There’s something about the longer sunny hours of summer that just says: It’s time for a picnic.
That could mean a trip to a scenic overlook, a local park, or just a relaxed back yard meal.
The question then becomes where to go to get the ingredients. One such local business is Everett’s Farms & Market, which has a cafe where you can either order takeout for your fun adventure, or eat there indoors or on its nearby patio.
You can build your own picnic from the variety of meats, cheeses, crackers, olives, soft drinks, wines and beers that surround eaters in its cafe.
“Look at all the fun stuff you can grab,” said Kate Johnson, the culinary operations manager.
For a quick treat there’s salami, cheese and a bottle of wine. “You don’t have to go to Seattle and fight the traffic” for such items, Johnson said.
People can stop in for quick takeout items on their way to Everett’s free Thursday evening concerts on the waterfront.
There’s a glass deli display case filled with salads, such as potato, curry turkey, marinated cucumber and marinated vegetable salads. There are wraps, such as the veggie delight, which includes mushrooms, cucumbers and red peppers, and a pastrami and swiss sandwich, both $8. A Caesar salad with chicken or shrimp is $10.
Current entrees include a natural beef burger with vegetarian patty option ($11-$14), a duck egg with warm spring vegetables ($11), ham and cheese on baguette ($13), cottage bacon and eggs ($12), mac and cheese with havarti, mozzarella, feta, cheddar and romano cheese plus a salad ($12), and a flatbread sandwich with provolone, Parmesan, chicken, arugula, olive tapenade, oregano and balsamic vinaigrette ($10).
The plates to share are a cheese plate with rhubarb-apple compote and hazelnuts ($12) and a Cascadia plowman’s board of salami, cheese, cornichon, pork pate, bread, nuts, preserve, roasted garlic and dried cherries ($18).
There’s a soup of the day ($6 for a bowl) and a spinach, hazelnut and Gorgonzola salad ($9).
The recent daily special was a variation on pasta primavera ($10). That’s a dish I dodged for years because of an experience of being served an entree drowning in cream, overwhelming the taste of everything else.
But this looked different. A very light cream sauce with farfalle (aka bow tie) pasta, bay shrimp and asparagus bites. It was accompanied by two generous slices of toasted focaccia bread.
What made a sauce with a cream base seem so light, and something that so complemented the rest of the dish?
Johnson said she cooked the pasta, reduced the cream, and added a bit of garlic, rosemary and lemon zest.
In about six weeks, look for the menu to include fresh ingredients locally sourced such as tomatoes and berries. “We’re really looking forward to what late spring and summer brings us for our cafe menu and deli case,” Johnson said.
Weekly events are now scheduled on Fridays through June 29, generally from 5 to 7 p.m. They include wine, beer and cider tastings. A Father’s Day weekend picnic on the patio is scheduled June 15 with hot dogs and sausages, potato salad, coleslaw and ginger beer.
Pick up a flyer in the cafe for full details of the events.
Stroll over to the market part of Farms & Market for fresh fruits and vegetables, a display of garden herbs in containers, and a wall display of pastas, yogurts and other meal add-ons, and even more drinks to choose from.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.
If you go
The Farms & Market cafe, 2900 Grand Ave., Everett, is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. A weekend brunch is available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m on Saturday and Sunday. There’s street parking nearby and a parking garage behind the Grand Avenue Market Place off Hewitt Avenue. Call 425-622-9476 for takeout. Go to www.farmsandmarket.com for more information.
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Do you have a favorite shop or restaurant that provides great grab ‘n’ go items for a summer picnic or a relaxed lunch or dinner? Drop us a note at features@heraldnet.com.
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