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! 

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