10 Ingredients for a Stylish Picnic
Forget the paper plates, plastic cups and discomfort – go all out for a super-chic and super-relaxed outing. Here's how
Defined as “an occasion when a packed meal is eaten outdoors” by the Oxford English Dictionary, a picnic is the epitome of easy living and life in the relaxing slow lane. And, in the spirit of that ethos, it doesn’t have to be complicated. A few well-chosen elements will elevate your alfresco lunch or dinner into an event imbued with effortless style.
Go for good blankets
Proper checked blankets are the foundation of a classic picnic. To do things really properly, buy ones with waterproof backing (to protect you and guests from damp grass) and carry straps, which are especially useful if you’re walking or cycling to your destination. Stylishly shaggy dog optional.
Proper checked blankets are the foundation of a classic picnic. To do things really properly, buy ones with waterproof backing (to protect you and guests from damp grass) and carry straps, which are especially useful if you’re walking or cycling to your destination. Stylishly shaggy dog optional.
Try out vintage transport
Unless you happen to run a food-truck business with a vintage aesthetic, you’re unlikely to have something like this covetable Citroen H Van to hand for parking up at your preferred picnic spot (though, if it’s a really special occasion, these and other classic vehicles are available for hire at lots of places around the country). Instead, you might consider renting some classic bicycles with big, picnic-friendly baskets to get you in the mood for a slow-living afternoon. Stop off at the food market on your trip and load them up with goodies. After your feast, you’ll be able to burn some calories.
Unless you happen to run a food-truck business with a vintage aesthetic, you’re unlikely to have something like this covetable Citroen H Van to hand for parking up at your preferred picnic spot (though, if it’s a really special occasion, these and other classic vehicles are available for hire at lots of places around the country). Instead, you might consider renting some classic bicycles with big, picnic-friendly baskets to get you in the mood for a slow-living afternoon. Stop off at the food market on your trip and load them up with goodies. After your feast, you’ll be able to burn some calories.
Stick to simple food
Like a good barbecue, a classy picnic can be a deceptively arduous meal to prepare. If you get excited about making homemade quiches and wrapping them in greaseproof paper and ribbon, assembling delicious but complicated salads, marinating chicken breasts for your portable barbecue and baking pretty cakes, you’ll especially know the truth of this.
If you have the time and inclination for all that effort, it’ll be worth it. But if you’re in danger of wasting valuable picnicking hours doing all that posh prep, remember that a gastronomic feast can also be incredibly simple. Just focus on quality, not variety: a loaf of artisan bread, a good cheese or two, jars of posh pickled onions, chutney and olives, and a bottle of something special can also equate to a picnic fit for a king.
Like a good barbecue, a classy picnic can be a deceptively arduous meal to prepare. If you get excited about making homemade quiches and wrapping them in greaseproof paper and ribbon, assembling delicious but complicated salads, marinating chicken breasts for your portable barbecue and baking pretty cakes, you’ll especially know the truth of this.
If you have the time and inclination for all that effort, it’ll be worth it. But if you’re in danger of wasting valuable picnicking hours doing all that posh prep, remember that a gastronomic feast can also be incredibly simple. Just focus on quality, not variety: a loaf of artisan bread, a good cheese or two, jars of posh pickled onions, chutney and olives, and a bottle of something special can also equate to a picnic fit for a king.
Put on some retro tunes
Picnicking is the epitome of slow-living. Reinforce the right mood for relaxation by choosing music – and a music player – to help you put everyday life to one side.
Pack your vintage-style radio and tune in to a favourite show with ‘gold’ or ‘smooth’ in its name, or bring a portable speaker and load your phone with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. For style purists and those who really know how to turn down modern living, bring a good-looking portable record player and some cherished old discs – just make sure you don’t leave your precious vinyl to melt in the heat of your car.
Picnicking is the epitome of slow-living. Reinforce the right mood for relaxation by choosing music – and a music player – to help you put everyday life to one side.
Pack your vintage-style radio and tune in to a favourite show with ‘gold’ or ‘smooth’ in its name, or bring a portable speaker and load your phone with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. For style purists and those who really know how to turn down modern living, bring a good-looking portable record player and some cherished old discs – just make sure you don’t leave your precious vinyl to melt in the heat of your car.
Bring your good cutlery
As with all ‘for best’ items, many of us are guilty of never using them for fear of damaging them. Unless you really have a family heirloom that needs serious protection, shifting your mindset and enjoying treasured possessions can evoke much joy. Anyway, one could argue that a picnic is precisely that kind of special occasion when your best things should come out.
So pull out your nice napkins instead of shoving the kitchen roll into your hamper and, particularly if you’re travelling by car, why not bring your favourite plates. If breakages are a risk (cyclists take note), then enjoy shopping for some elegant melamine platters at least, rather than throwaway paper plates. Finally, proper knives and forks will lend your meal – even if it’s just bread and cheese – the sense of occasion it deserves.
