James Beard award–winning pastry chef Joanne Chang is the powerhouse behind the popular Flour empire throughout the Boston area—and unsurprisingly, each location is a quality stop for well-crafted sweets, with the pies as heavenly showstoppers. Take the lemon meringue pie: citrus lemon curd piled high with a foamy meringue that has been torched to yield an even brownness. I’ts a perfect summer pie! Then there’s the chocolate cream pie, made of a dark, potent pudding and garnished with milk chocolate curls. And finally, many fans love their coconut cream pie, composed of a delicate, ethereal custard covered in toasted coconut shreds.
Flour Bakery has a pie lineup that can’t be beat, and since there are multiple locations around the city, you’ll never be far from a midday pick-me-up or something to save for after dinner. Let’s meet on the porch for some sweet-tea and pie!
BRAVO BY THE SEA
Since its summer and many of you raved about our featured beaches, we’d like to suggest a place for some great food on your way to or from one of our favorite aforementioned beaches...Singing Beach in Manchester by the Sea, and that is Bravo by the Sea. This is a great spot for the best pizza and sandwiches. All that summer fun is going to make you hungry and Bravo is happy to fill your belly with everything fresh and made daily. And, its only two minutes from the best beach in the state of Mass. You will see us there in our flip flops wrapped in a beach towel carrying some pizzas to go!