Picnic and Pantry bringing specialty food market to Northside

The popular Melt Eclectic Deli in Northside will be opening up a new business just down the street in the former Hideaway Restaurant space later this Spring.  The new micro market, called Picnic & Pantry, will offer specialty foods that follow the same Melt ethos of foods that are free of trans-fats, high fructose corn syrup, refined sugars and flours, MSG, hormones, antibiotics and other unnatural preservatives.

"We have been wanting to do this for the past couple of years so that we could provide a conduit for these local purveyors," said Melt owner and Northside resident Lisa Kagen.

Kagen plans to open the new market sometime in May 2010, and has plans to offer even more after the business gets started.  Future plans include weekend dinner reservations for themed dinners prepared by Picnic & Pantry's staff that will showcase a local chef's prix fixe menu, as well as, Saturday morning cooking classes featuring seasonal foods and specialty products sold at the market.  One of the immediate goals though is to start selling authentic Mexican street foods through the store during the day, and through the large porch window facing Northside Tavern's patio at night.

"We really like working together and plan on doing a little taco stand at the window at night," said Kagen about Picnic & Pantry's market chef, Frances "Frannie" Kroner.  "It seems like a really fresh idea for Cincinnati that is already done in city's like Portland, Pittsburgh and New York City, and it should be a very exciting aspect of the market."

Kroner will join Picnic & Pantry after having worked at Slims Restaurant for three years, managing the Northside Farmers Market for two years, and starting FEAST - Breaking Bread with the Creatives.  She will work on menu development of Picnic & Pantry's ready-to-eat and take-home gourmet foods in addition to the market's seasonal catering menu.

The food sold and prepared at the micro market will be local and organic as much as possible, according to Kagen, and will be used in a way that will compliment Melt just a few doors up the street.

"Melt is splitting at the seams and this will allow us to move our catering and 'grab-n-go' foods here," said Kagen.  "Everything at the market will be completely fresh and nothing will go to waste.  We will either use it in the food products we prepare, sell it or compost what is left over and can't be used."

Picnic & Pantry will sell local eggs, meats, dairy, breads, honey, packaged foods, desserts and 50 percent of their produce.  The market will also sell locally roasted coffee, grains, spices, sweeteners and baking supplies, organic canned goods, eco-friendly household cleaning supplies and paper products, specialty oils and vinegars, and other items.

Picnic & Pantry will be open Monday through Saturday 10am to 6pm, and Sunday 10am to 4pm.  Once the market gets settled in Kagen hopes to start selling the Mexican street food during normal business hours and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.  Those interested can get a sneak peek at the products to be offered at Picnic & Pantry this Saturday, April 17 at the Crafty Supermarket being held at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center from 11am to 6pm.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by Scott Beseler
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