Mother Nature beckons with all her might: come out! And don't blame her. Your first cup of coffee of the day or your lunch tastes so much richer when framed by the twittering of titmice, a butterfly fluttering by and the chirping of a blackbird in the bushes. How about something a little more adventurous than your own garden? Then get on your bike, luggage racks loaded and pedal along winding forest paths and endless meadows. And as the cool wind tickles your face, you get closer and closer to that one surprising spot where there is just enough room to lay out your rug. Indeed: we are going on a picnic. It's about time.
What all goes into your picnic basket?
Well you can go on a picnic with two cheese sandwiches and a cup of coffee from your thermos. Pick a nice bench and with the right company beside you, it will undoubtedly be a pleasant afternoon. But how much fun is it to make your picnic a festive event? That thermos is already a good start. Filled with hot water, you turn the hot liquid into a frothy cappuccino or fresh mint tea on the spot. In addition, take a few chilled drinks with you. Juice, sparkling mineral water or another bubbly: it's entirely up to you how grand you want to go. For example, squeeze two oranges per person or get a fresh smoothie at the corner to take with you.
What do you eat at a picnic?
Unpacking with the food doesn't have to be much work, either. You can quickly transform that cheese sandwich into small sandwiches by adding cucumber slices, arugula and a dash of mustard mayonnaise in addition to aged cheese. Then cut the sandwiches diagonally and hold the sandwich together with a toothpick. Another easy, quick and delicious snack is the wrap. For example, spread the wrap with cream cheese and top it with toasted pine nuts, serrano ham and avocado. Or replace the ham and avocado with lettuce and smoked salmon. Use a corn wrap for some and a carrot wrap or beet wrap for others and you already have three colorful, different dishes. A tip for taking the wraps with you: roll them up and wrap them tightly in a napkin or some foil. This will prevent the wraps from turning into a wrap salad while biking along dirt roads. Once you arrive at your destination, all you have to do is cut them into bite-sized pieces.
In terms of preparation time, can you add another dish and it won't be 30﮿C on picnic day? Then bake savory muffins with bacon and cheese or sweet muffins with chocolate a day in advance. This very variety of dishes makes a picnic feel extra luxurious. Finally, put a fresh baguette, a tub of herb butter, grapes and cherry tomatoes in your bag and the party can begin.
Chilled drinks? Refrigerated transportation!
Of course, you take all those goodies with you in an orderly and cool way in a cooler. Extra handy is a cooler that consists of several compartments. The compartments keep the snacks nicely separated while cycling. At your destination, click them loose and spread the separate trays over the picnic blanket. To keep your drinks cool, you might also immediately think of a cooler, but it just has to fit on your rack. It is more convenient to chill your drinks in the refrigerator beforehand and then pour them into a thermos or insulated water bottle. Or you put them in a cooler bag with some cooling elements added.
Composing the picnic basket
Eating in the middle of nature sounds primitive and perhaps a bit uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be that way at all. Could it be a little less camping and a little more outdoor chic? Start by choosing a slightly thicker or sturdier picnic blanket so you are not bothered by rising damp or twigs poking through the blanket. With real glasses, drinking also comes into its own better. No worries: there are plenty of glasses that can take a beating. Water glasses are also often stackable and therefore take up little space.
Is your picnic basket filled with dishes that require cutlery? Then bring small but sturdy plates and real cutlery. Of course, a bread knife should not be missing to cut the baguettes and wraps. Do you have space left over in your pannier? Fill it with napkins, a pillow and wipes to clean your hands or refresh your face. It's the little things that make your picnic a true party. That will be a long languid afternoon among the blades of grass!