Picnic
Caterers LLC
Fun, Fabulous Food
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Fun, Fabulous Food |
New Jersey Monthly magazine has named Picnic one of New Jersey’s best restaurants two years in a row!
Everything is of pristine quality . . . you can order from Picnic every day and never be bored.
—Jason Perlow
Quick Bite column, New Jersey section
The New York Times, March 5, 2006
(Read the complete
article)
Who says lunch can’t be special?
—Victor E. Sasson
Marketplace column, Food/Dining section
The Bergen Record, April 5, 2006
(Read the complete
article)
Picnic Caterers, a gourmet shop and catering service, 180 Kinderkamack Road, Emerson, recently opened, offering takeout and delivered lunches and dinners, full-service party planning, group cooking lessons in your home, private chef services, children’s cooking parties, and sommelier services. Executive chef/owner Christine Nunn will custom-design and freshly prepare your menu; nothing is frozen or pre-made. She also uses produce from her own garden to provide the freshest of seasonal organic vegetables and fruits. Chef Nunn’s lunch menu changes daily and features ten to twelve different and unique sandwiches and salads, such as filet mignon with Burgundy-infused demi-glace on baguette with fresh chanterelles. For more information visit www.picniccaterers.com or call 201- 262-5505. Picnic is a member of the Slow Food Movement.
—Rosie Saferstein
Restaurant News column
New
Jersey Monthly magazine web site, October 2005
Christine was an exceptional student who worked very, very hard. I respect her determination, her work ethic, and her great knowlege of food.
—Thomas W. Griffiths CMC CHE
Professor, The Culinary Institute of America
Meals to go, in style
Why pack your own when you can call Picnic? From the ridiculously extravagant (lobster and Beluga) to the supremely sublime (fried chicken and biscuits), Picnic in Emerson can custom-tailor a hamper and drop it where you like.
Baskets can feed two to 12 people, and come complete with glasses, plates and utensils. You can even order a blanket and mood-setting CD for that truly special al fresco dining experience.
Located at 180 Kinderkamack Road, Picnic is the invention of Christine E. Nunn, the former food critic for The Record. Nunn, who trained at the Culinary Institute of America (in Hyde Park, New York), began specializing a year ago in “gourmet to go,” but just opened her storefront this spring. Each day, she whips up unique sandwiches and three to four complete dinners for pick-up. Call 201-262-5505.
— Leigh Vaccaro
Pascack Valley Magazine
Summer 2005 issue
Picnic Caterers is a natural choice for my clients who want organic, seasonal ingredients used in inspired, but never fussy, menus. In addition to her delightful food, I value Christine’s total willingness to work with creativity and good humor no matter what curveball a client might throw her way.
— Soraya Jollon
SORAYA weddings & celebrations
www.sorayajollon.com
I just wanted to touch base with you to let you know how wonderful everything was and how much everyone enjoyed the shower.
The sandwiches were excellent and the salads were great, but I need to tell you the cake was FANTASTIC and made such a hit!!
The server was delightful and the entire day was a success thanks to you. Please extend my thanks to your team. I will definitely use your services again and I’m sure you will get some referral business from the day. Thanks again.
— Jackie
(Shower catered by Picnic)
The writers in my all-day workshops felt so nurtured and special when we broke at midday for a Picnic lunch. The foods were colorful, inventive and delicious. What a beautiful spread — yummy sandwiches in wraps and wonderful cranberry bread, the crisp fresh apples, the exotic cheeses and scrumptious crackers and great salads. What a feast for the eye, the stomach and the soul. “This is so much better than you ever get these days,” said one writer. “I didn’t think anybody got to eat like this anymore,” said another.
Thank you, Picnic. You’re invited to all my workshops. Serving your special food is a sure way to let people know you care about them.
— Lorraine Ash
author/journalist/playwright/teacher
www.LorraineAsh.com
Just a note to thank you for the magnificent job that you and your staff did in catering our wedding. When Chris and I were planning our wedding we wondered where we would find a caterer that could help us blend our cultures (American & Dominican), be responsive to our needs (an outdoor wedding with a tent) and still be able to add my favorite season to the mix (early autumn).
