Picnic Time
Labor Day is approaching which is the “official” end of summer. Kids go back to school and everyone gets back into their routine. I love closing out the summer with a grand picnic, but truth be told I have my picnic basket ready to pack beyond the end of August.
Strictly speaking a picnic is an outdoor meal, but to anyone who has ever indulged in one, a picnic is more than that. It’s a special event, a festive occasion, even if it’s a simple snack of bread and cheese in your own back yard. Dedicated picnickers insist that there’s a certain magic about sharing good food in the sunshine and fresh air. Perhaps it has to do with a more relaxed atmosphere outdoors; imaginative menu themes are easier to pull off when you’re not sitting formally in a dining room. Or perhaps it’s because picnicking is such a versatile art. It is a perfect vehicle for entertaining, for family outings, or for romantic, just-the-two-of-you getaways.
This week Tiny New York Kitchen will offer readers a collection of picnic menus that include detailed instructions for preparing, transporting, and setting up the food. Picnicking can be whatever you want it to be: informal or decorous, close to home or far away, holiday-inspired or for no reason at all, except that it’s a beautiful day!
