What you need for the perfect picnic

  • By Aaron Swaney Herald Writer
  • Friday, July 25, 2014 1:07pm
  • Life

Whether it’s at the beach, a park or at the end of a short hike, it’s the perfect time of year to break out the picnic basket, lay out a blanket and enjoy the company of someone you love.

So what do you need for the perfect romantic picnic? We’ve put together a list of suggestions for two, plus substitutions for a family-friendly picnic if a date’s not in the cards. Here’s what to pack:

Meat

Start simple with a good cut of cured meats. We’re not talking about a metric ton of cheap ham. You want to impress, so get prosciutto or salami, or, to knock it out of the park, get coppa from Salumi in Seattle.

Cheese

Shoot for a mild Brie that pairs well with the intense flavor of the meat. Or consider the Cirrus or Seastack from Mt. Townsend Creamery in Port Townsend; find them at higher-end grocery stores or artisanal cheese shops such as The Cheesemonger’s Table in Edmonds.

Crackers

Put the Ritz crackers down and look for something flavor-neutral that’s truly just a vehicle for the meat and cheese. Pita chips are en vogue and make a perfect delivery system.

Make it family friendly: Sandwiches are a simpler option with kids in tow. For something fun and out of the ordinary, buy sliced turkey, cream cheese, cranberry sauce and bakery rolls. It’s easy to put together and not too messy.

Wine

This should be light and fruity. Keep the big, bombastic table wine where it belongs: on a table. Some local, low-cost wines we’d suggest include Barnard Griffin Rose of Sangiovese, a frequent award winner with aromas of strawberry and tangerine; Chateau Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling, with floral and mandarin aromas and crisp fruit flavors; and Boomtown Syrah, with blackberry, cream and floral flavors.

Make it family friendly: Nobody says you can’t bring the wine along, but the kids will need something. There are plenty of options with juice boxes and the like, but for something special, let each kid pick out an artisan soda.

Dessert

A nice bar of chocolate from, say, Theo Chocolate is quick and easy, but it’s not too inspired. Instead, head over to L’Artisan French Bakery in Silver Lake and get a couple of individual-sized tarts. It’s the perfect way to finish off a romantic meal.

Make it family-friendly: Cookies are a great alternative. Instead of the stock Oreos, however, look for some from Seattle’s Cougar Mountain Baking Company, which most grocery stores carry. I’m partial to the seasonal Ballpark Cookies with chocolate chunks, peanuts and toffee.

Music

Thanks to portable iPod docks and iPhones, this is a lot simpler than the days of the mix tape and the boombox that took eight D batteries. The playlist can be tricky — think more soul and jazz and less Bon Jovi — but if everything’s charged, your picnic will have a nice aural quality.

Make it family-friendly: Same equipment, different playlist. Think more Pharell and songs from the “Frozen” soundtrack and less jazz. One hint: No Katy Perry songs.

Entertainment

We’re not sure anyone actually reads poetry aloud, and staring romantically into each other’s eyes can only last so long. The key is something you can do together, such as a crossword, Scrabble or cribbage. If you play guitar, bring that. If you’re down with technology, take the iPhone off the dock and play a game, such as Flipside Charades.

Make it family-friendly: Bring games, preferably something active. Bocce ball kits are easy to transport, and a Frisbee, football or a baseball are even easier.

Where to go

There’s no shortage of parks in our area that are ideal. In south Snohomish County, there’s Meadowdale Beach Park and Marina Beach Park in Edmonds. Head north and you’ll find Kayak Point Regional County Park in Stanwood or Camano Island or Cama Beach state parks. In between is Mukilteo’s Lighthouse Park or Jetty Island, a short ferry ride from the Everett Marina. Looking to enjoy a picnic at the end of a short hike? Monte Cristo off Mountain Loop Highway and Bear Lake on Pinnacle Lake Trail are good, or check out two suggestions from guidebook author Craig Romano.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.