I love going to Tanglewood. It really doesn’t matter who is playing at the western Mass. summer home of the Boston Symphony — although I have a thang for violinist Joshua Bell. It’s all about the picnic on the lawn.
A picnic on the lawn at Tanglewood. (Photo courtesy of BSO)
Now, this isn’t tailgating. No one throws open the trunk of the Prius, pitches a canopy tent and throws ribs on a Weber. It’s all very civilized. Yes, there are coolers, but they’re likely filled with artisan cheese and pricey craft brews instead of Cracker Barrel and Bud Light. Come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen a NPR beer koozie at Tanglewood but I know they exist…
Some Lenox lawn regulars go all out for their concert repast — candelabras, linen napkins and flower arrangements. But, really, who can afford the sherpa to schlep it all through the gates? Maybe Yo-Yo Ma, but he’s eating backstage.
After a three year absence, my husband and I finally returned to the lawn in front of the Koussevitzky Shed the other night for a taping of “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,” the über popular NPR news quiz show. Host Peter Sagal‘s no Joshua Bell, but I do so long to win Carl Kasell‘s voice on my “home answering machine”…
We arrived at Tanglewood two hours before the taping began. I knew it was going to be a successful evening after we were given free lawn tickets by two generous souls and we scored a primo picnic spot with an unrestricted view of the high-def screen.
During the three-hour trip to Lenox, I practiced the stink-eye I’d give to fellow lawn-dwellers with children and large groups with blankets and beach chairs. That proved to be time well spent — except for that Charlie Pierce groupie who slipped in behind us when it got dark. Grr.
My Whole Foods messenger-style cooler bag was like the proverbial clown car.
Spicy Gazpacho with French bread ‘croutons’
Wedged in between freezer blocks, I had two small thermoses of the CIA‘s spicy gazpacho, containers of French bread toasts and dressed, sliced cherry tomatoes as well as a log of Vermont Creamery goat cheese.
The main event was a classic lobster salad served on Seven Stars Bakery‘s Italian durum rolls — available at the Fruit Center Marketplace — and sliced pickling cukes that arrived in our CSA basket that very morning.
The Gladware of watermelon cubes I packed went untouched. But later on for dessert, we had Chunky Lola cookies from Flour with cups of not-so-steaming-hot tea. Hey, it gets damp out there on the lawn listening to the cackle of Charlie’s superfan. And besides that, we’re nerds.
Classic Lobster Salad on Seven Stars’ Italian Durum Rolls
We eschewed the candelabras and vases for a waaaay-too-tiny table draped with a French linen napkin as well as a smallish bread board which proved invaluable. (I’d really be a horrible camper. I need counters.) The wooden board, rolls, a sheathed bread knife, paper goods, plastic cutlery, a small trash bag, bug repellant, a roll of paper towel and a thermos of tea were toted in a large canvas bag.
Wait, wait, did I mention I needed Advil for my aching shoulders and back the next morning?
Of course, we could have just stopped at Guido’s Fresh Marketplace to grab pre-made sandwiches or a container of hummus and pita chips to snack on before the show. But, as we all know, readers, that’s no fun at all…
Tags: #gazpacho, #lobster, #picnics, #summerfood, #Tanglewood