On the bright, sunny days that mark the beginning of the school year, students flock to Edward’s Parade — that green expanse that sits squarely in the center of campus. As classes end, the green becomes alive with students playing spikeball, throwing frisbees, listening to music and eating. Of course, that last activity prompts the average picnic-goer to debate what on earth they are going to bring to their Eddie’s escapade. My friend and I had this debate only a few days ago, while we searched our fridge for snacks to share. We landed on grapes (which, to our dismay, had seeds), pretzel sticks, baby carrots and chocolate chip cookies. This random selection fits the three tenets that I would recommend for all picnic pickings: something sweet, something salty and something fresh. Of course, sometimes the occasion calls for more than simply raiding your fridge for a few snacks. You want something more organized! This article will help to brainstorm different ideas for your picnic spread.
First, charcuterie. Originating in France, charcuterie traditionally refers to a delicatessen that specializes in dressed meats, such as prosciutto, soppressata, etc., and dishes containing these meats. The term also refers to the products themselves, including the meat dishes and the accoutrement that accompany them. The only necessary elements of charcuterie are meat and cheese, but there’s a whole world of items to pair them with. I would highly recommend getting a nice loaf of bread, and following the three tenants for picnic food: salty, sweet and fresh. The meat and cheese themselves will bring plenty of salt, and candied nuts, dried fruit and jellies can counter the salt with their sweetness. Fresh fruit will also cut the heaviness of meat, cheese and candied goods, often acting as a palette cleanser. My favorites are grapes, apples and pears.
The ingredients for a charcuterie board can be found right outside Rose Hill’s gates, on Arthur Avenue. There’s no need to travel into the city to patronize big box stores when Teitel Brothers is a ten-minute walk off campus. They have a wide variety of cured meats, cheeses and pairings for both. After grabbing whatever you’d like, you can walk down Arthur for only half a block more to reach Madonia Bakery. The food is delicious, the people are friendly and the prices are affordable. When I have had charcuterie before, my friends and I spent around $25 each and had prosciutto for breakfast the next day. However, charcuterie is not everyone’s favorite. Whether you are vegetarian, vegan or just not a huge fan of cheese, there are plenty of other items that can decorate your picnic blanket.
Second, salads. I know, I know, they sound so boring. The word “salads” elicits images of a bowl filled with leaves, dotted with tomatoes and drizzled with dressing, but they can be so much more. There’s the mayonnaise-heavy chicken, tuna or egg salad, all of which can be spread onto sandwiches or toasted baguettes, and pasta salad. The latter has a terrific amount of versatility, as it only requires the combination of cooked pasta with vegetables. Mix farfalle with tomatoes, peas and feta; tortellini with bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes; even couscous with mint leaves, feta and tomatoes. If you have couscous, elevate your salad by making tabbouleh, a Mediterranean salad consisting of chopped vegetables, parsley, lime juice and olive oil. The beauty of salads is that they combine a variety of ingredients, many of which might be floating around the back of your fridge. They’re simple to make, easy to customize and delicious.
Third, sandwiches. Sandwiches are a great picnic food as they hold up well, can be packed neatly and can be shared amongst multiple people. Like salads, sandwiches possess only one requirement: there needs to be bread. Beyond this, the fillings, flavors and textures within the sandwiches can vary — even the forms can. Stack a hero roll a mile high with deli meats, cheeses and vegetables; press ciabatta, mozzarella and tomato into a panini; and cut white bread, filled with cucumber and cream cheese, into finger sandwiches fit for English High Tea. The best part of these sandwiches are that they are all fit for sharing, regardless of whether you eat a handful of finger sandwiches or a segment of a hoagie — sorry, hero.
The most important element for any picnic is sharing food amongst those present. Picnics are great venues for potlucks, which is when every member of the group brings a dish to share. These are great avenues for sharing your favorite foods with your closest friends or a new group of people, and few conversations are better than those shared over the course of a meal. So spend the final gasps of summer on Eddie’s, drinking in the sunlight as you dine on an assortment of snacks. Hopefully this article has helped to inspire your personal picnic menu.