As with all ‘for best’ items, many of us are guilty of never using them for fear of damaging them. Unless you really have a family heirloom that needs serious protection, shifting your mindset and enjoying treasured possessions can evoke much joy. Anyway, one could argue that a picnic is precisely that kind of special occasion when your best things should come out.
So pull out your nice napkins instead of shoving the kitchen roll into your hamper and, particularly if you’re travelling by car, why not bring your favourite plates. If breakages are a risk (cyclists take note), then enjoy shopping for some elegant melamine platters at least, rather than throwaway paper plates. Finally, proper knives and forks will lend your meal – even if it’s just bread and cheese – the sense of occasion it deserves.
Book a beach hut
Search ‘beach hut hire’ online and your plans for outdoor eating may gain a whole new spin. If it’s a special-occasion picnic or a big family do, the outlay may well be worth it, and having somewhere to change for a post-lunch swim and a bit of furniture will elevate the whole event into something very civilised indeed. It will also come in handy for shelter if the great British climate does one of its famous U-turns.
10 ways to bring beach hut style back from your travels
Search ‘beach hut hire’ online and your plans for outdoor eating may gain a whole new spin. If it’s a special-occasion picnic or a big family do, the outlay may well be worth it, and having somewhere to change for a post-lunch swim and a bit of furniture will elevate the whole event into something very civilised indeed. It will also come in handy for shelter if the great British climate does one of its famous U-turns.
10 ways to bring beach hut style back from your travels
Hang a hammock
A post-prandial snooze, or at least a gentle recline with a book, is a pretty idyllic way to round off the perfect lazy outdoor eating experience.
If you’re picnicking in the garden, this is a no-brainer. Even if you don’t have suitable trees or posts to fix a hammock to, check out something like Freecycle and see if you can snaffle a self-contained hammock that comes with its own supports. If you’re driving somewhere, this will hopefully be something you can pack into the car – or head for a woody area and you’ll have the smaller version to pack.
Check out some of the dreamiest outdoor dining spots on Houzz
A post-prandial snooze, or at least a gentle recline with a book, is a pretty idyllic way to round off the perfect lazy outdoor eating experience.
If you’re picnicking in the garden, this is a no-brainer. Even if you don’t have suitable trees or posts to fix a hammock to, check out something like Freecycle and see if you can snaffle a self-contained hammock that comes with its own supports. If you’re driving somewhere, this will hopefully be something you can pack into the car – or head for a woody area and you’ll have the smaller version to pack.
Check out some of the dreamiest outdoor dining spots on Houzz
Include some candles
If your picnic is an evening do, or likely to stretch into the night (and who says portable outdoor feasts should just be about lunch?), be sure to pack some candles. Not only is this practical, but everything also just looks a bit lovelier by candlelight.
Jam jars with tealights will look sweet (and if you keep one jar spare, you can fill it with wild flowers as a centrepiece), but equally if you are likely to have a flat surface, consider a cheeringly incongruous tabletop candelabra or, if trees will be in the mix, bring hanging lanterns or candleholders like these. If insects are likely to be bothersome, opt for citronella candles.
If your picnic is an evening do, or likely to stretch into the night (and who says portable outdoor feasts should just be about lunch?), be sure to pack some candles. Not only is this practical, but everything also just looks a bit lovelier by candlelight.
Jam jars with tealights will look sweet (and if you keep one jar spare, you can fill it with wild flowers as a centrepiece), but equally if you are likely to have a flat surface, consider a cheeringly incongruous tabletop candelabra or, if trees will be in the mix, bring hanging lanterns or candleholders like these. If insects are likely to be bothersome, opt for citronella candles.
Sort some soft furnishings
For serious picnickers with space in the back of the car, you can really go for it with the home comforts. There are lots of outdoor eating areas in pretty parts of the country with tables and benches, so if you opt for one of these you’ll save space not having to bring folding furniture for a true dining experience. Use that space to pack cushions for post-lunch lounging and a chic tablecloth for during-lunch good looks.
What are your top tips for the perfect picnic (and where is your dream spot for one?). Tell us all in the Comments below.
For serious picnickers with space in the back of the car, you can really go for it with the home comforts. There are lots of outdoor eating areas in pretty parts of the country with tables and benches, so if you opt for one of these you’ll save space not having to bring folding furniture for a true dining experience. Use that space to pack cushions for post-lunch lounging and a chic tablecloth for during-lunch good looks.
What are your top tips for the perfect picnic (and where is your dream spot for one?). Tell us all in the Comments below.
Yes, a cool box may be practical, but is it beautiful? To be excited about a picnic which, after all, is a rare summertime treat and therefore something to make a big fuss of, it simply has to be well-styled. A case of aesthetics over function? Family members may debate the issue, but there’s no arguing about the pleasingly good looks of a classic picnic hamper. Choose one that’s sturdy with good handles, like this, and something lined and with compartments that will help to keep things in order. Don’t scrimp on a bottle cooler though – you’ll need it for that good bottle of wine or ice-cold elderflower pressé. This can be carried separately, by anyone in your party not sold on the importance of going old school.