Tidbit: The Perfect Picnic

Strawberry Rhubarb Cupcakes; courtesy of Butters Cafe

Enamored as we are of the idea of eating on a stretch of grass with a gourmet basket of goodies at our fingertips, rarely do we have the forethought (or frankly, the energy) to produce a stellar line up of picnic snacks ready to go the moment the sun breaks free. But this year, we’ve found no need to go to all that trouble since a few of our favorite haunts are doing the prep work for us – with delicious results.

Sam’s at Louis
With precious, and spacious, real estate along the waterway, Sam’s is the perfect spot for a low-key weekend afternoon. Cob a squat with up to 12 friends and nosh on a selection of sandwiches, cold salads, desserts and non-alcoholic bevvies, as well as a blanket provided by the resto. ($15 per person; samsatlouis.com.)

Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro
No patio? No problem. BHHB will set you up with an entire meal packaged to go – all you have to do is find a spot to park. Order off either the lunch or dinner menu (available online) and they’ll pack it up along with a blanket for your journey (our pick is the Public Garden, a few steps away). Booze is not included, sadly, but you can grab a drink at the bar while you wait. (Picnic service is free aside from the cost of the meal. All items must be returned after dining; beaconhillhotel.com.)

Butter Cafe & Bakery
Get out of town with Butter’s “Backyard Bites,” a smorgasbord of house-made classics, from potato salad and pickles to corn-fried chicken and strawberry rhubarb cupcakes. They’ll “deluxe” that with steak tips, veggies, a s’mores kit, and your very own disposable grill. Both boxes are packed up with a disposable table cloths – meaning you can pick it up from their Walpole location before hitting up any of your favorite summer spots. (Regular box is $13 per person, deluxe is $29 per person; buttercafeandbakery.com.)