NEWPORT FOOD SCENE: Stop at this Newport eatery, and you'll be ready for a picnic
Picnic is a great name for a cafe. It brings to mind thoughts of relaxation and joy. The word picnic transports you to a cozy spot of shade beneath a stately old tree, where a feast of every delight is spread out on a red checkerboard tablecloth.
You are sipping champagne or lemonade under a stunning blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds drifting along in no particular hurry. A gentle breeze dances through the leaves.
I’ve never been on a picnic remotely like that, but when I hear the word, that’s the image conjured. So if I go to a cafe that’s called Picnic, I’m already in a good mood, just thinking about how dreamy a picnic can be. And when it turns out that Picnic Cafe makes great food, I’m living the dream.
You can find Picnic Cafe & Bakery tucked away on Bellevue Avenue across the street from the Viking Hotel and next door to the Inn on Bellevue. You could almost miss it if not for its red awning calling out to the curious and hungry passersby.
In the warm weather (whenever that comes), there’s usually a table or two outside where you can enjoy your coffee and fresh-baked pastries while people-watching. But when you open the door, that’s where you can soak in the charm of the building and the space that is Picnic.
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Your eyes immediately turn to the pastry case and the lineup of fresh-baked offerings. Behind the case, you find the staff working hard, ready with a welcoming hello or to offer assistance. But you may not want assistance right away. You could need a few extra minutes to soak in the plethora of pastries, coffees and sandwiches.
Picnic is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but the rest of the week, it opens at 8 a.m. It has the perfect caffeine fix for you with a coffee menu that includes standard brewed coffees as well as lattes, cappuccinos and macchiatos. But, if you don’t delve into its baked confections, you’re missing out.
Their Cinnamon Swirls, covered in a sugary glaze, are worth the calories. Same for the fresh-baked fruit tarts and Au Pain Chocolat. If you’re hungry for something more savory and filling, breakfast options range from standards like an Egg and Cheese sandwich to the unexpected like Egg Galette and Lobster Frittata.
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Every item is made with care and expertise and packaged up neatly to go in case you wanted to enjoy them at the office, at the beach or even on a gingham blanket on a scenic hill.
You don’t have to eat your meal from Picnic at a picnic, but if you wanted to, everything on the menu is ready to go. All sandwiches are served with a hearty helping of homemade coleslaw and potato salad — the perfect picnic complement — and are packed for neat and easy travel.
Try the Roast Chicken sandwich with hand-carved fresh roasted chicken served with homemade pesto and fresh greens. Or for something a bit out of the ordinary, go for the Chicago Dog, a hot dog cooked to order and served with tomato, cucumber, hot peppers, mustard and ketchup. Naturally, Picnic has a Lobster Salad Roll featured on the menu (perfect for any Newport picnic) as well as a classic Hamburger, a Blackened Salmon Sandwich and what may be the essential picnic sandwich — the Mozzarella & Tomato with greens and aioli.
Picnic’s salad menu is also full of fresh and tasty surprises. The Falafel Salad comes with Hummus, Greek olives, banana peppers and tzatziki-tahini and delivers on that Mediterranean flavor. The Antioxidant Salad with fresh blueberries, dried cranberries, sliced almond and balsamic dressing is perfect for a burst of energy.
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Try the Strawberry & Feta Salad made with field greens, pistachios and balsamic dressing if you’re looking for a salad that tastes like summer.
And what’s a picnic without a sweet ending? Choose from an array of its fresh baked goodies like Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies, Apple Turnovers or a selection of fresh-made pies. Peek around the pastry counter. You never know what sweet little morsels they’ll have cooked up. (But you’ll always know they’ll be good).
Picnic (the cafe) also has everything you need for a picnic (the activity), including a selection of finely crafted picnic baskets. The Country Basket is perfect for that nostalgic feel, while the Coronado Basket seems ready for a trip on the boat or to the beach. When it comes to planning a picnic, you can get it all.
As we all struggle through this elongated winter, we can’t help thinking about all we will do once the weather is nice. We’ll take those trips to the beach. We’ll go hiking. We’ll go exploring. And when we do, we must promise to indulge in a picnic lunch.
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We’ll celebrate the joy of a tasty alfresco lunch with the special people in our lives in one of the many scenic landscapes we have here in Rhode Island. No matter where you go to enjoy the outdoors, the folks at Picnic Cafe and Bakery has got the tasty food you want.
Going on a picnic is one of life’s simple pleasures. Picnic Cafe is another.
Dan Lederer is a Middletown resident with 30 years experience in the food service industry throughout New England. He continues to work locally behind the scenes within the industry and remains a devoted fan of all things restaurant and hospitality related. His column appears on newportri.com and Thursdays in The Daily News. Cheers!
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Picnic Cafe & Bakery, Newport, brings coffee, pastries to Bellevue Ave
