It's a lovely time for a picnic, but you don't have to sit on the ground in a sweltering park to enjoy one. Picnic Provisions & Whiskey has reopened for those seeking upscale picnic fare created by Tory McPhail, Ti Martin, and Darryl Reginelli. The safe, clean, and adorable space on a tree-shaded corner of Magazine Street, not far from Audubon Park, has a spicy, salty, and savory menu that is irresistible.
For this midday meal, we were seated outside at a cute, classic patio table. We started off with the Gulf Coast Blue Crab Dip which featured large bits of tasty blue crab and was speared with huge, crunchy housemade saltine crackers and crudites. I could not get enough of the Cracked Crab & Grilled Corn Beignets served with a refreshing Thai basil mayo. They were more like Hush Puppies than beignets to me with the addition of the savory corn and the crunchy, crispy crust.
In between our rounds of delectable food, we imbibed on several ice cold cocktails including the Miss Ella Old Fashioned (sweeter than the average Old Fashioned which felt easier on the palette for the heat), Sangria, a Tequila Mockingbird with a spicy sugar rim, even an electric blue lemonade with a floating rubber ducky for the kids (or kids at heart).
The delightful General Manager Tori Mosby happened upon us to serve our entrees. We chose the White Meat Tenders with spicy mustard dipping sauce and The Picnic Crunch Salad piled high tomatoes, peppers, egg, Cajun bacon and croutons for crunch. This particular salad was made complete with jumbo lump crab. Both of our meals were served with a massive whiskey butter brushed biscuit that was hot and pillowy; they were clearly just baked. The star of this show was Noni's Kitchen Pepper Jelly straight out of Lafayette, Louisiana. Manager Mosby explained that this is the only restaurant in New Orleans to have it, and she was very proud of that fact.
For being on the scene for just less than two years, Picnic Provisions & Whiskey sure knows how to create an environment of old-school southern hospitality brimming with fun, friendliness, and southern-fried fare.
