LENOX — Abby Fenton has a penchant for picnics. She grew up in Lenox with a Tanglewood-loving mother whose elaborate picnics could be counted on to include fresh flowers and a proper tablecloth. During COVID, Fenton dove head first into casual outdoor get-togethers as a way to stay safely connected to family and friends — including sisters (and now business partners) Heather Meister Dremak and Jennifer Meister Knodler. Today, this trio of entrepreneurs is taking their shared love of outdoor entertaining and running with it — quite literally — to myriad (undisclosed) Berkshire locales where they delight in revealing their gem of an idea, Berkshire Picnics.
“We all love food and the challenge of finding creative ways to make a picnic really delicious,” Knodler told The Edge. She and Dremak, who hail from nearby Schodack, New York, grew up hiking, skiing, and day-tripping throughout the region. Each and every excursion featured picnic food (with nary a PB&J in sight). “We try to pack really delicious things [such as] turkey meatball lettuce wraps with Thai chili sauce [tucked] in a Ziploc baggie,” Knodler explained, in a nod to a tradition they’ve kept alive. Hence, the trio’s knack for creating celebrations for people of all ages while showcasing the extensive back yard that is the Berkshires (and sharing their favorite spots … but maybe not all of them).
A quick trip to their website and one thing becomes evident: Berkshire Picnics is all about curating an experience, not just a meal. Options to choose from include brunch, lunch, and dinner in locales ranging from Tanglewood to your own back yard. In addition to covering all the details (including appetizers and farm-to-table seasonal menu selections, local beer and wine, and a make-your-own-cocktail bar), Berkshire Picnics leaves you in the lurch (in an entirely good way) as to where your party will lunch (or brunch, or dine, depending on the selected time frame).
Suffice it to say, it’s an elevated experience (akin to the gourmet sandwiches Fenton’s “foodie family” munched on when she was younger). And the best part is that each picnic has a “big reveal” moment, where guests finally learn of their locale — think lake view, forest view, trailside, or public park (just to name a few). “[The local] nonprofits have been welcoming,” the owners said, referring to spots such as Berkshire Botanical Garden and The Norman Rockwell Museum, both in Stockbridge, both of which allow for parties requiring handicapped accessible facilities and a not-so-strenuous jaunts to the picnic site. Regardless of where you land, rest assured: a meticulous spread of stylized decor, flatware, plates, napkins, drinkware, seating, blankets, umbrella, conversation cards, and even a Bluetooth speaker will be waiting for you upon arrival. Plus, it’s a start-to-finish experience, which means you can wipe set-up and break-down worries from your mind.
Feeling low on creativity? Perhaps the Tanglewood option is for you (think wagon-packed with all the trimmings, waiting for you at the Main Gate), or try the Pizza and Beverages (gourmet, wood-fired pizzas paired with an amazing view). Arriving to the 413 at the end of a long work week? Berkshire Picnics will spread their blanket in the back yard of your Airbnb or weekend rental, requiring that you simply show up and kick off your shoes. “[Now] that’s a pretty magical way to arrive [to the Berkshires]!” Fenton said.
To date, Berkshire Picnics have entertained all sorts of bookings — from couples-only to groups of girls, and “all sorts of elaborate asks coming our way,” said the owners. While the details vary from picnic to picnic, one thing remains constant: these businesswomen are connecting the dots to “marry it all together … and make [each excursion] unique.” Interest has been high, coming “faster and quicker than we expected,” Fenton admitted, but in a good way. “It’s proof that this is something people are happy to have.”
It’s a fine line between picnics and catering, both when it comes to food and finessing the finer details. Lend an ear, and the idea behind Berkshire Picnics is bound to leave a good taste behind: “We are combining all the things we love to do on our own,” Fenton said, “plus making the experience accessible, and memorable, for those around us — one they will want to come back to.”
