Celebrate Memorial Day weekend in one of Philadelphia's many parks with a selection of seasonal, local foods. (Photo courtesy: J.Smith for GPTMC)
With a long weekend ahead for many of us, and some promising weather, it seems like the perfect time to pick a park and throw a picnic. We have a few suggestions on where to source some of the season’s best and a some ideas on where to carry out if you’re less inclined to cook. Also, be sure to check out one of our favorite Foodspotting Guides, Local Foods On-The-Go.
Farms:
What better way to celebrate your long weekend than with a trip to one of the regions many farms that allow you to hand select your own fruit and vegetables! We’ve been talking a lot lately about the early arrival of strawberries, and quite a few local farms are ready for you stop by and get your fill. Aside from the farms listed below, be sure to check out the Philly Homegrown U-Pick Finder to locate an open farm near you.
- We love the ease of Linvilla Orchards, just a mere 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia in Media, PA. Their strawberry fields are open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday, and 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.
- In New Jersey, a stop at Springdale Farms, just outside Cherry Hill, is always a sure bet. Strawberry picking is available 7 days a week from 8am to 6pm, weather permitting.
- Beautiful Wyebrook Farm in Honeybrook, PA is all at once a great place to source locally and picnic. With a full service farm store, visitors can purchase Wyebrook-grown meat and dairy as well as vegetables from surrounding Chester county farms. An on-site cafe, allows you to also order up a sandwich like the Pulled Pork or the Honeybrook Cheesesteak, all sourced from ingredients grown on the farm. And if that’s not enough, on Sunday, May 27th, Wyebrook will host a free goat-roast.
Picnic-Ready Prepared Foods:
We know that a busy weekend might not allow everyone to venture out to a farm and enjoy an afternoon among berry patches and livestock. Lucky for us, Philadelphia is teeming with a number of local spots that can set you up as a picnic-pro.
- Milk and Honey Market, in West Philadelphia, has a wide selection of prepared sandwiches, salads and all around good eats for carnivore’s and vegan’s alike. Their vast take-out menu includes sandwiches like the Italian Market Hoagie or the Spicy Thai Tofu panini.
- Green Aisle Grocery, nestled among bustling East Passyunk, is a dream come true for fans of Philadelphia restaurants. Here, you can pick up Zahav’s hummus, cured meats from Le Virtu and even Little Baby’s Ice Cream.
- Geechee Girl Rice Cafe is currently taking orders for their famous fried chicken. The restaurant will be closed for Memorial Day, but orders can be picked up on Sunday and will include reheating instructions so your chicken will taste like its fresh out the fryer! All orders must be placed by Friday night (215-843-8113). And, while you’re at it, order some of Leigh’s famous potato salad too.
Farmers Markets
By now, most area farmers markets are in full swing. Be sure to check out the markets run by our friends at The Food Trust and Farm to City, as they cover a broad swath of neighborhoods throughout the city. However, if you’re around this weekend, we suggest you check out markets either at or near a local park Rittenhouse Square (Saturday 9am – 3pm), Clark Park (Saturday 10am – 2pm), Chestnut Hill Growers Market (Saturday 9:30am – 1:30pm) and Headhouse Square (Sunday 10am – 2pm).
Happy Memorial Day, Philadelphia!
