Summer time is picnic time

Make ordinary days a little special this summer. It’s the season of the picnic when we start to move outside: the park, the meadow, field, forest, woods, backyard or mountain top, and hit the park, porch or beach

One of my favourite picnics was taken on a train trip from Toronto, ON to Montreal, QC. With my mother and aunt. My aunt had packed the picnic for the trip, and I must say it was delightful. Not only was the food delicious, but eh packaging was darling and the company define for that 5-hour voyage. Packed in a Simpson’s cake box were mini croissants, miniature containers of homemade chicken salad, a small cluster of sweet green grapes, a tiny package of nuts and napkin wrapped plastic cutlery tied with a ribbon. The box was wrapped crisscross with red and white string tied in a bow. Now that was a picnic!

What is a picnic?

When you think of a picnic, your first thought is outdoors and food. Picnics to me mean relaxation, pleasure, leisure and taking in the scenery, nature whatever it might be; tailgate, park, back deck, front porch, forest, or living room floor. But it’s an excursion outing where food is involved and a pleasurable, carefree state of mind is key. It’s easy. All you need is the right people, the right place and delectable food and drink and memories will be made.

The picnic is depicted as a romantic pleasant endeavour in art history. Claude Monet and Edouard Manet were famous for impressionist paintings of picnic scenes in beautiful gardens.

Historically, picnics with lavish indoor social events by aristocrats where everyone in attendance brought food to share or contributed money to the host. It was a “potluck’ idea.  A Greek word ‘syncomist’ which means; brought from different places and put together. And the French word ‘pique-nique (meaning cosy). Eventually this picnic moved outdoors alfresco and then, in the early 19^th century the picnic became fashionable events that evolved to travel to the countryside where either everyone contributed food or one person provided the entire picnic.

The great thing about a picnic is that it can be prepared ahead of time, the food is packed to go, your house does not need cleaning as everything is outdoors, timing for serving is  not a concern.

• Have fun with your picnic. Base it on a special theme, a country’s cuisine, a favourite book, sport or show, experiment with different colours, flavours or spices

• Things that make it cozy: candles, string lights, battery charged lights, music, rug/blanket, scarf, seat, cushion, table, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen or umbrella

• Casual or fancy as you like, crystal, flowers

• Keep a basket by the door or in the car for that spontaneous urge to picnic, prepare ahead or get some takeout and head to a scenic spot by yourself or someone special

A simple picnic of bread, cheese, wine and fruit and a sweet treat is all I need.