Summer is here and so too a host of picnic-style events to be enjoyed, such as the outdoor cinema season. But picnic dates are full of hidden traps and pitfalls. Once you survive the fluster of organising all the nibbles, find a parking bay within reasonable walking distance and lug the basket and esky red-faced to your desired spot, you then have to juggle spillable food and drinks and beat off any prowling mosquitoes. So the phrase ‘it was no picnic’ has never made sense to me. But there is something to be said about enjoying our great Aussie outdoors, with a gourmet hamper and some bubbles or fine wine. So it has been through sheer determination that I have persisted in refining this great tradition, with mosquito spray in hand and a basket of tools to prevent the ultimate dating disaster.
The Basics
Bread knife and board – which can be made into a cheese platter
Sharp small knife
Bottle opener
Balsamic vinegar and olive oil – in separate jars to dress salads or dip bread.
Lemon – always good to dress food and also cuts through grease on the hands followed by water.
Sparkling water – it works better than tap water for greasy hands.
Paper napkins
Tea towel – often comes in handy
Toothpicks
Mosquito spray
Sunscreen – nothing romantic about a red nose.
Blanket
Disposable cups and plates – cutlery can be avoided if you plan your food well.
Torch – afternoons can quickly turn into evenings.
Jumper – again, the temperatures will drop with a falling sun.
Plastic bags – for rubbish or those dripping dishes.
Food for Thought
Picnic food should be bite-sized, easily eaten with hands or toothpicks and unlikely to leak all over your esky/picnic basket. The obvious picnic food is a sandwich but here are some pre-prepared dishes I have trialled with success:
Satays – drain off excess marinade, wrap in alfoil and put into a tightly sealed container.
French lamb cutlets – seasoned and seared. Allow to rest after cooking and then drain off excess juices, wrap in alfoil and put in a tightly sealed container.
Chorizo/cacciatore sausages – sear slices, add Italian parsley and later dress in lemon juice. Cooked mushroom also goes well or can be supplemented for vegetarians.
Cured meats
Selection of cheeses
Olives, marinated vegetables and feta – in tightly sealed jars.
Fresh vegetable sticks with dips
Crusty white bread/wafer crispbreads
Caprese salad – sliced vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced bocconcini and basil. Can be added with Spanish onion to toasted ciabatta bread to make Bruschetta. Dress with balsamic and oil.
Watermelon salad – watermelon chunks with mint. Dress with balsamic vinegar later.
Strawberries and sliced pear for a cheese platter, with quince or fig and walnut paste.
Busy shoppers and non-cooks can get reasonably diverse and well-put-together picnic hampers at the Beaufort Street Merchant in Highgate, The Pantry Door in North Perth and online at www.relishgourmet.com.au, www.bcl.com.au/perth/shop/hampers.htm, www.boxt.com.au and www.hamperswithbite.com.au.
Popular picnic locations
Kings Park
Mundaring Weir
Lake Monger
Maylands Peninsula
The Esplanade, South Perth
Luna Outdoor Cinemas, Leederville
Camelot Cinemas, Mosman Park
Moonlight Cinema, Kings Park
PIAF Films Festival at Somerville Auditorium, UWA
Movies by Burswood, Burswood Parklands.
*The outdoor cinema season is due to start at the end of the month, see the cinemas’ online sites for session viewings.
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