Picnic pizzazz: Fill your basket with store-bought pleasures

Tag : semi dried tomatoes

Whether it's lounging at the beach or listening to Mayfaire's Musicon the Town concerts, summertime along the Cape Fear Coast offers avariety of opportunities to share good food and conversation withfamily and friends. But when getting ready, do you really want tobe shopping, chopping and baking to fill your picnic basket? Tiredof the same old sammies and chips? Save time (and your taste buds)with items straight from local delis and markets. For inspiration,we assembled this basket that would make a PB&J blush.
The Cheese
A stand out among cheeses from England is the Dairy Crest SageDerby. This mild, green-veined and herbaceous cheese is semi-hardwith the subtle flavor of sage.
Details: $15.99 a pound at The Fresh Market, 1060 InternationalDrive, Wilmington, 256-3524
Crackers
Sage Derby teams well the rosemary flavored, all natural crispbreadby 34 degrees. The rosemary in these ultra light crackers nicelyenhances the sage in the cheese.
Details: $3.29 for a 4.5 ounce package at Fresh Market
Fruit
Add a packham pear to please and cleanse the palate. Kept chilled,pear slices make a perfect companion to a cheese-and-crackerappetizer.
Details: About $1.99 a pound at Fresh Market
Entree
Feast on this antipasto salad loaded with ham, Genoa salami,prosciutto de Parma, Italian green and black olives, five differentcheeses and roasted red peppers lightly tossed in vinaigrette. Atrue deli delight!
Details: $10.99 a pound at A Taste of Italy, 1101 S. College Road,Wilmington, 392-7529
Vegetable
These petite, mild green peppers, stuffed with olive oil, provoloneand prosciutto de Parma are known as "pepper poppers." They aretypically small enough to "pop" in your mouth.
Martino's Fine Italian Foods, 7041 Wrightsville Ave., Wilmington,509-2727
Salad
This orzo, a rice shaped pasta, is chuck full of basil, Kalamataolives, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers ina vinaigrette dressing. Orzo adds a little "oomph" to thisbasically light picnic.
Details: $9.99 a pound at Pine Valley Market, 3520 S. College Road,Wilmington, 350-3663
Dessert
Brownies, made on site at Artisan Cafe and Market, are diverse andever so tempting. The best seller, Connie's PMS Brownie, is madewith Valhrona cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate, and butter. Awinner for any chocoholic. For a different twist, try the whitechocolate cranberry blondie loaded with tart, dried berries. Amilder chocolate offering is the turtle brownie. Made with milkchocolate and caramel on a buttery shortbread and coconut base,it's a great way to finish the meal.
Details: $2.50-$3 each at Artisan Cafe and Market, 980 InspirationDrive, Wilmington, 256-0500
Wine
Candoni's Pinot Grigio 2007 is the ideal wine to serve with thesepicnic selections. The Italian wine cuts through the fat of meatsand cheeses found in Italian and Grecian foods. With a full, fruityaroma and a dry, mellow taste, it falls within the middle rangefrom dry to sweet.
Details: $9.49 at Fresh Market
Healthy reminders
+ Pack plenty of thirst-quenching drinks. If you're bringing wine,bring some water as well to stay hydrated.
+ The Food and Drug Administration advises that cold food should beheld in a cooler at or below 40 degrees using ice or frozen gelpacks.
+ To maintain temperatures, limit the times the cooler is opened.
DINNER AND A SHOW
Bring your basket of goodies to one of these free summer concertseries
Mayfaire "Music on the Town" Concert Series
6 - 9 p.m. every Friday, Mayfaire Event Lawn behind Linens 'nThings and World
Free
July 18 - Sai Collins (rock)
Pets and coolers welcome
256-5131 or www.mayfairetown.com/pages/events/eventdetail.jsp?eventid=108
Carolina Beach Film & Fireworks Series
Each Sunday and Thursday, weather permitting. Family-friendlymovies will be held at Carolina Beach Lake Park every Sunday and afireworks display will be on the beach near the boardwalk eachThursday with a band performing from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. before thefireworks.
Free
July 17 - Julie Gribble & Company
July 24 - Daniel Parish Band
July 31 - Scearce & Katner
Concessions available
458-8434 or www.pleasureislandnc.org
Downtown Sundown Concert Series
6 - 10 p.m. Fridays, Riverfront Park in front of the Alton LennonFederal Building
Free
July 18 - Zoso, A Led Zepplin Tribute
Beer, wine, and food for sale
No dogs, no coolers
763-7349 or www.wilmingtondowntownsundown.com
Pleasure Island Free Summer Concert Series
6 to 8 p.m. second and fourth Fridays in June, July and August(weather permitting) at the Fort Fisher Military Recreation Area,118 Riverfront Road in Kure Beach
Free
July 25 - Radio Flyer Band (Top 40, Classic Rock & Roll)
Bring a chair or blanket. This year you are allowed to bring yourown food. No alcoholic beverages or pets are allowed. Beverages arefor sale on site.
458-8434 or www.pleasureislandnc.org
Concerts on the Coast
6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. weather permitting
Free
Bring a blanket or beach chair
Held Fridays at the Museum of Coastal Carolina (Ocean Isle), heldSundays at the end of Jordan Boulevard (Holden Beach) and heldTuesdays in Franklin Square Park, E. West St. (Southport)
253-2670 or www.brunswickcountync.gov/Departments/ParksandRecreation/ConcertsontheCoast/tabid/66/Default.aspx
Ocean Isle: July 18 - Imitations (Beach music)
Holden Beach: July 20 - The Daniel Parish Band (variety)
Southport: July 29 - Pantastic Steel (Steel Drums)
Sounds of Summer
6:30 - 8 p.m. every other Thursday beginning June 12 at Hugh MacRaePark, corner of Oleander Drive and Pine Grove Road
If concert is canceled due to bad weather, it will be rescheduledfor the following Thursday
Free
July 24 - 360 Degrees at Wrightsville Beach Park
Bring lawn chairs