How to Plan the Perfect Picnic

Relax, it's just a picnic

A picnic can be simple or elegant, like any meal. Before planning the menu and making lists, think about who will be attending and the atmosphere you want to create. Are you expecting a large group, and do you need the food to stay fresh for several hours? Or is it an elegant garden banquet for a birthday? Whatever kind of picnic you're planning (unless it's a backyard barbecue), you need to be well-prepared and make lists. After all, napkins and corkscrews don't grow on trees.

Containers and bags

You might have a wonderful traditional picnic basket, or you might just want to bring some sturdy canvas bags with a flat bottom and a cooler. It's a good idea to bring at least one container to keep food cold, preferably insulated, plus a few ice packs. Plastic boxes are also a good alternative to bags.

Food

There's no "right food" for a picnic, but there are some dishes to avoid. Besides the obvious, like ice cream and tempura, deviled eggs are also a good option: they look great in a container at home, but at a picnic, they quickly turn into egg salad. You want simple, stable foods that don't require much handling at the picnic table. Choose dishes that won't get soggy, retain their flavor at room temperature, and are easy to eat with your hands or a fork. Below are some easy-to-transport options. And remember, many of these require a cooler.

Recipe: Warm picnic burritos: burritos de machaca

Appetizers

Most picnics don't necessarily follow the traditional "appetizer-salad-main course-dessert" sequence. Some people might be eating a cold chicken leg while others are enjoying pastries. But if you're planning a leisurely picnic in a picturesque setting, it's a good idea to prepare appetizers that can be eaten before the main course.

A few toppings for crostini or bruschetta (such as goat cheese and chimichurri sauce with onions, or baked garlic) plus toasted baguette slices brushed with olive oil - an easy DIY appetizer. Vegetable frittata slices (pictured) or frittata with smoked salmon and cream cheese You can also eat with your hands.

The secret is in simplicity

Whether indoors or outdoors, a cheese plate with slices of bread or crackers and, for example, olives, gherkins, fruit jams, nuts and dried fruits will always come in handy.

Dips and sliced ​​vegetables for dipping are also an easy way to start a picnic. Try creamy avocado dip, edamame pesto, or hummus with sour cream and onions. Or take some with you. salsa like corn or mint with pineapple and jalapeno, plus tortillas or rice chips.

Vegetable side dishes and salads

If you're using green salads with tender lettuce, pack the dressing separately and add it on the spot. Alternatively, consider using side dishes and salads made with firmer vegetables.

Side dishes of cereals and pasta

A hearty salad with barley, millet, spelt, rice, couscous, whole wheat, or pasta is a great picnic dish. Whole grains are very popular these days, so there are plenty of great recipes to choose from. And don't forget about potato salads, especially mayonnaise-free ones, which stand up well to the heat.

Main courses

Again, this is all subjective, as the aforementioned vegetable and grain dishes and salads can very well be considered staples, especially for vegetarians. It all comes down to your tastes—the dishes you don't mind eating cold or at room temperature.

Recipe: Perfect deep-fried chicken

Dessert

Layer cake and rich fruit pie are probably best left at home. But slab cakes and cookies are good choices.

Recipe: Dulce de leche filled cookies

Drinks

Here are the basic options:

1) Drinks in cans or bottles. (If your picnic is in a public place, check if glass bottles are allowed.)

2) Thermoses with prepared drinks: iced tea, lemonade, sangria with or without alcohol. To keep the drinks cold, fill them with plenty of ice.

Collection: Summer Drink and Cocktail Recipes

Wine

If you're planning on bringing wine, consider a boxed wine—there are several excellent options available right now. Try Maipe, La Petite Frog, Bota Box, Wine Cube, or Bandit. There's also Seven Daughters, which comes in cans.

Disposable or reusable tableware?

This is an important question, and only you can answer it. For a small group, it's worth choosing reusable tableware: it's usually nicer to look at and a more environmentally friendly choice (though keep in mind that washing all those plates, utensils, and glasses will take time and effort). For a larger gathering, you can use disposable tableware. Or perhaps you'll choose a combination of both.

Packaging process

It's a good idea to lay out everything you plan to take in front of you, placing the heaviest and most durable items at the bottom and the lighter and more fragile ones on top. This is the only way to avoid the hassle of constantly rearranging the contents, or the watermelon ending up on top of the cupcakes. If possible, place a picnic blanket on top—it's the first thing you'll reach for once you're there! When packing perishable items in a cooler, make sure they're chilled and placed with ice or ice packs. Larger ice chunks will defrost more slowly.

At a picnic

Place coolers in the shade to keep their contents cold longer. Try to serve perishable foods, especially mayonnaise-based dishes, on a table or blanket located in the shade.

Make a list

What could be worse than preparing and packing the most delicious food, only to discover you've forgotten your plates or forks when you get there? Create a checklist a few days before the picnic—it's the best way to ensure you don't forget anything.

Picnic List

For carrying and placement:

• Picnic basket or canvas bag
  
• Cooler
  
• Picnic blanket (preferably with a waterproof bottom)
  
• Picnic chairs (if anyone in your group doesn't want to sit on the ground)
  
• A portable picnic table (if you're having that kind of picnic!)

For serving:

• Plates
  
• Tableware (including serving dishes)
  
• Napkins
  
• Cups
  
• Drinks (including plenty of water)
  
• Opener
  
• Cutting board (also useful as a flat serving surface, ideal for drinks)
  
• A sharp knife (even if you don't plan on cutting, this is still a good idea)
  
• Salt and pepper
  
• Mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, etc., if needed (great way to use up those disposable packets from fast food restaurants)

For cleaning:

• Paper towels (and possibly wet wipes)
  
• Several kitchen towels (useful for carrying hot food)
  
• Additional plastic containers or heavy-duty zip-lock bags for storing dirty dishes, leftovers, etc.
  
• Garbage bags

Other essentials:

• Sunscreen
  
• Headwear
  
• Insect repellent
  
• Lantern (if you plan to go out in the evening)
  
• Sports or entertainment equipment (Frisbees, balls, bubbles, water guns... anything that a large group enjoys)