HALLOOOOO. It will come as a surprise to everyone who knows us well that it’s taken us five letters to talk about our time in Berlin. The TLDR is that we studied abroad together in Berlin , and while we were there, we spent lots of days, nights, and mornings sitting by the Spree with some variety of bread and a mess of spreads.1 Picnicking was our favorite way to eat any meal; along the Spree, at Tempelhofer Field, in our courtyard, on the steps of a museum. You see, there are endless ways to picnic: lake side, beach side, park side, in your backyard, some desert locale, with cocktails only, for a brekkie break, for a birthday-celly, country picnic, mountain picnic, car-trunk-popped picnic.
So, as picnic season descends upon us (did it ever really leave this year…) here are a few of our favorite ideas for hosting, attending, dropping by or crashing this season’s picnics.
:~)
SF: Stay home, Stay cool
I love eating outside, I really do. In fact, one of the only good things to come of this year is the fact that I can eat outside at nearly every restaurant in New York City (well, if I can get a reservation that is). But, I’ve always been kind of lazy when it comes to picnicking. My reality always falls short of my expectations.2 So this year, I’ve decided to master a seemingly simple, but endlessly exciting way of picnicking: in your own backyard (or porch, or roof, or fire escape). While it may not be the most “exotic” place to picnic, there are a few major advantages to dining al fresco at your own home.
First off, you aren’t limited by temperature or travel-ability when planning a menu. You can go the creative and time consuming route, like these beautiful flower embedded tortillas, or eat your heart's desire for refrigerator-dependent, mayo-heavy, soggy-prone salads (which happen to be my favorite varieties). Like this creamy, herby pasta salad; or smashed and sizzled potatoes covered with sour-cream and roe without concern they’ll sog or sour by the time they get to the picnic.
Perhaps (hopefully) your backyard has a grill, so throw on some romaine heads and drizzle with Baz’s anchovy, cheesy Caesar dressing. Dish out the sliders and Hebrew Nattys until the tray (or baking sheet if you’re a normal person) is full.3
There is one major con to this plan though, which is that unlike at the park or beach, where public trashcans await your post-picnic mess, as the hostess with the mostess picnic salads and bbq’d goods, you’re often left with the mostest mess.4 Disposables can wreak havoc on the planet, but I found these biodegradable chic a.f. napkins from Hay and this bamboo flatware, which are both a little more friendly on the planet. You’re welcome.5
So as the sun sets, take advantage of your freezer proximity, dole out some ice cream,6 light these citronella coils to ward off those pesky summer mosquitos, and enjoy the kind-of-picnic where the salad doesn’t get sad and you can drink as much as you want knowing you won’t have to pee in the woods.7
IC: My name is Ilana and I’m bringing ice cream to the picnic
For a long while “picnic” had the most irritating connotation, it reminded me of the classic (and dreadful) name game, you know the one: players sit in a circle, each recite their name along with a picnic food that begins with the first letter of their name, in addition to all the players (and their foods) prior and so on until everyone has arrived at the picnic with their alphabet foods.8 Picnic name games? Not great. Picnics IRL? Truly great!
A successful picnic, say on the beach, is not for the faint of heart. So, as you prep for a picnic-full sum9 perhaps you’ll try at least one beach (or lake or pond) picnic.
Think about what goes well with salty air, water, and uh sweat. Consider foods that get better over time and taste pretty great lukewarm. Try tinned fish and crusty bread or a classic peanut butter and jelly on thick sourdough. Maybe Deb’s Lentil and Chickpea Salad or The Best Gazpacho is more your speed. My go-to is Val’s Crunchy Rice and Bean Salad, the only salad in my friend group with a cult following. (Valerie, or to me, Mom, snagged this vegan recipe back when Whole Foods was Bread and Circus and Boston had a very earthy-crunchy-macro-vegan culture *gasp*)
Now there is a lot to be said about the best way to transport food and of course drinks, but I’m not one for a wagon which, according to experts is the only way to successfully picnic so I usually bring a combo of holey and non-holey Baggus.10
Maybe you’re not at the beach, but just looking at the beach and that’s okay too! Either way, your beach-related function won’t fail if you have:
A hard surface: A cutting board, surfboard, or even an extra chair that can provide a stable and elevated surface for food and cutting
A base layer: this beach blanket (yes, shared in circle back #3), for all other items to rest on top of, sand free
Insulated vessel: Bring a thermos, cooler, or lunch box so you can at least pretend to keep your provisions cool
A towel
Shady spots: sunnies, umbrellas because you (and your picnic food) will need at least a little respite from the sun
Something to share: no one likes a shellfish beach-goer
Whether your hosting, co-hosting or just attending, don’t forget:
Something SILLY- Everyone looks better on a disposable camera. Buy this three pack so you always have one for the occasion.
Something SERIOUS- Bug Spray OR Ice (sometimes it pays off to be practical)
Something FUN - Get this kitty pool and make any picnic beach side.
Something JUICY - “SPRITZZZ TIME!!!!” direct quote from IC this weekend… Try this Spritz
Something SMART - Disco Fungi Cabana Long Sleeve
Something MANIC-
we lived a mostly carb diet back then…
Like when , and tried, then failed, to reproduce this picture… what can I say? The yeast was dead, but maybe I’ll try again.
A little hosting trick— forgo the platters and use your baking sheets, easier to clean and more surface area, but if you are interested in platters these would look great in your backyard.
…and you’re probably a little too drunk to clean it up.
both you, and the planet, that is.
which apparently Ilana is bringing...see below.
I guess by dictionary definition this wouldn’t be a picnic, unless you packed everything in your kitchen and unpacked it in your backyard… but we’re willing to let it slide if you are.
As an “I” name I always brought ice cream. Ya, the worst picnic food and still can’t think of an alternative.
“Picnics are the restaurants of COVID,” according to Ti Martin, co-owner of Picnic Provisions & Whiskey in New Orleans
These napkins are pretty great too
From the long distance picnic blanket of Ilana C. and Sylvie F., Tschussie!