A couple of Lee’s Bahn Mi, #6, an almond croissant shared, bag of shrimp chips shared.
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Right up my alley!
What a lovely gesture both ways!
Over the years I’ve simplified from many small things that there are many leftovers of to a few that will get mostly eaten.
This summer, here were some of the picnics taken to the park:
- Chicken salad, baguette, cherry tomatoes, brownies
- Mini quiches in silicone cups, white bean dip with pita chips, grapes
- Tea sandwiches on soft bread (hummus-cucumber, zhoug-egg-potato, ham-cheese), spicy potato chips, watermelon
- Bagels-cream cheese, smoked salmon, cookies and pastries from a neighborhood place, strawberries
- Store bought sandwiches, chips, mixed fruit, and a bakery tart for a birthday
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Great way to use up tasty leftovers. Many foods taste better the days after.
I meant leftovers from the picnic… every time we take lots of little things, there are small amounts of lots of things left over, which have sat out in the sun for a while.
So instead, fewer but more substantive things, and now fewer leftovers (and/or less waste).
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Oh! Sorry I really did read that wrong. Now I understand.
True statement, though! There are definitely picnic foods that taste better a day or two later. Lentil salad is one of those - the dressing needs time to soak in.
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This thread deserves more love.
We took our lunch to the beach today to enjoy the nice weather and to watch the ospreys hunt. My favorite dish to bring is probably Pan Bagnat, here with a carrot slaw, fresh strawberries and chocolate cake.
What’s in your picnic basket?
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Pan Bagnat
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Never had or made it, due to my soggy bread aversion. But your rendition makes me want to try it. I also agree this thread is great for a reboot. I love Rooster’s story about using a picnic to reconnect after an absence!
I’ll share an anecdote that was a picnic within a picnic. Picnic squared? A few years ago, we went camping and I always plan to either do chop and assemble or grill over their firepit meals. We don’t have or use camping stoves. For that reason, I really love panzanella. I can pre-cube the bread and premake the dressing. I can wash the basil and slice/store the onions. The only thing I can’t do is chop the tomatoes early, because chopping them early makes them either slimy if they sit or worse yet, kills their flavor if you put them in a cold cooler. So I just bring my room temp toms and my cutting board, and expect to cut them on the picnic table like a civilized person. This trip, we had breakfast and then did a hike with the other 2 families we went with. It was a 90 degree day and after we returned, they wanted to have lunch at the cold lake rather than the campsite. And they wanted to do it pronto. So I wound up throwing my tomatoes, my board, my knife and a folding chair into the car to take the 10 min drive lakeside. And then proceeded to sit in the chair in the sand and cut tomatoes on my lap. I still get teased for that.
@LakeDiablo WA
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Oh wow, that looks amazing!
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Agreed. I didn’t see this thread when it originated back in 2018. I miss @Rooster. 
We haven’t picnicked much recently, if at all, but we may in a couple of weeks, when we are out in Vancouver. I will post if we do.
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Old school US style. Fruit salad, fried chicken, HM biscuits and/or cornbread, collard or mustard greens in a little thermos, peach cobbler or apple pie for dess. Nothing on this earth that I love more than slightly tepid fresh fried chicken. Sweet tea or lemonade in an old time thermos, and a jug of shine or vodka.
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Seconding fried chicken as a go-to for picnics. We like ours along with a (mayo-free) pasta salad, and veggie stix. Cake for something sweet.
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I think fried chicken in a basket has always been my idea of what a picnic is. That said, I’ve already made Mexican plate lunches for my wife and I for a picnic. Just nice to get out and eat al fresco.
Yesterday’s picnic fare included carrot hummus, dill pickles, olive assortment, grilled shrimp, sliced mangoes and pita. Happy guy.
Then I swam for an hour.
Enjoy the sunshine.
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Cool 
