Usually I require some persuading to go outdoors but . . . it’s nice where I am, so I will head to a park a bit later. Stopped by a deli and bought (for two):
Large box Carr’s crackers
Pound of mozzarella
Half pound hot sopressata
Half pound genoa salami
Half pound marinated artichoke hearts
Half pound marinated mushrooms
Half pound cherry peppers stuffed with cheese and prosciutto
Quarter pound black olive spread
Chocolate-hazelnut paste cookie things
Bottle of sauvignon blanc (screwtop)
Three Roma tomatoes for slicing
Okay, yes, I will admit that I have had SO’s attempt to assert a veto over my restaurant ordering, but I figure, none of this stuff will go to waste in the long run. So as long as I’m going all-in, what else might I add? I’m thinking maybe fresh fruit. Maybe a bit of bread in addition to the crackers. Anything else?
ETA that writing it out in sequence does make it look a bit excessive, especially as I billed the outing as a “snack in the park.”
You definitely need some nice crusty bread to balance out all those strong flavors. I also like the fruit idea. Perhaps also a nice mild soft cheese like boursin?
Sounds like you will have company, yes? Lucky date.
If I were going on a picnic, I’d have a couple of baguette sandwiches (though looking at the OP, a nice muffeletta came to mind), a couple of cheeses, grapes (to go with the cheese), other fruits, a bottle of wine, a Thermos of tea, and something light for dessert.
Of course the icing on the cake (so to speak) would be to get current again (renew medical certificate, get about 10 hours of refresher training, get a biennial flight review), and rent an R22. (I like the Schweizer 300 better, but the R22 has storage under the seats.) Only, I’d have to forego the wine.
One time when I was in college, I came home to visit my family. They packed up some food for a picnic and we took off for the beach. So when they unpacked it all at the picnic table, I discovered that the menu consisted of:
1 box of wheat thins crackers
1 loaf of bread
1 can of pork and beans (probably store brand)
A big stack of cans of Libby’s potted meat food product (containing partially defatted beef fatty tissue and partially defatted pork fatty tissue) and vienna sausages (nobody wants to know what’s really in those).
Worst picnic ever. I would have sold my soul right then for some chocolate-hazelnut cookies.
Fortunately, after that we went to a mall. Food court fries never tasted so good.
It turns out to be too early in the season here for ants – though we had a minor plague of tiny hatchling midges or somethng.
It went well and the preposterous over-purchasing was not that bad – we finished a good sampling of about half of it.
Neither of us had eaten all day, and the illegal wine sparked the appetite.
And she’s got good leftovers – neither of us worry much about overbuying, as we’re both very fond of “free” leftover lunches.
Park was not over-verdant, or over-warm – but we’re sufficiently pleased wiith the outing that we’ll def. go back when things are in full bloom.
Things I’d do different: fresh fruit (did not have the chance); garlic spread; spreadable cheese, as suggested; and more wine.
My companion also suggested sushi – and I can see the appeal of a few maki.
I hope Spring holds a few nice picnics for others of you. Oh and Johnny – your muffeletta suggestion probably comes into play as a more convenient solution to my Italian ingredient kitchen sink approach next time 'round.
I don’t do the meat, but Central Grocery makes a mollyfocking MEAN cheese and veggie muffaletta, best washed down with a cold Abita Amber or two—A little taste of Crescent City heaven…
Sorry you don’t do meat, my sopressata actually gained the highest marks, but, to seek common ground:
I gave a spirited defense of Abita (albeit the Turbo fDog) to an un-learned friend who recently ventured to Lafayette for business and spoke derisively of “something they called Abita.”
It’s problematic that the Yankee palate does not understandf that Lafayette may well contain (not to start a huge fight) as much as or more than good food than is known in, say, D.C. (and yes, D.C., or Baltimore, does have good foos, but . . . Dissing Acadiana?).
Last muffaletta I had was on Fat Tuesday from the new grocery store up here near the Canadian border. It was actually pretty good. Better than a couple I’ve had in New Orleans. But the best I had was last June from Frank’s, a few doors down from Central Grocery. Or maybe it was my first muffaletta, which was from Central Grocery. Hard to say, since it’s been close to 20 years since my first one. Both places are excellent.
