By Bob Townsend

For the AJC

Atlantans love a picnic. We eat outdoors at concerts, family outings and movies in the park — even at Oakland Cemetery.

Stocking a cooler or basket for the occasion can be as easy as buying some beverages and a couple of sandwiches or a bucket of chicken.

But menus that are a bit more festive, offered by restaurants, caterers and fancy food shops, range from do-it-yourself deli to multicourse meals, assembled and ready to go complete with utensils.

Ryan Turner, co-owner of Muss & Turner’s deli and bistro in Smyrna, said regulars often stop in before concerts at Chastain Park or Mable House to pick up sandwiches, salads and desserts. But he prefers creating a complete catered experience for customers, who call or e-mail up to a week in advance to order the perfect picnic.

“That’s where we excel,” Turner said. “Our catering side is about doing custom meals based on what someone wants and what we know we can do well and will travel well. We hope people enjoy eating what we’ve prepared so much they’ll come back for lunch or dinner.”

When he’s not working, which is rare, Turner said he favors a simple picnic with his wife, foraged from the cases at Muss & Turner’s, Star Provisions or Whole Foods.

“I don’t picture little tea sandwiches,” Turner said. “For me, it’s more like a bottle of rose and some classic old world foods — cheeses, meats, olives and a loaf of bread. Simple good food that’s easy and can travel.”

Muss & Turner’s, 1675 Cumberland Parkway, Smyrna. 770-434-1114, www.mussandturners.com

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You can also try these places for your next picnic:

Alon’s Bakery Market

Beyond luscious sandwiches and lovely baked goods, you’ll find an array of prepared foods, cheeses and fine wine. Click “Picnic in the Park” on Alon’s Web site to choose from boxed meals that include an entree, two sides and dessert, with plastic ware and paper goods.

4505 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 678-397-1781, www.alons.com

Metro Fresh

Located within walking distance of Piedmont Park, Metro Fresh features a daily seasonal menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and dinner entrees. Better yet, for $10 plus the cost of the food, they’ll pack a picnic box, with plates, napkins, flatware, a tablecloth/ground cover and even a candle.

931 Monroe Circle, Atlanta. 404-724-0155, www.metrofreshatl.com

The Mercantile

Pick up beer, wine and daily lunch and dinner specials at the Mercantile, situated near Candler Park. Choose sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, sides, salads, house-made desserts and all sorts of fancy foods from the market for a DIY picnic.

1660 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta. 404-378-0096, themercantileatl.com

Star Provisions and Provisions to Go

Super gourmet marketplace Star Provisions has an amazing bakery and separate departments for wine, cheese and meat. Provisions to Go offers sandwiches and sides, pizza, prepared foods by the pound and whole roasted Harris Ranch chickens. Call ahead for box lunches.

1198 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. 404-365-0410, www.starprovisions.com

www.starprovisions.com

Sun in My Belly is a funky neighborhood cafe with sandwiches, salads, sides and desserts, and a catering business that offers sandwich baskets and entrees with sides. There’s a second location at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where you can order fancy picnic fare for the concert series.

2161 College Ave., Atlanta. 404-370-1088, www.suninmybelly.com

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Whole Foods picnic food and wine picks

Whole Foods Market has seven locations around metro Atlanta, including two Harry’s Farmers Markets.

Grab-and-go sandwiches, baked goods and snacks, as well as a big selection of beer and wine, make the stores an easy choice for putting together an impromptu picnic. But the prepared-food departments and catering specialists are happy to create platters and menus for a variety of budgets and special diets.

Summer picnic favorites from Whole Foods specialist Darrah Horgan include smoky Vidalia cheese dip, assorted wraps, cranberry tuna salad, strawberry watermelon basil salad and smoked mozzarella pasta salad.

Wine picks from Whole Foods regional wine and cheese buyer John David Harmon include Valle Reale Cerasuolo Montepulciano, an Italian screw cap rose, and Opala Vinho Verde, a soft, sparkling Portuguese white. Cabot Clothbound Cheddar and Metropolitain Triple Cream Brie are Harmon’s current cheese selections.