The Art Of Picnics
Helen Young
To have a picnic is to eat a meal out of doors. The idea of having picnics is said to date back to Medieval England, when eating lavish banquets and feasts in the woods was a favourite pastime for wealthy lords and hunting parties. During the Victorian era, picnicking became an art as hostesses tried to outdo each other by providing more extravagant dishes, more thrilling entertainment or a more picturesque picnic spot.
To this day, picnics remain a popular way of eating, whether you plan a luxurious dining experience or an impromptu meal on a sunny day.
Picnic Equipment
If you have planned a menu which includes cold dishes or drinks, a cool box is vital. The insulated walls of the box help to preserve the temperature of chilled items- a good trick is to include a frozen bottle of water. This help to keep the box temperature as low as possible and will slowly thaw out, leaving you with a refreshing drink!
Make a check list of any special items which you will need to pack for your picnic- nothing is worse than planning a BBQ and realising you forgot to buy charcoal or opening your wine and realising you have no glasses to drink it from.
You can buy beautiful picnic hampers which include bottle openers, cutlery, salt and pepper shakers and cups, however these can be very expensive. If you can’t afford a picnic set, make your own bespoke picnic kit with everything you’ll need in it.
Remember to take a blanket to sit on, or fold up chairs for a more formal picnic party. If your picnic is taking place in your garden you could even take your dining table outside, or use your garden furniture.
Picnic Food
Your picnic menu can be as simple or as complicated as you choose to make it. A children’s picnic party in the your back garden or local park could be basic: cheese and ham sandwiches, fruit, biscuits and milk served up on paper plates. An adult picnic party would be catering for more sophisticated tastes and allows you to be more creative with your cookery.
If you have plenty of time to plan your picnic in advance you can afford to be a little bit more creative. Depending on what time of day you have decided to have your picnic, you can vary your ideas. Three sample menus for different times of day could be;
Luxury Breakfast Picnic : Croissants with jam and butter, flask of tea or coffee, fruit juice and champagne, fruit.
Charming Afternoon Tea Picnic : Cupcakes, flask of tea, dainty sandwiches with various fillings: try smoked salmon and cucumber, roast ham and mustard or egg mayonnaise with cress.
Moroccan Themed Picnic - Cous-cous salad , Lamb cooked on an open fire or BBQ, flask of hot mint tea, Moroccan bread.
Generally picnic food should be easy to transport and eat, although it all depends on the facilities available at the picnic spot you choose.
Choosing Your Picnic Spot
Decide in advance where you want to hold your picnic and make alternative plans in case the weather lets you down.
Some public picnic areas have a whole host of facilities including toilets and cooking areas, while other places may have nothing at all. It is always best to find out beforehand what is available and plan appropriately : if you plan to have a BBQ for example, make sure that local regulations allow it.
Picnic Entertainment
You may like to imitate the Victorians by providing entertainment to your guests during the picnic. Croquet was highly popular during the Victorian period - players use a mallet to hit a small ball through hoops which are arrange on the playing area.
If Croquet sounds a little sedate for you, why not try Frisbee or Rounders for some energetic action.
You could also try setting up a treasure hunt for your guests. Although this involves some forward planning, it is a fun activity which is especially good for keeping kids occupied while you are preparing food.
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Filed under Food and Drink