Lazy Fancy Picnic
there is no task I take more seriously than picnic packer, and the recipes to match my enthusiasm
If you live in LA, it’s bowl season that’s the Hollywood Bowl. Concerts and shows lined up weekly and the best part of the bowl is that they allow, in-fact encourage picnics. For me, it’s half the fun of going. But just ask my friend’s bowl or not, I take the task of picnic packer seriously; beach days, concert days, or catching a flic at Cinespia (another highlight of LA summers). Summer kicks off this weekend so I thought I’d share a mix of go-to recipes, picnic strategy and essentials for all my fellow outdoor enthusiasts.
What You’ll Need
Call me crazy, when I pack a picnic I use everything I would set a table with at home, it just makes the whole experience more pleasurable and memorable. These enamel plates are perfect for outdoor entertaining and picnics, as well as these enamel tumblers for the beverage of choice. I also always pack whatever old, sorta-stained linen napkins I have, and real cutlery. I do not believe in disposables, even the “chic” bamboo kind. I don’t enjoy eating off of them and after a single use it’s all waste in the end. I try and keep a stash of plates, napkins, tumblers with my cooler so it’s a quick grab.
For coolers, buy into the Yeti hype, I have the hard cooler for beach days and road trips, and the backpack for smaller adventures. I would even buy this smaller Yeti for solo or duo adventures, but I was given this Business & Pleasure as a gift and it does exactly what I need, so use what you have.
As for the containers at home, I use glass, but have found these to Rubbermaid Containers be the best – lightweight and convenient to tetris into a cooler.
(there is no commission on most of the above items but I love them, and highly recommend)
What To Eat
What takes a picnic and makes it lazy-fancy is the food (and the set-up). Casual, yet tasty fare is how I like to cook and entertain at home and the same goes for a picnic.
I love cheese & charcuterie but I don’t believe in meals solely based on cured meats and cheese. Thus a bit cheese (and a cured meat if you fancy) should be included, but my recommendation is stick to one or two semi-hard or hard cheese, and pack some more satisfying food.
Sandwiches, are high on my list of favorite things to eat, but they can get smashed, soggy and often not consumed at their prime (I can be very goldilocks about the bread) so my second choice for a picnic.
Antipasti is my go-to for a picnic. My families restaurant, Mangia in New York is known for their Antipasti bar, and is certainly the reason why I love it. Antipasti is generally the “first course” but Italian meals are hours long, and often the regional Antipasti dishes can be turned into a dinner (aka Aperi-Cena aperitivo + cena dinner) and what you’d find at some of the great wine bars in Italy. The term captures a variety of grain and/or vegetables salads, protein salads, all served room temperature and therefore ideal for a picnic.
Last but not least dips & things, crackers, and maybe some crudite.
Of course something sweet: always. Chocolate Chip Cookies, my all-time favorite are still Alison Roman’s Salted Chocolate Shortbread, or brownies, or maybe peak-season fruit, I had cherries last weekend, or an incredible, fancy chocolate bar.
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