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Picnic and Pantry
Northside | 4163 Hamilton Ave | Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 | 513-681-8600
Located at the Patio Porch next to Northside Tavern
About Us
In late May 2010, Melt Eclectic Deli in Northside opened Picnic and Pantry in the former Hideaway Restaurant space, next to The Northside Tavern. Picnic and Pantry is a small neighborhood market which focuses on essential groceries, fresh produce, and prepared foods. Think of it as an art supply store for your culinary needs, as well as a quick healthy meal option! We carry high quality staples like milk, eggs, meats, produce, and breads, but also have the ingredients you need to bake a cake, or build an impressive array of party platters.
Meal options include ready to-go sandwiches and salads. Using our store's quality ingredients, we stock the shelves and grab-and-go cooler with vibrant meals (or meal "starters") that you can take home, or eat on the patio!
Picnic and Pantry brings a fresh and local spin to your lunch or party. Specializing in the homegrown menu mentality, Picnic and Pantry strongly supports the use of sustainable products and offers biodegradable dishes, cutlery and practices a drop off/pick up of fine platters that will enhance any meal.
Meal options include ready to-go sandwiches and salads. Using our store's quality ingredients, we stock the shelves and grab-and-go cooler with vibrant meals (or meal "starters") that you can take home, or eat on the patio!
Picnic and Pantry brings a fresh and local spin to your lunch or party. Specializing in the homegrown menu mentality, Picnic and Pantry strongly supports the use of sustainable products and offers biodegradable dishes, cutlery and practices a drop off/pick up of fine platters that will enhance any meal.
About Our Staff
A collaboration of chefs lead the menu development for the ready-to-eat, take-home gourmet foods, desserts, and our seasonal catering menu. Our super friendly sales team keeps our store looking great, and supports the creative focus of our chefs everyday.
Lisa Kagen: Lisa is the Sole Proprietor and General Manager of Picnic and Pantry, and Melt. She is also the proud mother of her two children, Simon and Olivia. Lisa earned her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design in 1996. The span of her career has explored the worlds of retail, food service industry, freelance art, and a strong interest in urban planning through entrepreneurship. She has always been fascinated with the alchemy of all mediums, food security, and strengthening the economy through small business.
Katie Whitaker: Katie is Picnic & Pantry’s Retail Manager, and is the primary buyer and director of customer service. Katie has had years of experience as a sous chef, line chef, artist, and member of Melt's front of house staff prior to her position at Picnic and Pantry. She earned her BFA from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. She is dedicated to our mission to support local farmers and purveyors, while promoting our own house made products. Katie is very thorough, thoughtful, friendly, and brings a vast culinary knowledge to our table everyday.
Frances Kroner: Frances was the first and original co-creator with Lisa Kagen in May of 2010, to build the foundation of recipes we utilize daily. She is a graduate of the Midwest Culinary Institute. Frances is currently our part-time pastry chef, and designs specialty caterings & food events. She has a knack for fusing new flavors & ingredients, or revealing the flavor of a vegetable or grain with thoughtful simplicity & style. She and her husband are proud parents of their son Avington, who was just recently born in January! AKA “Frannie”, many of you may know of her amazing contributions to the Northside community through her years at Slims restaurant, two years managing the Northside Farmer’s Market, and her own brainchild: FEAST-Breaking Bread with the Creatives.
John Wales: Executive Chef and commissary manager, continues to lead menu development and prep execution with owner Lisa Kagen for the Melt menu as well as Picnic and Pantry. His passion in sustainable living, farming, baking, and preserving his own food at home with wife Melanie has been a wonderful compliment to his work as a chef with our stores.
Drew Chestnut: Drew joined Picnic and Pantry's chef collaborative in January 2012, assisting in the supervision of commissary management, and menu development. Drew's interests in culinary alchemy, farming, sustainable living and woodworking have become valuable influences in his work, offering solutions and efficient methods to our creative team.
Both John and Drew have been steadfast creative team members with Melt since 2007, and are fabulous chefs & urban farmers! They are quite the brainy alchemists-almost like having Alton Brown in your kitchen everyday!
Marie Songer:Marie has also joined Picnic and Pantry's chef collaborative, assisting in the supervision of commissary management, and menu development. She has been a creative team leader at Melt since the summer of 2009, and is a very soulful, thoughtful artist no matter what she does!
Mollie Wheeldon: Mollie is our assistant Retail Manager, and has been with Picnic and Pantry since summer of 2011. She is a very welcome addition to our team, bringing years of excellent customer experience and kitchen experience to the table. Mollie excels in assisting Katie Whitaker with providing fluent, clear communication between sales & commissary. She also creates and sells her own line of Plumebella natural beauty & body care products sold exclusively at our store!
Lisa Kagen: Lisa is the Sole Proprietor and General Manager of Picnic and Pantry, and Melt. She is also the proud mother of her two children, Simon and Olivia. Lisa earned her BFA from Savannah College of Art and Design in 1996. The span of her career has explored the worlds of retail, food service industry, freelance art, and a strong interest in urban planning through entrepreneurship. She has always been fascinated with the alchemy of all mediums, food security, and strengthening the economy through small business.
Katie Whitaker: Katie is Picnic & Pantry’s Retail Manager, and is the primary buyer and director of customer service. Katie has had years of experience as a sous chef, line chef, artist, and member of Melt's front of house staff prior to her position at Picnic and Pantry. She earned her BFA from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. She is dedicated to our mission to support local farmers and purveyors, while promoting our own house made products. Katie is very thorough, thoughtful, friendly, and brings a vast culinary knowledge to our table everyday.
Frances Kroner: Frances was the first and original co-creator with Lisa Kagen in May of 2010, to build the foundation of recipes we utilize daily. She is a graduate of the Midwest Culinary Institute. Frances is currently our part-time pastry chef, and designs specialty caterings & food events. She has a knack for fusing new flavors & ingredients, or revealing the flavor of a vegetable or grain with thoughtful simplicity & style. She and her husband are proud parents of their son Avington, who was just recently born in January! AKA “Frannie”, many of you may know of her amazing contributions to the Northside community through her years at Slims restaurant, two years managing the Northside Farmer’s Market, and her own brainchild: FEAST-Breaking Bread with the Creatives.
John Wales: Executive Chef and commissary manager, continues to lead menu development and prep execution with owner Lisa Kagen for the Melt menu as well as Picnic and Pantry. His passion in sustainable living, farming, baking, and preserving his own food at home with wife Melanie has been a wonderful compliment to his work as a chef with our stores.
Drew Chestnut: Drew joined Picnic and Pantry's chef collaborative in January 2012, assisting in the supervision of commissary management, and menu development. Drew's interests in culinary alchemy, farming, sustainable living and woodworking have become valuable influences in his work, offering solutions and efficient methods to our creative team.
Both John and Drew have been steadfast creative team members with Melt since 2007, and are fabulous chefs & urban farmers! They are quite the brainy alchemists-almost like having Alton Brown in your kitchen everyday!
Marie Songer:Marie has also joined Picnic and Pantry's chef collaborative, assisting in the supervision of commissary management, and menu development. She has been a creative team leader at Melt since the summer of 2009, and is a very soulful, thoughtful artist no matter what she does!
Mollie Wheeldon: Mollie is our assistant Retail Manager, and has been with Picnic and Pantry since summer of 2011. She is a very welcome addition to our team, bringing years of excellent customer experience and kitchen experience to the table. Mollie excels in assisting Katie Whitaker with providing fluent, clear communication between sales & commissary. She also creates and sells her own line of Plumebella natural beauty & body care products sold exclusively at our store!
