How to Plan the Perfect French Picnic

A picnic is the perfect entertaining idea for right now. The outdoors allows for social distancing, so that everyone has plenty of space to spread out. The idea of planning any kind of picnic with delicious treats can be daunting. The French are masters of this. Don’t be put off by the planning, it’s easy to plan the perfect French country picnic with these How to Plan the Perfect French Picnic tips.

 

 

 

 

 

Picnics are definitely one of summer’s pleasures. Enjoying the company of your family or friends in nature, what could be better than that? It’s like a mini vacation, especially now if you haven’t had a chance to see people in this unprecedented time.

 

 

 

 

 

With this simple plan, you’ll have a wonderful outdoor meal that is both delicious as well as visually gorgeous!  A picnic doesn’t have to mean a blanket on the grass or at the beach.  If areas like lakes or parks aren’t open yet in your area, not a problem.  A picnic can also be carried to a table in your garden. You can pack a light meal for each family separately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For this casual garden dinner with our family, I packed a basket with food, and an antique French bottle carrier filled with wine, glasses and a loaf of French Bread for each family. Everyone carried their basket and bottle carrier to their own little spot in the garden. I like to include one or two cashmere shawls in each basket, there is always one person or little person who gets chilled in the early evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Bentley is a huge fan of an impromptu picnic, even in our own garden! {truth be told, he’s a lab who is always a fan of anything that involves food!}

 

 

 

 

 

I quickly snapped these photos of one table, set for John and myself, just as the sun was beginning to set.  Our kids and little people ate at their own little tables, but the food was all the same.

 

 

 

 

Picnics don’t have to include paper plates and plastic forks.  My own favorite picnic pieces include these red enameled plates, the petit French Country checked dessert plates and bowls.  Napkins? French checked linen napkins, of course!

 

HOW TO PLAN THE PERFECT FRENCH PICNIC

 

Begin with a combination of ingredients for a simple cheeseboard, and an assortment of meat and breads/crackers.  If you are shopping, it’s easy to pick up everything at one visit to your market.  If you are still only ordering groceries, most markets and online ordering offerings will have something in each of these categories.

 

 

 

 

WHAT TO PACK:

1. DRINKS. Chilled juice, water, lemonade. To bring it over-the-top: and a bottle of sparkling Rosé or Champagne.

2. CHEESE. A variety of 2-3 cheeses works best. Choose at least one hard cheese, and one soft cheese.

3. BREAD|CRACKERS. A French baguette, and some of those beautiful artisanal crackers you’ve been wanting to try.

4. MEATS. Cured meats like Prosciutto, Geneo Salami and any type of dried sausage adds a salty element.

5. OLIVES. Olives are a given, or, if you don’t like olives {it could happen!} choose small cornichon pickles.

6. JAM. Adds a wonderful accent to the cheese. I personally love Fig Jam, but any kind works.  Any kind of preserve or jam will add a nice balance to all the other salty items.

7. FRUIT. Choose seasonal favorites like grapes, berries, apples or pears.

8. SWEETS. Everyone loves a small bite of sweet. Try doing what the French do and pack a bar of delicious chocolate. Or go all out and pack a bag of your favorite cookies. But think easy to eat, and small servings.

• I usually add a salad. We live in California, and it seems that any meal without a salad is well….missing something!

 

 

 

PLAN YOUR PERFECT PICNIC WITH THESE PERFECT ACCESSORIES:

 

 

French Bottle Carrier|Checked linen napkins|Cutting Board |Linen Bread Bag| | Red Cashmere Wrap|Linen Tote

 

Country dessert plates|French Bottle Carrier|Country bowls|Cutting Board|French Bread Basket

 

 

Next time, I’ll share one of my favorite Summer Salads…using vegetables from the summer garden. See you then!

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PICNIC SPOT IN THE WORLD?

 

 

 

A BIENTOT

 

 

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