Picnicking with the Bard on Rowayton Market’s Gourmet Take-Out

The days are long, the weather is balmy and outdoor events abound. So, pull out your picnic basket and fill it with fun and fabulous food!

Shakespeare on the Sound kicked off the local outdoor dining season in grand style with their riveting production of Othello (Bravo! to actor Victor Williams). With a stunning backdrop of Five Mile River, the lawn of Pinkney Park becomes blanketed with lawn chairs, coolers and baskets of all things delicious.

Don't have time after work to cook and prep your mobile feast? Rowayton Market has you covered.

Just steps away from the park is one of Fairfield County's most scrumptious food markets. Family owned and operated, the Rowayton Market covers all the bases: produce, dairy, meat, fish, and baked goods. The prepared foods are a true standout and perfect picnic fare.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

You can't go wrong with the market's sandwiches and salads. In addition to made-to-order requests, there is a pre-made sandwich case that is constantly replenished with freshly assembled bread, meat, and cheese creations.

Good choices include Santa Fe Chicken Wrap with grilled chicken, chili lime mayo, pepper jack cheese and roasted red peppers; the Bell Island with smoked salmon, horseradish sour cream, and cucumber slices on a pumpernickel roll; and my favorite Indian Trail sandwich on and onion Ficelle (thin baguette) filled with prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, basil, tomato, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Add a prepared salads, such as the spicy black bean, classic macaroni and potato salad, daily pasta salad combinations, or crunchy coleslaw. There's a salad bar option as well where customers simply order up their favorite mix and match greens and toppings. Entrée-size chef and cob salads are chock full of meats, cheeses and vegetables, your choice of house-made dressings.

LET'S DO DINNER

Rowayton Market offers a special dish for the picnic folks every night. The prepared food case is always full and brimming with fabulous dishes that are ready to go.

"Tonight's shrimp scampi!" says Chef.

For starters, there are platters of shrimp cocktail, mini crab cakes with lemon-garlic aioli, and beef tenderloin with horseradish cream on toasted baguette are a perfect for nibbling while awaiting the first act to begin. Scoot across the street to the Rowayton Wine Shop and grab your favorite varietal to go with these tasty appetizers.

For dinner the sky's the limit. Go for items that remain true to taste even when they are served cool or room temperature.

A few suggestions: poached salmon with cucumber dill sauce; fish cakes with remoulade, fried or roasted chicken; grilled pork tenderloin with a selection of mustards, chutney and fresh bread; bowtie pasta with pesto and chicken or shrimp; or grilled swordfish served with sweet grape tomatoes, a fresh squeeze of lime and drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

I'LL JUST PICK

For me, picnicking is about eating throughout the entire day or evening. My best plan of attack is a strolling through the store to see what looks good and picking up tempting foods that don't necessarily go together.

Rowayton Market has an impressive cheese selection, with over 50 varieties available at any given time. Grab a crunchy baguette, grapes and cherries, and peppercorn salami to accompany the cheese and your picnic is off to a great start.

Create your own crudités with a selection of grilled asparagus, roasted potatoes, and cherry tomatoes; then choose from garlic lemon aioli, bleu cheese dressing, or dill sauce for dipping.

Seven-layer Mexican dip is made in house to pair with blue tortilla chips. There's also an array of flatbreads and crackers to scoop up Rowayton Market's crab dip and shrimp salad.

AIN'T IT SWEET

Before the picnic winds down, treat your theatre party to homemade, chocolate-chunk cookies. Rowayton Market also offers blondies and brownies, festive sugar cookies (we love the sailboats) along with fancy pastries, fruit pies and layer cakes.

Chocopologie Chocolates are another decadent way to wrap up the evening. But be careful! These local treats melt easily due to the high content of butter and cocoa fat, so keep them in the cooler.

EXTRAS

To complete your picnic, Rowayton Market offers a nice selection of beverages, as well as decorative plates, napkins, plastic utensils, cups, and even serving platters, cheese knives, and plastic tablecloths.

Summer has just begun. You can picnics without all the fuss and spend your time enjoying the open-air dining.