Forget The Soggy Fried Chicken And The Ants: Here's How To Picnic In Style
Forget the Soggy Fried Chicken and the Ants: Here’s How to Picnic in Style
Glamorous picnicking may sound like an oxymoron, but we promise that it really is possible. With the right equipment, an easily accessible location, and simple, yet elegant dishes, you can host a picnic that is just as sophisticated as a dinner party would be. Find a beautiful spot in the dappled sunlight, which is easily accessible by car or a short walk, and, with your wicker picnic basket filled with chilled wine, cheese, bread, and summertime salads, set out your blanket, and settle in for the afternoon. Many hours of nibbling on the tastiest meal, sipping on refreshing drinks, and basking in the sun's rays will lead to the happiest of summer days.
Equipment: Chairs and Tables
An extravagant picnic shouldn't involve sitting in the wet grass and eating food off your lap. Set up some foldable chairs and a small table to transform your picnic into a beautiful outdoor feast.
Equipment: Flatware, Crockery, and Glassware
By exchanging paper plates, plastic knives and forks, and disposable cups for proper flatware, ceramic plates, and either normal glasses, or stylish shatterproof wine glasses like these ones, you'll instantly transform your picnic from a basic, rustic lunch, into an elegant al fresco meal.
Equipment: Perfect Picnic Basket
Don't shove all your picnic essentials and food into a random collection of backpacks, plastic bags, and tote bags. Pack everything neatly and carefully, and place it in a beautiful, old-fashioned, wicker picnic basket to make your picnic even more classic and impressive.
Equipment: Picnic Blanket
Even if you're going to be sitting on chairs, no picnic can begin without a blanket being spread out on the ground. Make sure it's big enough to comfortably accommodate everybody, and is so soft that you can't even feel the itchy grass through it.
Equipment: Well-Chilled Drinks
Warm wine, beer, cocktails, and soft drinks should not feature at any stylish picnic. Make sure your drinks are well chilled before you leave, and keep them either in a cooler on ice, or wrapped up in a frozen wine cooler.
Savory: Arugula Salad
Fresh, crunchy, spicy greens, served with a salty coppa, and sprinkled with nutty pecorino cheese makes the most delicate of salads, which perfectly matches every other picnic dish.
For the Arugula Salad With Coppa and Pecorino recipe, click here.
Savory: Charcuterie Board
Set out a selection of cured meats, hams, and cheese with various pickles and maybe some jams, and let everyone pick on the tasty, moreish slices of meat, throughout the afternoon.
Savory: Dips With Crudités
A selection of homemade dips such as hummus, whipped feta, and smoky baba ghanoush, served with crudités and vegetable chips make a tasty, easy, and pretty array of appetizers to serve at your picnic, and balance out the richness of all the meat and cheese.
Savory: Fresh Focaccia
You're going to need some carbohydrates to accompany all the platters of cured meats and crunchy salads. Serving fresh bread is the best and tastiest way to fill this gap. We love taking oil- and herb-covered focaccia for an indulgent, delicious, and totally shareable addition to your picnic.
Savory: Heirloom Tomato Caprese
Summer's beautiful heirloom tomatoes, mixed with creamy mozzarella, and topped with basil and a sweet vinaigrette will be everybody's favorite salad, especially when served alongside that focaccia and the wonderful charcuterie.
Savory: Japanese Cucumber Salad
This crunchy Japanese cucumber salad makes an elegantly refreshing addition to your picnic menu.
Savory: Nuts, Olives, Pickles
Set out roasted nuts, salty olives, and vinegary pickles for everybody to nibble on. Small bowlfuls of these treats will provide a perfect accompaniment to the cheese and charcuterie, and will be really enjoyed when accompanied by a glass of crisp rosé.
Savory: Porchetta
Porchetta is one roast meat that is wonderful when served at room temperature, making it perfect for picnics.
Savory: Seasonings and Dressings
Having a picnic should not lead to bland or dry food. Remember to pack little pots of salt and pepper, some extra-virgin olive oil and some lemon juice, so people can season their own food as they like.
Savory: Sesame-Spinach Onigiri
These Japanese rice balls are picnic-perfect: easily transportable, perfect for eating with your hands, and such an interesting, exciting, and novel picnic dish.
Savory: Summer Chickpea Salad
A delicate chickpea, tomato, and corn salad, coated in a sweet, citrusy dressing, is the perfect pretty and tasty accompaniment to all your picnic meats, cheeses, and leafy green salads.
Savory: Zucchini Pasta With Almond Pesto
Don't get weighed down by too many carbohydrates, and don't force yourself to eat piles of stodgy, gloopy pasta salad, by swapping the pasta for zucchini noodles tossed in a fresh, vibrant pesto.
For the Zucchini Pasta With Almond Pesto recipe, click here.
Sweet: Blueberry Coffee Cake
End your picnic with a simple cake filled with bursting blueberries, and topped with a crumbling streusel.
Sweet: Fresh Berries and Cream
Bowls filled with summer berries, sprinkled with a tablespoonful of sugar, and maybe topped with whipped cream are the ultimate simple picnic dessert.
Sweet: Homemade Red Velvet Oreos
At a stylish picnic, nothing should come out of a packet. Swap those store-bought cookies for homemade versions of everybody's favorite: Oreos.
Sweet: Puff Pastry Strawberry Tart
For the most grown-up ending to your elegant picnic, slice up this simple, summery puff pastry strawberry tart at the end of the meal.