When you pack your next picnic, make sure to bring along these locally made bites and beverages. They’re all you need for a day spent snacking in the sun.
CAFFEINATE
The Manassas-based roaster pre-mixes its cold brew concentrate for a coffee drinkable straight from the bottle. // Cold brew coffee by Monument Coffee Roasters: four-pack and individual bottles at local stores and farmers markets and online.
SLICE
With a chef and market on-site, Willowsford Farm is not only where to find fruit pies, crumbles and crostatas (strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, peach … ) but also where to set up a picnic amongst the raised garden beds. // Pies, etc. at Willowsford Farm‘s Farm Stand in Ashburn
SIP
Effervescent like cider but sweeter, this Leesburg honey mead brings light sparkle. // Honey Grail Boudica’s Uprising at Brew LoCo in Lansdowne
VEG OUT
Grab portable composed salads (fresh for seven days) by CoolMama. Rake the lettuce into a bowl, shake the rest of the toppings with the dressing still in the mason jar, and then pour it back over the greens. Combinations include a spinach salad with candied almonds and goat cheese and a country garden salad with roasted cauliflower, asparagus and colby jack cheese. // Mason jar salads by CoolMama (pictured right): Available at Blend Coffee Bar in Ashburn or for delivery.
DOUSE
The Bone and Heritage Brewing Company, both out of Manassas, combined to release a collection of barbecue sauces and hot sauces, including Virginia Red Hot Sauce, a sweet-hot three-pepper blend mixed with Freedom Isn’t Free IPA. // Virginia Red Hot Sauce: available at The Brew Shop in Arlington and The Bone’s online store.
SNACK
The team behind Ashburn’s Apinya hot sauces now offers Thai-inspired snacks. Chewy like a granola bar, these bites combine peanut, puffed rice and coconut milk in flavors like Chili Lime Peanut and Mango Cashew Coconut. // Krayasart by Apinya Thai Foods Co.
CARB LOAD
A slow-fermented, sourdough-like loaf dubbed M Bread bakes up to 4 feet long and can feed about 60 people. Good thing—it costs $60. // M Bread from Bread and Water in Alexandria: It’s best to call ahead. (Chunks are available for $12.)
