# Interesting picnic foods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249 "2008-04-21T17:07:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/1 "2008-04-21T17:07:41Z")
If you were to go on a picnic next weekend, what would you bring? Let’s think in terms of interesting, out of the ordinary, tasty, non-messy, and lukewarm. Ideas? I was thinking of little pizza-like pastries filled with cherry tomatoes, prosciutto, and asparagus tips. What else? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/2 "2008-04-21T17:13:19Z")
Chocolate covered ants! I’d think most anything you could order from a Tapas menu would equate well to the picnic basket. Instead of pre-made sandwiches or greasy friend chicken, having plates of sliced cheeses, fruits and meats would be good so you could pick and choose according to your current fancy. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/3 "2008-04-21T17:32:19Z")
Nice idea. In fact, some variation on antipasto could work. Add to your list marinated artichoke hearts, olives, and roasted red peppers. And some sort of bread-like substance. That would totally fit the bill. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/4 "2008-04-21T17:38:28Z")
I often bring tabbouleh to outdoor events and it goes quickly: [http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/106589](http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/106589) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/5 "2008-04-21T18:03:24Z")
[QUOTE=guest who went bye-bye] I’d go with chips and dip. I like my picnics to be focused on other activities, like strolling down the trails or feeding ducks and tossing pebbles into the pond. [/QUOTE] I am most definitely going to be focused on other activities. But my friend used to be a professional chef, so I want to do something more special for her than Frito-Lay. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/6 "2008-04-21T19:05:33Z")
I like the pastry, tapas, fruit and cheese ideas. I’ve always found a nice presentation goes over well. So when I’m taking melon, I’ll make melon balls from just the best part and bring along little pickle forks to stab’em with. With grapes, I’ll go through the bunches and select palm-sized clusters of 6-12 of the nicest, plumpest grapes. Pack it on ice in containers you can just take the lids off of to serve it from. With apples, bring along paring knives for those who don’t want to just bite right in. I like to use real plates; nothing fancy, but not paper plates. Usually just sandwich plates; wrap each one in a cloth napkin - oh yeah, cloth napkins and table cloth. Real glass if you’re having wine, although I’d generally go with a short drinking glass, as opposed to stemware. It really isn’t much of a hassle, and I think it’s a lot more fun. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/7 "2008-04-21T19:11:31Z")
[QUOTE=3acresandatruck] I like to use real plates; nothing fancy, but not paper plates. [/QUOTE] Graniteware’s just beggin’ to be brought out for a picnic. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/8 "2008-04-21T19:30:05Z")
The plates and cutlery issue has been solved. I have one of [these](http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/601-8512264-0092965?ASIN=B0000BVKYN&AFID=Froogle&LNM=B0000BVKYN%7CPicnic_Backpack&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B0000BVKYN&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/9 "2008-04-21T19:41:17Z")
We have one of those. Quite handy. I’d go the good wine and crudites route. Some crusty bread, marinated olives, stuffed mushrooms and some quality meats, with some fruit for dessert. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/10 "2008-04-21T19:55:29Z")
I like to bake a ricotta pie or quiche and fill it generously with vegetables like artichoke hearts, spinach, onions, asparagus, chopped mushrooms, etc. It’s easy to bring and cut up and can take the place of bringing vegetation in other forms. Alternately, I like to make an antipasto-ish concoction of cooked vegies like string beans, olives, chick peas, onions, garlic, cherry tomatoes, etc., dressed in olive oil, red wine vinegar, parlsey and cracked pepper. It’s a durable, self-contained salad which requires nothing beyond the plastic storage container in which it is packed, plus a serving spoon. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2008, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-picnic-foods/446249/11 "2008-04-21T20:44:35Z")
Hmm, she just volunteered to take care of the food. Her suggestion includes bacon. She’ll also bring blankets and do all the driving. I like this girl! Maybe I can offer to bring dessert. Chocolate covered strawberries or something like that.