Then along came you and your marvelous Picnic staff. Your attention to detail was evident from the moment we met with you and your assistance in helping us pick the menu (including your pumpkin soup to mark the season) and designing the atmosphere of a rustic harvest was without compare.
Once we signed the contract with you, our worries were over. You kept in constant touch, guiding us along the way. Your help went a long way towards quieting the new bride jitters! When the day finally arrived, we were able to enjoy it because you had everything under control. The food was sensational, the ambiance unparalleled.
Your service, your food, your professionalism and, best of all, your price, was unbeatable and made our wedding the social event of the year. Chris and I have heard from so many of our friends that our wedding was the best they had ever attended as guests (they had to say that!) and we know that it has everything to do with you. Thanks again from the bottom of our hearts and know that we tell all our friends to try Picnic!
—Jennette
(Wedding catered by Picnic)
Just to thank you for doing last night’s dinner. The food was delicious and I can’t tell you how nice it was for me to have someone so calm and competent take charge.
—Claire
(Diplomatic dinner catered by Picnic)
Yum! Thank you for letting me taste your fabulous wares! Delicious. Bridget had some of the bread and a meatball and said you must be “brilliant,” a word that I’ve never heard her use before.
—Anne
(Newspaper food editor)
Thank you for all of the personal attention you put toward our wedding. It was amazing to have your insight into every little detail — from the fabrics on the table to the special cocktail menu. I’m not sure that any other couple could say that their caterer made an heirloom tomato salad with fresh tomatoes from her garden! Everything was exquisite; it was clear how much thought went into planning each flavor. We had a lot of comments on the beautiful, hand-selected fruits on the table and the amazing desserts!
We really appreciate your attentiveness to our special day and how hard your staff worked to make it all seamless. I am glad to hear that they enjoyed themselves and that you are now a hot ticket caterer for such a prestigious venue!
—Jennifer and Kent
I just got back from the dentist and stopped on my way home to pick up supper. Christine Nunn Chef/Owner of Picnic enthusiastically and helpfully assisted me in making choices for supper that were “tooth” friendly tonight!
I had the most delicious dishes!
Fluke in a reduction of beurre blanc (some savories... garlic?) and spinach and also I ordered the — Risotto with fresh chanterelles in a white wine sauce of some sort (Christine showed me the mushrooms and they were beauties and I HATE mushrooms and hate spinach too — heh — but I didn’t tell Christine that, and I ate it ALL up with my husband YUM!!)
Oh my goodness I have to tell you all, it melted in my mouth like... mmm a delicious sorbet but better! The taste, the texture, the smells, the look!
No wonder she won awards this woman knows how to cook and she makes it all while you wait or if you live nearby she’ll even deliver! (She offered seeing I wasn’t myself but I said it’s OK it’ll take my mind off of things reading her interesting books there and looking at all the little jams and sides she has for sale.)
This diamond in a location that is hard to notice needs to be tasted! AND the best part is my freshly drilled tooth didn’t even hurt! Accolades for the great food and the kindness of Christine Nunn! I wholeheartedly recommend trying lunch or supper from there anytime you can. Have a great end of August!
— Stacey
River Vale, NJ
Posted at www.eGullet.com
We had a successful party Friday, thanks in large part to Dan and Jennifer. They were both terrific (wow, can she bake!) and my husband and I were both extremely happy with Picnic and your staff. Thanks for making it so easy. I can’t say I’m looking forward to my next party (we’ve just had too many this summer!), but when it happens, we look forward to having another Picnic.
— Brenda
I appreciated the quick and kind delivery and menu. The delivery person was very sweet, helpful and personable!
I ordered your “famous” Filet Mignon sandwich and a side of warm delicious (YUM!) sweet potato puree. After finishing both pretty quickly, due to hunger and the delicious scents coming off of the food... I wanted to drop you this note to tell you that they both tasted fantastic! The sweet potato puree had a great mouth feel, nice warm hints of savory spices and was delicious and smooth. The sandwich was tasty and cut just right... the bread topped it off wonderfully. Good luck to our new neighbors in Emerson... keep up the great work!
— Stacey
The “Obscene Cheese Steak” was exceptionally delicious! Truly obscene! I can’t wait to see it on the menu again to get one for my husband, and myself, of course. Extra yummy! Thanks.
