Summer is the best time to enjoy some fresh air with a delicious dish in hand, whether you're hosting a large picnic with friends or simply enjoying your weeknight dinner on the roof terrace. Packing your meal in a basket and heading to your nearest park, beach, lake, or other scenic spot for a picnic is one of the most enjoyable ways to enjoy food outside. While a picnic is a casual way to eat, there are a few ways to make it more formal, beginning with the foods and beverages you bring. Here's an overview of what to make and bring to a picnic, as well as how to set it up at your picnic location.
Of course, a picnic begins with the food. The best picnic dishes withstand the heat, are easy to transport, and require only a few finishing touches once you arrive at your picnic spot. The majority of your meals should be completely prepared at home and ready to eat once you unpack.
Plan Your Food
Choose items that everyone can eat without forks or plates, such as meats, cheeses, and finger food appetisers. Then, if you want to make it a meal, add at least two more filling main elements and bring the cutlery or plates—but neither of these dishes should require a lot of cutting or work.
Another thing to keep in mind when creating your menu is to include a variety of colours and textures. It's the visual of a meal that first entices us to eat, and in the summer, when there's a bounty of colourful vegetables and fruits, it's easy to bring colour to your picnic meal, whether that's with bright red wedges of watermelon or a colourful carrot, cucumber, and fruits to accompany your meats and cheeses.
Plan Your Drinks
You'll also need something to quench everyone's thirst, so bring some beverages to your picnic. Pack bottles of lemonade in your cooler and serve with sliced citrus for a high-end touch.
Make a pitcher cocktail, keep it cool in a thermos, and serve. Bring a container with the garnish—it adds a special touch. A pro tip is to bring a mocktail that can be turned into a cocktail so that everyone can enjoy it, whether they want to drink alcohol or not. Consider the heat when choosing a cocktail, and choose something thirst-quenching and low in alcohol.
Essentials
Consider what you'll need to serve your food and drinks once you arrive at your picnic spot. For small bites and finger food, light wooden or bamboo cutting boards are ideal. Main courses and desserts can be served in the dish that they were prepared in, and mason jars are ideal for serving condiments. Get lightweight trays to place beneath the food to keep it contained on the sheet. Bring stackable, lightweight, and difficult-to-break cups for beverages. Bring a washable tote bag or reuse your picnic basket as a food disposal container.