How to Plan a Gourmet Picnic

To the average picnicker, how to plan a gourmet picnic may seem like an impossible task. Imagines of swanky chefs may pass through your mind, but with a little planning you can introduce a whole new variety of flavors, tastes, and textures while still keeping it simple for yourself and for others. Moreover, you have the chance to put a spin on many of the classics with new ingredients rather than having to learn new complicated cooking methods.

Take for example, something very simple and basic like a sandwich. You could do ham and cheese on rye bread. This is a delicious sandwich in its own right. However, for a little variety and to take advantage of many of the flavors that are now available in most groceries, you can change this up a bit. To begin with, try a new type of bread. Baguettes have become very common and popular these days and are the perfect loaf for a sandwich. A good loaf will have a crisp outside and be soft and chewy on the interior. Another similar option is ciabatta bread, which has a similar texture, but is easy to cut and shape for individual sandwiches.

From here, instead of ham, try out many of the new specialty salamis that can now be found. Likewise for any cheese you toss on there. Brie spreads well as do many blue veined cheeses, which provide an exciting bite of flavor.

Another way to add more culinary adventure to your picnicking menu is to change up the common everyday iceberg lettuce salad. Rich sharp greens like arugula pack a lot of flavor in a small bite and turn the greens of the salad into the flavor rather than just a vehicle for the dressing. Toss this in a bit of red wine or balsamic vinaigrette with some chevre (goat's milk cheese) and pine nuts, and you have a really great salad with only a few ingredients with easy preparation.

Another way to add more exciting foods is to add a spread of appetizers to your choices. Go simple though - marinated olives, sharp or soft cheeses, smoked salmon - all of these pack a lot of taste in a few bites and will make your picnic selection stand out in a big way.

Don't forget drinks either. Many picnicking products are made for storing and serving wine, which is delicious outdoors. Sparkling wines mixed with fruit juices are a refreshing drink during the summer heat and are a good way to lighten the effects of these sometimes potent drinks.