Gourmet Picnic Fare
The food you bring along on a picnic needn't be your stereotypical sandwiches, potato salad and watermelon. Try something new for a change - impress your date or friends with a delicious gourmet picnic meal on par with menus from the finest restaurants in town.
Epicurous.com is an excellent source for recipes of any kind - but they also have a section that is devoted entirely to picnic recipes. These recipes have been featured in Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines, and are rated and reviewed by users of the website. In addition, you can search by cuisine, ingredients, course, and special considerations such as 'kid friendly' or 'low fat'. These recipes often recommend a wine pairing that would go wonderfully with the meal.
Some particularly delicious recipes featured in the picnic recipes section of the website are Pan Bagnat, Moroccan Garbanzo Bean and Feta Pitas, Chilled Roasted Tomato Soup with Pesto, Red Potato and Green Bean Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette, and Chocolate Chip Ginger Crisps. You could make an entire 4 course meal - complete with appetizers, salad, entree, and dessert - that looks and tastes like a professional chef prepared it.
Make sure you complement the gourmet meal with a picnic set that's elegant and impressive. There are many choices of beautiful, versatile picnic baskets or packs that include such convenient and high-quality extras as wine glasses, corkscrews, cheese boards and full utensil sets. Some particularly striking products include the Somerset Picnic Basket for 2, the Grasmere Wine Lovers Basket, and the Blossom Tea Lovers Basket (pictured). In fact, on PicnicFun.com you can search by 'elegant' to find the most stylish, well-designed items they have to offer.
