Sun is shining, weather is sweet, y’all. Maybe it’s the sunshine, could be the company, or it might be the fresh pop of prosecco – a picnic essential – but somehow, food always tastes better outdoors. Of course, if your picnic involves sloppy, hard-to-eat food or badly-packed containers that explode all over the picnic basket, then they can also be downright disastrous. Your al fresco MVPs are sandwiches (just watch the sog factor), pre-cooked cold proteins like barbecued chicken or sausages, wilt-free salads like creamy potato salad and quinoa salad, and of course a sweet cake (lucky ants – crumbs for you!). And if in doubt, just throw in a tub of cherry tomatoes and a few squares of cabanossi and bikkies for snacking. The Culinary Wonderland chefs have spread out a few tartan rugs in their day, and have rounded their very best of portable, snackable, sun-friendly recipes. Pop that prosecco, you’re going to the great outdoors.
PICNIC IDEAS
Location, location, location. A good picnic spot should be big on views and low on bugs. Make sure there’s a balanced mix of sun and shade so everyone can choose their preferred sunray exposure, and consider the location of niggly necessities, like bathroom and water access. If you’re bringing alcohol it’s also important to check any local rules about public drinking which can vary between states and local councils.
Fictional depictions of picnics in books or in movies always involve participants draped elegantly onto rugs, but in reality, extended ground sitting can be rough on the derriere. Consider investing in low-set picnic or beach chairs that will make the whole process of lap-eating infinitely more comfortable.
When you’re tossing around picnic ideas, remember the food needs to dance a merry dance with its packaging: anything too watery risks breaking free of its confines. If you have any doubt, wrap a second ‘safety layer’ around your Tupperware, such as a plastic bag. A chilled cool bag packed with ice packs (not loose ice – that will create a river of both water and tears) is a must for anything that needs refrigeration.
The whole point of a picnic is sharing, so don’t shy away from big-batch dishes such as salads that are perfect for dishing out among the guests. Just make sure you have all the utensils necessary: individual knives and forks make a meal but tongs, salad servers and serving spoons turn it into a feast. But it goes without saying that the king of all picnic utensils are ones you have on the end of your arms: just make sure you have plenty of napkins to wipe your sticky fingers on.
Matt Wilkinson’s Citrus Drizzle Cake
The genius of Matt Wilkinson’s springy, tangy citrus drizzle cake is that it’s so packed with flavour that messy, smeary icing is entirely unnecessary. Even more genius: because it’s made with olive oil, polenta and almond meal instead of butter or flour, it’s both dairy-free and gluten-free. The zing comes from oranges but you can also swap them out for lemons if you prefer, and a herbal hit of rosemary balances out the sweet-and-sour. It’s perfect for picnics; the dense texture makes for great eating and even better packing, it will nestle securely in its Tupperware container until you’re ready to serve.