Elizabeth Keyser photo

Cheese and fruit from the supermarket, La Vielle Ferme ($12.99 for 1.5 liters) and cold cuts from the Hungarian Meat Market in Fairfield

In Fairfield County, the choices of what to bring on a picnic are as varied as the choices of places to have them — on state, town and private beaches; by lakes; on boats; in the woods; or in our own backyards, porches and decks.

People heading out for a day on Candlewood Lake stop at the Full Belly Deli (56 Padanaram Rd., Danbury, (203) 778-3354) for the fixings for a casual picnic. The Valley Angler, a tackle shop, is next door, making it easy for fishermen to pick up lunch. Full Belly Deli prides itself on serving healthy food, says owner Savuth In. "We concentrate on soups, salads, sandwiches. No fried food, burgers or hot dogs." The most popular salad is grilled chicken Parmesan with penne and peppercorn dressing, served on a bed of lettuce with red seedless grapes, mandarin orange segments and celery. The most popular sandwich is grilled chicken pesto with fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, lettuce and pesto mayonnaise. And there are plenty of places nearby to enjoy nature. The town park and beach are up the street, and the Squantz Pond State Park is a stone's throw away.

Or what could be better than a simple picnic of a basket (or brown paper bag) of cheese, cured meat, fruit, bread and wine? The newest fine cheese shop on the scene is Fairfield Cheese Company (2090 Post Rd., Fairfield, (203) 292-8194). Co-owner Laura Downey has suggestions for excellent cheeses that are perfect for a picnic. Tumbleweed Raw Cow's Milk Cheese, from Pennsylvania, is a cheddar-like cheese with a grassy flavor. St. Bridgid's Abbey, from Cato Corner in Colchester, is a creamy cow-milk cheese. Beltane Farm Cheese, in Lebanon, makes Danse de la Lune, slightly aged goat cheese with a bloomy rind. Downey also carries Isabelle and Vincent's locally made bread. "It's a delicious, authentic French baguette," she says.

With it, she'd drink a "nice crisp Sauvignon Blanc." Go next door to Harry's Wine and Liquor Market and pick up a couple of bottles. The staff will help you pick the perfect wines to go with your picnic — a Villa Maria 2008 Sauvignon Blanc for the St. Brigid's Abbey, Monpertuis Cote du Rhone 2007 ($17) for the Tumbleweed cheese, Lancyre Pic-Saint Loup Rose 2008 ($15) for the goat-milk cheese.