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AdobeStock/Yakobchuk Olena
A bucolic setting and some yummy grab-and-go eats are the main ingredients for a picnic or hike, and Westchester County has plenty of both.
Below is everything you need for a quick and easy a la carte meal for a day of splendor in the grass or on the trails at some of the county’s greenest and greatest spots.
Fuhgeddaboudit Deli, Bagel, Grill near Blue Mountain Reservation
241 Welcher Ave, Peekskill
Blue Mountain Reservation, known for its miles of biking trails, is also good for hiking, strolling, and picnics by the lake. A stone’s throw from the entrance to the park is Fuhgeddaboudit Deli, Bagel, Grill with staples and more. Start with the bagels, which can come with a variety of toppings, or go for the bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. If you’re feeling spicy, try the hot sausage and peppers.
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Giovanni’s Deli near Croton Point Park
43 Croton Point Ave, Croton-on-Hudson; 914.271.1010
The 508-acre Croton Point Park offers something for everyone with a beach, large fields, hiking trails, and even an RC aircraft field. Giovanni’s Deli, just off the Route 9 exit ramp to the park, is an Italian American deli serving traditional-yet-creative breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to go. Try the Ray Ray Liotta sandwich with grilled chicken, fresh mozzarella, artichoke, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar and EVOO or the Amalfi salad with mixed greens, prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and roasted peppers. Bring a sweet end to the outing with rice pudding.
Related: There’s So Much to Do Outside at Kensico Dam Plaza
Kensico Kitchen Deli near Kensico Dam Plaza
6 Broadway, Valhalla; 914.358.9333
Just as Kensico Dam is not any old dam (ICYMI: it’s 307 feet high and 1,843 feet long), Kensico Kitchen Deli is not any old delicatessen. While offering typical deli fare, its menu is spiced up with authentic Mexican breakfast and lunch items, including what some claim to be the best tacos in Westchester. For something special, try the grilled salmon tacos, but don’t overlook the empanadas or the Mexican combo sandwich.
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Avitabile Deli near Tibbetts Brook Park
1016 Mclean Ave, Yonkers; 914.237.2389
Tibbetts Brook Park is an anomaly, a natural oasis in the middle of Yonkers’ urban mix. So too is Avitabile Deli, an Italian deviation from the city’s Irish enclave of Mclean Ave that’s a fitting source for picnic supplies. Dry sausage, soppressata, and prosciutto hang from the ceiling, while a deli case features 15 different homemade salads. Avitabile is best known for its milky, fresh mozzarella. People come from near and far for the deli’s chicken parm and stromboli, and it’s hard to resist the seafood salad with shrimp, calamari, octopus, and crabmeat with lemon dressing.
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The Market at Pound Ridge Square near Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
55 Westchester Ave, Pound Ridge; 914.764.5736
As Westchester County’s largest park with 4,315 acres of varied terrain and landscapes and miles of wooded trails, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is perfect for a variety of activities, including a hike to Leatherman’s Cave. Shop The Market at Pound Ridge Square for creative, upscale deli items like the refreshing peach, bell pepper, and jicama salad, and check out the pastel rainbow cake for a picnic-worthy dessert. The old Leatherman never had it so good.
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