— Kathy
The food for my daughter’s christening was just perfect. Everyone raved about the unique selection of foods and of course the taste. There was more than enough. I’m actually eating leftover stew tonight for dinner! :)
Thanks again and I look forward to more Picnic in the future!
— Andi
Wow! Your meatloaf, with sautéed onions (lots) and melted swiss, was exceptional, and reverie provoking. Once (or more than once), I went to White Castle and had one dozen cheese burgers, each time. They are addictive. Your sandwich was reminiscent of those carefree days.
You have consistently produced the best lunches around. We have been impressed.
Oh, I don't know why, but I also ordered a triple decker fluffernutter.
Overkill. I was so protective of eveyone else’s health, I did not share. (Well, I didn’t, for whatever reason—too good, I think.)
Keep up the great work.
— David
I want to thank you all so much for the hard work and commitment to high quality that made last week’s meeting in Newark such a success. Your lunches sustained a large 2-day meeting of top-level managers from throughout the northeast. They had lots of knotty negotiating to accomplish and we knew they would need every minute, including working through lunch. Normally, this makes people cranky, but not in this case.
People were totally delighted by the meals. The platters were lovely, the choices were plentiful and the food all tasted so fresh, flavorful and luscious! People especially raved about the three types of chicken salads (each one better than the last), the smoky roasted vegetables, the potato salad, the green salad and the myriad types of sandwiches served on great breads and filled with imaginative and yummy combinations. The shrimp salad was delectable and the beef so tender that people couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards. Also, the Cheese Plates that you made were divine; people were ecstatic about the selection of unusual and absolutely top of the line quality cheeses, nuts and fruits. Everything was perfect — there is nothing that I wouldn’t choose again....
I also appreciated how easy it was to work with you — we had a number of people with food allergies and preferences and everyone had lots of healthy choices for their needs. The fact that you called me to double-check how the first day had gone and to see if any fine tuning was needed for the second day, was also a mark of real attention to detail. It showed all the way through.
The outcome of the meeting was enhanced by these two glorious meals that served as nourishment for the body, the eyes and the spirit. The loving energy you obviously put into your choices, the natural beauty of good fresh food and, most of all, the high quality of everything you prepared for us was amazing.
The Commissioners and the staff who attended the meeting couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful the lunches were. They appreciated your dedication to local farms, the environmental focus of your suppliers and your overall high standards, in all areas. Thanks for the service you provided with your loving attention to the needs of my group.
Your reputation continues to grow, deservedly. (I live in Boston and the meeting was in Newark but I found you through word of mouth over the internet.) I am delighted!
P.S. I also wanted to say that I needed to set up the meals quietly and your delivery assistant was completely professional. Down to the last little thing, Picnic service was just right. I would recommend you unstintingly.
P.P.S.: The Catering was so special that people are asking when we can schedule our next meeting in Newark. I think you might want to touch base with the New Jersey Board of Tourism and let them know!
— Sonia
Picnic’s client list ranges from diplomatic missions and Fortune 500 corporations
to couples planning wedding receptions for 400 guests and dinner parties for
a few friends at home. Some of the names include Polo, Ralph Lauren; Bloomingdales;
Wedgwood; NY Giants; Nat Sherman, Fifth Avenue; American Express — Departures
Magazine; Bristol-Meyers; Old Stone Farm; British Mission to the United Nations;
Church of the Assumption; Pfizer; Twig Gallery, New York City; Lorraine Ash,
author; the Radburn Association; Douglas Elliman; Dutch Consulate, United Nations;
Sigma Group; Emerson Library; Chamber of Commerce, Emerson NJ; Board of Public
Utilities, Newark; Villanova University Alumni Association; Law firm of Murano
and Roth; Junior League of Bergen County; Callen-Lorde Community Health Center;
Friedwald Center for Rehabilitation; Neurology Group of Ridgewood; Hudson Valley
Historical Society; Church of the Assumption, Emerson NJ.
The wedding that Picnic catered for Victoria Hornbostel and Michael Scotto was featured in the Spring / Summer 2006 issue of New Jersey Bride magazine. You can also read about it on their web site at www.newjerseybride.com/realscotto.html.